Loving the Enemy (Enemy Duet Book 2) Read online

  WHAT BLOGGERS ARE SAYING ABOUT

  Loving the Enemy

  Loving the enemy is packed with, suspense, action and emotion. It is erratic, heartfelt, heart-wrenching and adventures. Make sure you have your box of tissues close by it will make you ugly cry. Loving the Enemy has some erotic scenes, the best I have read in any of Amy Cecil's books. This book and series is a must read!!

  ~ Janise's Jivin' Book Blog

  Loving the Enemy is the second installment of the duet that is a assemblage of consequential events that brings Michael and Zaira together, only to rip them apart and pieces them back together again.

  ~ Vext's Vixens

  Loving The Enemy is a perfect end to the duet. More twists and intensity than you can expect but love.

  ~ Leave Me Be I'm Reading Blog

  Amy Cecil is absolutely incredible. I'm totally blown away. It's everything you could want in a mafia book and then some. All I can do now is eat, breath, and yes dream mafia and MC and oh what wonderful dreams they are.

  ~ Alison Pridie’s Blog

  It is very clear from the very beginning that Michael loves Zaira but she can't get past what Michael has done!! As the story continues things get heated, when things are said done, there's a death, a kidnapping and a happily ever after!! Awesome book, I highly recommend it!!

  ~ Elaine and Tami's JB3 Blackbirds

  Amy Cecil has done it again. She has ripped out my heart, stomped on it and then picked it up to put back together to make it better. A suspenseful, dark and utterly fantastic mafia read! Amy Cecil is one hell of an amazing author!

  ~ Alicia Reads

  Heartbreak, action, and romance are what you get with this book. Beautifully written, Amy Cecil brings her mobsters and the Knights of Silence MC together for an intense adventure I won’t soon forget.

  ~ This Girls Books

  Suggested reading order:

  Ice

  Ice on Fire

  Celtic Dragon

  Forgetting the Enemy

  Raw Honey

  Loving the Enemy

  Sainte

  LOVING THE ENEMY – Enemy Duet Book 2 – Amy Cecil

  Copyright © 2019 Amy Cecil

  All rights reserved in accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. The scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the author constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like to use materials from this book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the author.

  FBI Anti-Piracy Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison along with a fine of $250,000.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental or used in a fictitious manner. The author acknowledges that all song titles, film titles, film characters, and novels mentioned in this book are the property of and belong to their respective owners.

  Any views expressed in this book are fictitious and not necessarily the views of the author.

  Thank you for your support of the author's rights.

  Book cover design and layout by Rebecca Garcia of Dark Wish Designs.

  www.darkwishdesigns.com

  Editing Services provided by Angie Wade of Novel Nurse Editing. www.novelnurseeditng.com.

  ISBN- 9781092819244

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my husband, Kevin. He’s my rock, my inspiration and my number one fan! I couldn’t do any of this without him.

  I love you Kevin

  Author’s Note:

  Please be advised that this book contains subjects that may be considered dark and taboo. If you are a reader who is sensitive to certain triggers, then perhaps this may not be the book for you. You’ve been warned

  Prologue

  Michael

  One month ago…

  It’s been two weeks since Zaira got her memories back. After the explosive blowup the night she remembered, I changed our travel plans and purchased tickets for us to return to New York the next day. We were supposed to go on our honeymoon the day after the wedding and fly to Cabo San Lucas for two weeks, but all that changed. She never even gave me the opportunity to explain.

  We’ve not spoken since we returned, except for the many times she has asked me to release her from our marriage. I refuse. How can I let her go without her knowing the truth? The whole truth, not what her father brainwashed into her head. But she never lets me explain, and every time I try, she storms off. She won’t speak with anyone except Darius, who now I know is “D.” I was so fucking pissed when I found out it was him she called D, I almost fired him on the spot. But Ricco talked me out of it, saying it was good she trusted him. She needed protection, and he could provide it. He also assured me Darius was loyal to the family, and that would never falter. Reluctantly, I let it go. He is all she has right now. She won’t even talk to Vince, who has tried to make contact with her several times but has failed.

  It’s our two-week wedding anniversary, and I’m sitting in my office beating myself up for making such a mess of my life. If I had only been honest with her from the beginning, this would have ended much better. Hell, it wouldn’t have ended; it would have been a beginning. My pop tried to warn me, and I wouldn’t listen. He looks at me with such despair, and I know that he feels bad, but it fucking kills me that I’ve disappointed him.

  My phone beeps. It’s Ricco.

  Zaira wants to see you.

