the calm before the storm

****

ENZO JUMPED IN his seat when he saw me.

"You heard everything?" He asked, scratching the back of his neck. He let out a nervous laugh when I nodded.

"Well," he chuckled. "Now you know." 

Ellie looked between the two of and slipped out of her kitchen without making any noise, I made a quick note to thank her later. 

"Come," I hold my hand out to him. He eyes my hand warily, but links our fingers anyway. I lead him into my room and eased us into the bed.

I tuck my leg underneath the other, which was dangling off the bed. Turning my body to face him, I smooth the crease on my shirt and lightly trace the tattoo on Enzo's wrist.

"Are you put off by what I said?" He got up and peered outside the window.

"No," I replied as I stood behind him and hugged his back. I placed the side of my cheek near the bottom of his shoulder. Enzo laid his hands on top of mine and we quietly listened to the rain splatter against the window.

"I'm afraid, Mila." He whispered. It was so faint I knew if I wasn't touching him, I wouldn't have been able to hear it. 

"I am too," I whispered back. "But we don't have a choice. We must find him."

"It's just," he hung his head low. "We don't know what he's capable of at all. I can't believe he was able to use Leila. I feel like we can't trust anybody anymore. I want to tell my friends, but what if he goes after them? Mila, they come from the same background as me, they wouldn't be able to pay their way out."

I listened intently. 

"I know I never told you about my family, and we never talked about what happened when we were at the Hamptons in much depth either. Just know that I will tell you soon, please trust me." Enzo let out a long sigh.

"I do trust you," I mumbled against his back. "I've kept some things from you too, so please wait for me as well."

"Take your time," he turned around and engulfed me this time in a tighter embrace. He buried his head in my neck and took a deep breath. "I wonder what would've happened if I never accepted that bet."

"We probably wouldn't be together," I suggested. "Or we would've been, who knows. We shouldn't dwell on the 'ifs'."

Enzo pulled away, but still had his arms around my waist. 

"Do you think we would've dated if it weren't for the bet?"

I didn't take a moment to think about my answer.

"Yeah," I responded. "I have no doubt about that. I admit, your methods were wrong, but you would've been the same person I love with or without the bet. There's no question about that."

"I know we've talked about this already," he began. "But I'll always try to make it up to you."

"I look forward to it," I lean in to kiss him. "We can just take it slow."

"We didn't get to talk about your mom," he paused. "How are you feeling? Wait, you don't have to talk about that. I don't want to force you to think about it now."

"No," I shook my head. "We should talk about it, I need to think about how we got here. It's necessary for me to get why she did this. The context doesn't add up though. How is this all connected? That's what's important right now."

"True," he agreed. "We need to establish a link between your stalker, Julian, and your mom."

Not a minute later, Enzo's phone lit up, which was sitting next to the table lamp on my desk. He clicked the notification and after a few seconds he glowered.

"You know how when I told you about my brother at 'Book Above'?" Enzo lowered himself onto the bed again, this time what seems to be out of shock.

"I remember you mentioning him, why?"

"He's in town right now," he groaned. "He's at my apartment. Fletcher texted me too, but I didn't see it."

"You should go see him," I perched on the chair in front of him. "Like I said, I may not know everything right now, but I'll wait as long as it takes."

"Thank you," he pursed his lips and inhaled. "I'm really grateful to you saying that."

I couldn't describe the way he regarded me at that moment, but the sincerity shone through. I didn't answer him, but judging from the way his expression morphed into concern as he rushed to wipe my tears away, I knew he felt the same way as I did.

"Hey," his hands held the back of my head and he ran his thumb back and forth across my now puffy cheeks. "I love you."

"I love you too." My breath hitched as I blubbered. Enzo cooed as he tried to calm me down, his gaze soft and understanding.

Enzo pecked my forehead. "I'll be back tomorrow. Stay safe and call me right away if anything happens."

I drew back and watched him gather his things. I followed after him to the foyer and he stepped outside after putting his shoes back on. "Let me know how your brother is doing."

"Yeah, I'll call you later tonight." Enzo kissed me again and as I closed the door, he got inside the newly polished elevator. The sound of the door locking summoned Ellie to the entrance. She had a towel hanging around her neck and she was munching on a bag of chips.

"I thought he was crashing here with you," she rounded the corner and sprawled herself on the plush, white sofa.

"His brother is at his apartment," I snatch a chip from the bag, the crinkling noise was the only sound as we continued to eat in silence.

Once there was no more left, Ellie tilted her head to the side.

"I wish you told me," she said half-aloud. "But what's done is done, all we can really do is hope the fucker gets charged."

"I'm sorry," I apologized again. "Ellie, you're my best friend and I know I would be furious if I didn't know something major was going on in your life."

"You did what you had to do. Knowing you, Enzo found out himself, didn't he?"

"He thought I was cheating when he saw the text." 

"The way you were acting then makes a ton of sense now," Ellie reflected. "It must've been hard keeping it inside for so long."

"It was, but I have you both now to help me." I felt my vision getting blurry and sniffled.

Ellie's expression now matched mine, but she quickly composed herself and smiled.

"You're not getting rid of me so soon," she grinned. "Now, what do you want to watch? I was thinking horror."

----

It wasn't a jump scare, but I still flinched at the sound of the stairs creaking in the movie. Ellie clutched her stomach as she laughed at my distress.

I glared at her and was about to say something when the doorbell started ringing incessantly.

"Was that in the movie?" I asked, turning the volume down. 

"No," Ellie stiffened. "It's my door."

She squinted through the peephole and turned around.

"It looks like a younger version of Enzo?"

"What?" I sprint to the door and check. "Why is he here?"

Ellie opens the door and reveals a panting, younger boy.

"Who are you?" I took a step forward.

"I'm Sebastian, Enzo's brother." He spoke and showed us a slip of paper, which was written in Enzo's handwriting. "Enzo told me to come here."

"Where's Enzo?" I swiveled my head to see if he was standing in the hallway.

"They..." he hesitated. "They got him."

"Who did?" Ellie noticed my shock.

"These people who are after our dad. He told me to run and I saw them beating Enzo unconscious. They drove off with him in a silver van, we have to find him!" He hiccuped as he recounted what happened. I put my shoulders around him and took him inside. "They said it was payback for what dad did to them seven years ago."

"What did your dad do?"

"He killed their leader."