Take Me Apart (Vitale Brothers Book 1)

I looked at the bandage on my cheek. So far, it was clean. No more bleeding through the white cloth. Thankfully, the cut hadn’t been deep, but it still ached. I was on my fourth ibuprofen, and the pain was still there. Maybe it was all in my head, psychological throbbing instead of actual, physical pain.

“Caster, have you turned in your reports?”

Sargeant White peered at me, waiting expectantly. I heard what she said, but for some reason the words weren’t sticking in my brain. She raised a brow.

“Um, yes, reports. Yes, Ma’am, I turned them in already,” I said as I nodded to myself.

“Anything I need to be caught up on?”

“Not from my end,” I said slowly. “We’re still looking into things. Rourke went to grab something to eat, but he’ll be back. I have a meeting after work with someone to look into some digital footprint stuff.”

“An informant?”

I shook my head. “An independent contractor.”

She looked me up and down. “Well, see what you can find. The chief is on my ass.”

“I know.” I glanced at his office and made eye contact. A shiver ran up my spine before I turned back to her. “He’s been staring at me nonstop.”

“His job is on the line. You’d be staring too.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Come on, Tex. You can do it. This is what you always wanted, right?”

Right. A dream come true.

I watched her walk away as my phone started to ring. The button flashed, and I picked up the receiver, pressing it against my ear.

“This is Officer Tex Caster.”

Silence greeted me. I looked at the number on the screen, but it was blocked. Great, someone being an asshole. My finger hovered over the end button as a thought came to me.

“Enzo?” I whispered.

The call disconnected. I pulled the phone away, staring at it. Was that really him? Why would he be calling me?

You’re mine.

He’d said those words to me more than once. I belonged to him, and that he would never let me go. Maybe I’d been delusional to think that as the days and then two weeks rolled by, he had forgotten about me. I imagined the look in his eyes, the devastatingly dangerous gaze that rocked me to my core as he fucked me the last time we were together.

My body craved him. One last hit, and I would be okay. I could dream about our time shut away from the world and pretend that it wasn’t a passing fling for both of us. I just needed one more taste…

The phone rang again. I reached out and snatched it up. “Enzo, you can’t keep calling me h—”

“Um, Texas? Are you okay?”

I groaned. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good.” I wiped a hand down my face. “What’s up, Chels?”

“Has Enzo been calling you?”

“No. I don’t think so. Hey, my boss is staring me down. Do you have information?”

“Right, we’ll talk about it later.” I heard the sound of her fingers flying across the keys. “This hard drive is really interesting, but I didn’t find anything about your case on it. He’s really careful,” she said, avoiding the E-word. “What I did find out, however, is that whoever is currently toying with the Vitales is more than likely a cop.”

I froze. “What?”

“Yeah, I mean, it makes sense. They know all the ins and outs of how crime families work. They’re meticulous, careful. Cops don’t make a whole ton of money. This could be their side hustle.” She started typing again. “Besides, what I’ve been able to find online supports that theory. There’s talk about a new cop on all the usual places, and the rumor is he knows how to get you whatever you’re looking for. Guns, drugs, girls. You name it; he’s got it.”

“Is there a name?”

“Bunch of screen names, but nothing real,” she said.

“Shit. Can you keep digging?”

“Already on it. One more thing. I did some digging around about Brycen Grennar. According to my contacts, he definitely was into some heavy shit. Word was that he was sleeping with two Vitale brothers, and on top of that, he was working as an informant.”

My stomach flipped. Enzo was telling the truth? I gripped the receiver a little harder.

“What else?”

“Get this. Because of Mr. Grennar, things went sideways with the Vitales. Giancarlo Vitale ended up being in prison for a little while, their business was thrown into chaos, and a friend of theirs or at least an associate was killed. They had to pay the family a huge sum of money to cover the cost of the funeral and to take care of his family because he was the provider. And that’s when Brycen disappeared.”

That’s when Enzo had to kill him. 

It made sense now why Benito had made him kill Brycen. Too much had gone into a spiral when he worked with the police. My throat felt tight. Enzo hadn’t been lying. However, now that I knew the truth, fear ran up my spine.

If Brycen was killed because of so little, what would the Vitales do to me? I was more than an informant; I was a cop. I shuddered, thinking about it.

“Thanks, Chelsea.”

“I’ll update you as soon as I have more.” She paused. “Be safe out there.”

“Always.”

I hung up the phone and stared at the computer screen. Everything was becoming more complicated by the day. Glancing up, I looked around the bullpen. Is it someone here? I’d overheard Enzo and Giancarlo talking about Ramada. Did he have something to do with this before he was killed?

My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I thought about my colleagues. Who could be working with the Vitales?

Blaring music and thrashing bodies bumped into me. All of it was nothing more than background noise to me as I looked for the one man I needed to stay away from. Fuck, I’m an idiot. Every instinct in me screamed to turn around and leave. I’d been smart staying away from Enzo. Reaching up, I touched the bandage on my cheek. The rush of emotions was a tornado of confusion and shame. My mother hadn’t stopped calling me, but I couldn’t talk to her yet.

