AN: Thank you so much for all the votes... I was pretty proud of myself for actually writing this chapter in just two days that I decided to post it now rather than do any kind of waiting... I hope you enjoy and as always I would love to know what you think.
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"Do you take me for a fucking fool?" Lorenzo snapped at Elena watching as the fear seeped into her eyes while he slowly stalked towards her like she was his prey. He could see she was scared as her eyes bounced between him and the door behind him and he fed off her fear like she had been an enemy of his and not his wife. "Answer me!" he snapped at her causing Elena to jump slightly out of fear.
"I don't know what you are talking about." She said shaking her head at him, the harsh glare that sat on his face had not been one she had ever seen before or ever wanted to see again. His eyes were so cold and held nothing but anger in them.
Lorenzo's patience was running low and he quickly reached forward taking a tight hold of her arm yanking her body towards him. Elena crashed into him hard and she squeal both in shock and pain from the grip he had. Elena looked down at his hand as hers went to his wrist. Lorenzo not giving her time to process what was happening quickly took a rough hold of her chin forcing her to look up at him. He knew if had squeezed just bit tighter he would probably snap her arm or jaw in half but at that moment he didn't care.
"Lie to my fucking face one more time and you won't like the results."
"Lorenzo you're hurting me." Elena said in a low cracked voice as she tried to hold back her tears.
This was a side of Lorenzo she had never seen, even the night of their anniversary he had seemed much more different than the man in front of her now. This man had looked as if he was possessed which caused her to fear for her life. The anger was in his eyes... his breathing... the grip he had on her... the anger radiated from him in waves. Like an animal stalking his prey Elena knew he could sense her fear and it didn't stop him, it was almost as if it encouraged him.
"You wanted no fucking guards tonight and I fucking give it to you. I thought I could trust you." He snapped ignoring her statement to him. "Was this your fucking plan... to come here looking for men?"
"No that wasn't my plan, Lauren was the one that didn't want the guards with us." She said trying to pull away but he didn't allow her to move not even an inch. "I made a vow to you and I have kept that."
"You think I'm going to believe that?" he snapped pulling her even closer if that was possible. "How the hell do I know you haven't lied about everything?"
"Please Lorenzo, I'm not lying to you." Elena said as the tears finally fell. "Please you're hurting me."
"Lorenzo we need to go." They both heard Tony say as he opened the door and peered inside the ladies' room.
Lorenzo sucked in a deep breath and spoke as he released it. "We'll be out in a minute." He said as his eyes stood locked on her tear filled ones.
"Alright." Tony said stepping out again.
"You're leaving with me." Lorenzo said sternly and Elena nodded her head.
She knew this was not the time to fight with him while the anger still showed clearly in his eyes. Lorenzo dropped his hand from her chin and loosened his hold on her arm. Elena used her free hand to wipe the tears from her face as they walked out the restroom. As they left the restaurant Elena realized she had not see them enter because they had come in through the back, the same way they were exiting. Lorenzo had finally released her arm when they arrived at the SUV and he opened the door. Once she climbed in the SUV he closed the door while turning to face the two men with him.
"Are we taking her home first?" Tony asked and watched in shock as Lorenzo shook his head no. "You can't be fucking serious?"
"Gino get in the SUV." Lorenzo growled as he stood glaring at Tony, once the door closed Lorenzo snapped at Tony. "Do you have a problem with my fucking decision?"
"As a matter of fact I do." Tony growled at him in a low voice. "When you get like this you don't fucking think straight, Lorenzo. Someone has to stop you before you do something you will regret."
"That someone going to be you." Lorenzo snapped at him as he moved closer to Tony.
"I'm the only one that has the balls to do it." Tony said as he stood his ground. "Anyone else would be dead, either by a bullet from your gun or mine."
"What makes you think I won't put a bullet in you?"
"Because I would be dead right now and I'm still breathing, I'm the only person you trust your life with."
"She is coming with us." Lorenzo snapped at him as he walked away from Tony.