I spotted Enzo, making my blood pressure shoot through the roof. He walked around the bar with a frown on his face. A man stepped into his path. Enzo reached out, grabbed the man by his collar and yanked him forward until they were face to face. I stalked forward before stopping myself.

What am I doing here? Am I turning into a stalker now?

I needed to turn around and disappear. However, as much as I told myself that, I was still standing there, staring at him as his fist connected with the man’s face. Giancarlo pulled him away, making him stumble back. Enzo stared at the man like he was ready to take off his head. As he lunged forward, he turned in my direction and froze.

Shit. Can he see me?

Blu was dark, but it wasn’t pitch black. I yanked my hood up over my head and turned away. The part of me that wanted to see Enzo was overruled by logic. I hadn’t seen Enzo in what felt like ages. He didn’t seem like the kind of man that would forget a slight. What was it he’d said? He always kept a knife on him.

I stumbled out into the darkness, too many drinks in and wobbly. Glancing over my shoulder, I tried to spot him, but he was nowhere in sight. I turned back around and headed for the alleyway like I’d done before. Ducking down one and turning left at another, I exhaled deeply. I’d gotten away. As much as I hated it, Enzo hadn’t caught me.

My back slammed against a wall. I blinked. How much did I have to drink? A pair of shoes stepped close to me. Confused, I looked up to find Enzo glaring at me, his thick eyebrows pinched. Before I could say a word, his hand wrapped around my throat.

“Why are you here?” he growled.

That voice, mixed with his swirling anger, made every last nerve in my body ignite like Christmas lights. I opened my mouth, but his hand tightened, cutting off my air and ability to speak. Still, I didn’t stop him from what he was doing. It felt good dancing on the edge of a live wire, not knowing if he would end it all.

God, I need this.

“You should have stayed away.”

I know. Trust me, I know.

My body lifted toward his automatically. Even now, he was too far away. I was desperate to feel his touch, to drown in the way his mouth tasted as the scent of his cologne blanketed me and made me feel… safe. I wanted to laugh. When I was near him, I was both safe and terrified. How was that normal?

Enzo’s dark eyes searched my face. I saw something in his eyes, something dangerous and dark. He could kill me. The rage was right there, waiting to be unleashed. But I wasn’t ready to die.

His lips crashed against mine, stealing what little air I had left. The world spun, spots of blackness coming and disappearing from my vision. My body shoved forward, seeking him out. I’m going to pass out if he doesn’t let it. I grabbed his arms and yanked straight down. His grip slipped, and I used the opportunity to raise my knee, driving it into his stomach. I coughed as he recoiled, trying to drag a breath into my tight lungs.

“Shit,” I groaned. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Yes.”

I blinked up at him as I doubled over, using my knees for support. “At least you’re honest.”

He pulled a face. “Last time we were face to face, you practically called me a liar.”

I licked my lips and straightened up. “Yeah, I did. I know now that you weren’t lying. Chelsea told me all about Brycen.”

Enzo’s frown deepened. “You’re staying with her?”

“No,” I said. “That’s not the point anyway.”

“What is the point?” he countered.

I opened my mouth and snapped it shut again. I didn’t have a point.

Enzo closed the space between us in two short strides. His hand went for my throat, but I sidestepped him. Enzo grunted as he stopped himself against the brick wall. He turned, his dark eyes glaring at me.

“You left.”

“I told you I had to,” I shot back. “You don’t listen.”

“What part of ‘you’re mine’ didn’t you fucking understand?”

Enzo lunged for me, and I was too slow to dodge him. I expected the heavy, hot weight of his hand around my neck. Instead, what I got were his lips on mine. Hard, rough, and sharp, the kiss pushed me to the brink of my sanity and threatened to drop me off the edge.

I needed him. Enzo’s tongue swiped against the seam of my lips. I groaned, trying to push him away and maintain my strong stance, but he wasn’t having it. His hand gripped my cheeks, squeezing them roughly until my lips puckered. Enzo’s tongue slipped inside. I tasted whiskey on his mouth, strong and smooth. Something expensive.

Were you drinking because of me?

My cock throbbed in the confines of my jeans. Every inch of me ached for him. The alarm bells in my head rang. No matter how much I knew I should stay away, I burned for Enzo.

He grabbed my arm, turning me around and shoving me against the brick wall. Cool air tickled the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. Enzo’s hands were quick, unfastening my pants and tugging them down my hips. He spread my cheeks. My heart jumped into my throat.

Fight back. Don’t give in to this.

I shoved back against Enzo. He responded by pushing me forward. I grunted, planting my feet as I tried to wiggle out of his grasp. No matter how much I wanted him, it didn’t mean I should go through with it. Enzo was a fresh line of coke, temptation on a plate.

“Enzo,” I growled.

“Shut the fuck up,” he snapped. “I’m trying my hardest not to fucking kill you right now.”

Cold sweat etched its way down my spine. There wasn’t a single hint of a lie in his tone. It made me hesitate to move, speak, or even think. Enzo spread my cheeks and spat between them. I pushed away from the wall only to be shoved against it more firmly.

“Did I say move?” Enzo asked. “Keep your ass out.”

My cock jumped. For some reason, I did what I was told. The sound of Enzo’s zipper in the stillness of the alley was loud. He yanked my hips back before I felt the familiar feeling of his cock sliding against the crack of my ass.

My need for him grew hotter every second. The longer I was forced to wait for Enzo to take me only made me more desperate. “What are you doing? Just put it in,” I growled through clenched teeth. “Come on, Enzo. Fuck me. Please, fuck me.”

His hand wrapped around my throat, but he didn’t squeeze. The wet, slick heat of his cock pressed against my hole. Spit wasn’t the same as lube, but my twisted little heart loved that. I wanted it to hurt, to stretch, to blind all of my senses. I wanted Enzo Vitale to make me feel nothing but his brand of possession and control.

“Fuck!”

Enzo slammed inside of me in one fast, sharp stroke. I grabbed the wall, bracing myself as he thrust inside of me. My knees buckled, and it took everything in me to stay upright. My head swam. I reached between my thighs, shoving a hand around my cock and stroking it as he grunted, bottoming out inside of my hole.

Stars burst behind my lids as I pushed back against him. Enzo’s grip around my neck tightened. I leaned into his hand, devouring the warmth of his flesh against mine after so many empty, lonely nights. I wanted to grab him, hold him down, and keep him against me. Enzo was the enemy, but I didn’t give a damn when every “hero” seemed three times as bad as him.

A kiss, and then teeth tugged on the lobe of my ear. Even with his hand on my neck, there was a plethora of kisses left on my skin. Soft, feathery, but each one more demanding than the next, as if he could force me to stay if he just held me long enough.

God, did I want to crumble. An imaginary life with Enzo was better than a thousand empty nights with people who didn’t give a fuck about me.

My throat tightened. Hot, wet tears rolled down my cheeks. I imagined the bandages getting wet on my cheek, soaking into the wound that was more than flesh and blood. I cried out.

“Why are you crying?” Enzo asked.

“Just fuck me,” I begged, not giving a damn how pathetic and desperate I sounded. “I need to feel you fuck me.”

Enzo paused. His cock throbbed inside of me. For some reason, that stillness pushed me toward the brink. I felt like I was going to break down. Until Enzo slammed inside of me.

“Tex,” he whispered against my ear. “It’s okay.”

Those words almost broke the dam, but I held back. Enzo and I moved together, grunting, groaning, and moaning together as we chased our highs. I felt the familiar swelling in my balls, the tingling along my flesh, and I knew I was blissfully close.

“Enzo!”

I painted the brick with ribbons of my cum as I was flooded with hot, sticky heat. Enzo bucked his hips, rolling and thrusting until he had nothing more to give me. He laid against my back, the soft panting like music to my ears until he broke the silence.

“What happened?” he asked, dragging a finger over my bandage. “Who did this to you?”

I froze. “It’s nothing.”

“Tell me,” he demanded, gripping my arm. “Who hurt you?”

I swallowed thickly. Telling Enzo anything felt like a death sentence for the person I named. However, part of me still wanted to tell him that it was my father so I could watch the man rip him apart.

Slowly, I turned to face Enzo. I dragged my pants up my hips as warm cum coursed down my thighs. Enzo peered at me, his eyes studying mine like he always did. It was a familiar sight. One I had missed.

“Long story,” I said quietly. “Not worth repeating.”

“It was your father, wasn’t it? You went to visit your parents not long ago. That wasn’t there before you went.”

My stomach tightened. “Jesus, Enzo. This is why we can’t be together.”

“Why?” he asked, his eyes growing sad.

“You’re following me,” I explained. “You know where my parents live. This is too much. How am I supposed to cope when everything I say to you could end up with someone dead?”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

I knocked his hand away. “Who asked you to?” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “This is never going to work. I have to get back to my job.”

Enzo grabbed my arm, yanking me back to him. “How many times do you think I’m going to let you run away?”

“Let me?” I asked, scoffing. “And I’m not running away. This is me being an adult and doing what needs to be done.”

“If you believe that, you’re naive,” he said evenly.

I pulled away from Enzo. “I have to go.”

“Fine.” I stopped and glanced back at him. Enzo stuck a cigarette between his lips. He lit up, smoke curling into the night sky. “Don’t let me see you again, Tex. I showed mercy this time. Next time? I’ll kill you.”

Fear trickled down my spine. I didn’t doubt him for a second. Rolling my shoulders back, I watched as he walked away, disappearing into the shadows, leaving me utterly and completely alone.

I opened my mouth to beg him to stay, to pretend everything was okay for a little while. But I’d stuck my own foot in my mouth. My heart shattered into a million fucking pieces as I continued to stare down the empty alley. I couldn’t see Enzo again.

Not without there being a bloodbath.