Lorenzo walked around the SUV and climbed in next to Elena while Tony got in the front seat next to Gino. Lorenzo glanced over at Elena, she had her head down while rubbing at her arm. Gino began driving not needing to be told where to go. Like Tony, Gino didn't agree with taking Elena with them to the warehouse but unlike Tony he didn't have the balls to say it. Tony was the only person in the Moretti Mafia that could question Lorenzo's motives and live to see another day. Every one of them knew that and never took the chance of testing that theory.
The ride to the warehouse was silent, all four occupants were stuck in their own thoughts.
Elena had no idea where they were going and didn't dare question them either. Her arm was still in pain and she still feared what Lorenzo was going to do seeing as his anger still hadn't dissipated. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket but didn't bother to check who it was, she didn't care. Her only concern was making Lorenzo believe that she was and had always been truthful with him.
Gino had wished Lorenzo would have ordered him to take Elena home. He didn't want her to see what they had done to the guy that betrayed Lorenzo. The anger and betrayal they all felt towards the guy was clear and the beating he took from most of them felt great. The state the man was in when they left the warehouse was gruesome and Gino knew the sight would haunt Elena if her eyes saw him.
Tony's thoughts were completely mixed up. He was pissed at Elena for even letting herself get in this predicament again. He was pissed at Lorenzo for wanting to bring her to the warehouse knowing full well what they were going back there for. He was pissed at himself for snapping at Lorenzo the way he did knowing someone else was going to receive the rage he caused Lorenzo to be further in.
Lorenzo sat there staring down at his swollen hands, he knew Elena had not noticed them. Her fear had kept her oblivious to any and all of the small details that would have given an idea what he had been doing prior to seeing her tonight. His swollen hands, the blood on the cuffs of his shirt and the few specks that were soaked into the chest of his shirt, even the blood covered rag he used to clean his hands earlier that currently sat on the floor of the car near her feet.
Glancing from his hands down to the rag by her feet he sucked in a deep breath as his eyes trailed up. Elena wasn't dressed as if she was going out clubbing or anything. She had on a pair of simple black heels, jeans that had formed to her body perfectly, in his opinion, topped off with a red sweater blouse. The glint of her ring caught his eye as she used her hand to still rub softly where he had held her tightly.
Lorenzo began to regret his decision to bring her with, at first his intent was to show her what happens to people that betray him but now he didn't want her to see it. Tony's words began to replay on repeat in his head and was right. Lorenzo knew he would regret bringing her in the warehouse with them and when the SUV came to a stop he sucked in a deep breath.
"Elena stay in the Navigator." Lorenzo said as he opened his door. "There are guards at the door but I don't want you leaving this vehicle."
"Ok." Elena said softly not bothering to look up at him.
When the three men were all on the same side of the vehicle Lorenzo noticed the relief on Gino's somber face as he walked away. Tony just patted Lorenzo shoulder knowing that was enough between the two men to show his gratitude of sparing her the sight that laid within the walls of one small room in there. When they reached the doors Lorenzo stopped and looked between the two guards.
"My wife is in the Navigator, keep your eyes on her."
"Yes boss." Both men said in unison as Lorenzo went into the building.
When they walked in Sal and Vinny were there to meet them. "Has he done any talking since I left?" Lorenzo asked as they walked towards the room they had the traitor in.
"Not a word boss." Vinny said as they got closer to the room. "Rob is begging for his shot at Donnie."
"He'll get his turn but I need this man to fucking talk." Lorenzo snapped as they went in the room.
Tony walked over to Donnie who was tied down to the chair and yanked his head up. "Who are you fucking working with?" he snapped at him.
"I will never tell you." Donnie yelled back as he spit a mouth full of blood towards Lorenzo.
Tony angrily punch Donnie hard in the gut as Lorenzo looked down at his shoe where the bloody spit landed. They went back and forth with Donnie for almost an hour and Lorenzo was getting irritated. He nodded his head towards Rob giving the permission to do his best. The beating went on for a few minutes when Donnie finally crack. He screamed he would talk just as Rob landed a sickening punch to his jaw. The cracking of his jaw echoed throughout the room.
"Fuck." Lorenzo snapped as Rob was pulled away from Donnie. "He can't fucking talk now!"
"Sorry boss." Rob said with a slight smirk on his face.
The room went silent as Lorenzo stood there staring at the bloody mess Donnie had become. "I'm going to go check on Mrs. Moretti." Gino said.
Lorenzo nodded his head at Gino as he pulled out his gun and aimed it at Donnie. Just as Gino opened the door to leave Lorenzo squeezed the trigger of his gun. The blood curling scream that followed the shot didn't come from the man that Lorenzo just killed but from his wife who had just witnessed her first murder. Lorenzo quickly spun around with the gun still in his hand as he locked eyes with her. Gino had been shocked when he opened the door and when he reached for her she quickly moved away from him.
"Elena." Lorenzo called out to her as he quickly handed the gun to Tony. Elena shook her head no as she quickly spun on her heels and took off running. "Shit." Lorenzo yelled as he ran after her.
Elena had gone into the warehouse because it had begun storming outside and she could barely see a thing outside the SUV. When the guards told her she couldn't go in and needed to get back in the SUV Elena had told them she needed to use the restroom. When she entered the building it had been completely silent and not a person in sight. Elena went looking for the restroom and when the door she was walking pass opened she frozen as she saw Lorenzo shoot the guy tied down to a chair.
There was no holding back the scream that had come out. Gino had stood there with wide eyes and when Lorenzo turned around her eyes locked with his. Elena saw Gino's hand move in her peripheral vision and she quickly moved away from him, fearing what he was going to do because of what she just witnessed. Elena saw Lorenzo move next and the fear completely kicked causing her to take off running. She could hear Lorenzo behind her as she ran out the building into the storm.
Lorenzo ran out behind her and was shock to see that it had started raining and none of them had even noticed. Trying to look through the haze of the rain Lorenzo noticed Elena running pass the Navigator. Just as he ran around it he saw her fall to the ground, Lorenzo quickly ran up behind her and squatted down as he wrapped his arms around her torso before she could get up and run again. Elena began thrashing in his arms as he pulled her back against him.
"Elena stop." Lorenzo said in a calm voice, he didn't want to scare her anymore than she already was.
"Please just let me go... please." She cried out as he held her tightly. "Please."
"I'm not going to hurt you." Lorenzo said as he heard someone coming up behind him and he looked over his shoulder to see Gino and Tony standing there. "I have this, meet us by the Navigator." Lorenzo didn't wait for a response as he turned back to Elena. "I need you to relax, Elena."
"I didn't see anything." Elena said shaking her head causing her wet hair to whip and stick to her face. "Please..."
"Elena I know what you saw." Lorenzo said in a low voice. "I just need you to believe I will not hurt you." He said as he slowly turned her to face him. The rain masked her tears but the shake of her body and the hyperventilating made it clear she was still crying. "Just this once I will explain what you saw but I don't want to do that out here in the rain."
Elena didn't know what to say, running from him wasn't an option anymore so she nodded her head. Lorenzo stood up and pulled Elena to her feet with him and when he went to let her go she hissed in pain and almost fell again. He quickly wrapped his arm around her again and noticed that she was reaching for her ankle. Shaking his head Lorenzo swept her into his arms carrying her back to the Navigator.
When he got to the vehicle Gino quickly stepped out of it and opened the door for them. Lorenzo slid in and held Elena to his side as Gino got back in. "Drive." Lorenzo simply said as he looked down at her then back at Tony. "Is everything taken care of?" Lorenzo asked him.
"Yeah." Tony said glancing towards the back. "Everything good?" he asked nodding his head at them.
Lorenzo felt Elena's body tense. "Nothing to worry about." Lorenzo said sternly and Tony nodded then turned back towards the front.
When they arrived at the mansion Lorenzo lifted Elena out of the SUV and carried her into the house. Her body had been shivering the whole time and Lorenzo knew it was from both being cold from the rain and the fear she felt towards him. Not bothering to stop or say anything to anyone he carried her straight to her room and into the master bathroom. Lorenzo sat her down and sucked in a deep breath as he turned and walked out of there and into the closest. After grabbing a few things from in there Lorenzo went back to the bathroom.
He stood by the door taking a few deep breaths before going back in. He placed the things he had down on the counter and walked over to the shower and started the water. Lorenzo could feel her eyes following his every movement and he just wanted her to trust him. After checking the water Lorenzo walked back towards her and squatted down in front of her then removed her shoes.
Elena sat there in shock and when he lifted her to her feet she tensed up. "Lorenzo?"
"Do you trust me?" he asked and she look away not wanting to answer, Lorenzo sucked in a deep breath taking that as her answer being no. "Let me show you that you can trust me." he said lifting his hand and slowly turned her face to look at him.
When she nodded her head Lorenzo stepped back from her and removed his suit until he was down to his boxers, leaving them on. Once he was done he moved towards her and slowly removed her clothes until she was just down to her panties and he left them on her also. Elena quickly cover her chest with her arms as Lorenzo led her to the shower and they both stepped in.
Lorenzo turned Elena to face him and pulled her flushed with his body, when his arms wrapped around her Elena slid her arms from between them and wrapped them around him. Elena leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder and began crying. Lorenzo stood there quiet giving her time to get it out, he comforted her the best he could while she cried. Once she calmed down Lorenzo still held her close to him as he began explaining what had happened back at the warehouse.
"That man had to die." Lorenzo said in a low voice.
"Why?" she asked with a cracked voice.
"He was the reason why we were attacked that night I took you to dinner." Lorenzo said as he held her close not allowing her to pull away.
Lorenzo and Elena stood holding each other like that as he explained what she wanted to know. When she stopped asking him questions and Lorenzo felt her body had gotten warm again. He reached behind her and shut the water off. Lorenzo got out first and quickly dried off and changed his boxers and slid on a pair of joggers. He grabbed another towel and wrapped it around Elena then pointed towards some dry clothes he had brought in for her.
He noticed her limp as she got out the shower. "Do you need help?" he asked and Elena shook her head no. "Alright if you need anything just let me know."
Elena held the towel close to her body as she nodded her head and he walked out. Once she heard the bedroom door close Elena dropped to her knees and began crying again. She couldn't get the look on the man's bloody face right before Lorenzo shot him out of her mind. The clap of thunder didn't help her any either, every boom caused her to jump out of fear. When she finally climbed in the bed Elena cried herself to sleep.
Lorenzo stood outside her door and slid down it as he heard her crying inside the room. He knew that this wasn't anyone's fault other than his own. Had he just been able to control his temper she would have been safely brought home rather than standing in the warehouse watching as he took a man's life. Whatever little progress he had started to gain with her was erased with one pull of the trigger. She saw a murdering monster when she looked at him and he saw it in her eyes. Lorenzo knew that everyone saw him as the ruthless, heartless cold blooded mobster but he didn't want her to see him like that. He wanted Elena to see her husband... the man that would always protect her at any cost.
He heard footsteps coming close and he looked up from his spot on the floor to see Tony standing there holding a glass of much needed amber liquid down towards him. "Figured my friend could use this."
"You have no idea." Lorenzo said taking the glass and downing it in one gulp.
"I wish I could say that things will get better but neither of us has been through something like this." Tony said leaning against the railing behind him.
"In this short time that I really began to see my wife I started to fall in love with her." Lorenzo said in a low voice as he ran his hand down his face. "I think I just loss her." Lorenzo said as he pulled himself to his feet.
"I think one glass of liquor is definitely not enough for this conversation." Tony said pushing himself upright. "We need the whole bottle."
Lorenzo took one last look at the door behind him before walking away with his friend.