  I reply:

  Send her in.

  The door opens, and Zaira walks in. Looking at her takes my breath away and breaks my heart at the same time. How could I fuck things up so badly? Doesn’t she know how much I love her and that I would never do the things she’s accusing me of? Well, I guess I did kill her father, but it was on her brother’s orders.

  Before I can say anything, she says, “You have to let me go, Michael. I can’t stay with you, knowing what I know. It’s too much.”

  How can I let her go? How can I just let her walk out of my life when I know she is the only woman for me? “Do you really expect me to let you go? I love you Zaira, and I know you love me. You’re just angry and upset, but in time, things will look differently. You’ll see,” I reply.

  “It’s not so simple, Michael. I know you love me, and I will not deny that I love you, but you’re a liar and worse, a murderer. How do you expect me to forgive you for killing my parents? It’s unforgiveable, Michael.” She pauses and takes a deep breath, and the tears continue to fall down her cheeks.

  Everything in me wants me to take her in my arms and comfort her, but I know if I do, she will push me away.

  “I love you so much, Michael, and I hate that you can hurt me so much. Everything you did where my parents are concerned, you did to me. It was personal, Michael, and you have destroyed us.”

  I decide that now is the time she is going to listen to me whether she likes it or not. I walk to the door and open it. I whisper to Ricco, “Lock this door until I tell you to unlock it.”

  He nods, and I close the door. I hear the lock click.

  “Zaira, I’ve tried to explain to you so many times, and you would never let me. Now, you’re gonna listen.”

  “No!” she demands. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.” She walks toward the door and tries to open it, and of cou
rse it doesn’t. She looks at me incredulously. “Now you’re locking me in?”

  “I’m sorry, but it’s the only way I can get you to listen. Just hear me out, please.”

  “Do I really have a choice?” she asks and sits in one of the chairs, looking defeated.

  “I didn’t kill your mother.”

  “Really, you’ve already said that a dozen times, Michael. Tell me something I haven’t heard.”

  “A few weeks ago, you asked me to get revenge for your parent’s death, and I promised you I would. Do you remember that?”

  She nods

  “I made that promise because I’d already gotten your revenge. Your father and Victor had Maria killed. It was a plot between the two of them to destroy my family, to destroy my father and everything he stood for. I hadn’t known it at the time, but when we took Carmine and Armino, they finally confessed. They were privy to the whole scheme. The Vitalis had nothing to do with the murder of your mother, but we avenged her death by killing Victor and your father. And… I’m not sorry.”

  She shakes her head. “Look at you. You’re ruthless. You admit to killing my father, and yet you show no remorse. Even if what you say is true, even if my father did murder my mother, which I find highly unlikely, you’re heartless by your actions. You’ve killed people, Michael. You’re a murderer.

  “Really, Zaira, are you really going to be that naïve? You grew up in this world. You know what our families are about, what we do. Do you really believe your father’s hands were clean? Hell, even Vince? You yourself even wanted to avenge their deaths. It’s how our world works, Zaira, and you know it.”

  “But he was my father, Michael!” she cries.

  “He was a sadistic son of a bitch, Zaira. He physically and emotionally abused you and Mia. How can you stand there and defend him when you know—you remember—exactly what he was like?”

  “Because he never lied to me,” she says, and I realize I’m losing this fight. I can continue to fight back, but it’ll get us nowhere. Her mind is made up. “Just let me go, Michael. Accept that we’re just not meant to be. Give me the divorce so we can put this all behind us.”

  Devastated by the finality of her words, I realize I will not ever get through to her. Nothing will make her see the truth, and so, defeated, I say the only thing I can. “You’re free to go, Zaira. You can have your divorce. I won’t contest it.” I text Ricco to tell him to unlock the door.

  As much as I want her to stay, I can’t force her. I want her to want to be here. I want her to love me of her own free will. I want her to know without any doubts that I’m not the monster she thinks I am.

  I love her.

  And the right thing to do now is to let her go.

  “Michael,” she says, surprised. I don’t think she ever expected me to give in. She stands there staring at me but doesn’t say any more. Finally she turns to leave, and my heart begins a slow process of shattering as I watch her walk out of my life.

  “Zaira,” I call after her in a last attempt to get her to see me for the man I am.

  She stops walking but doesn’t turn.

  “Soon you will realize I’m not your enemy.” I pause. “Yes, I’m the man who lied to you, but I’m also the man who loves you beyond all reason. I’m the man who will lay down his own life for you. I’m the man who killed for you.”

  She doesn’t move. She is still facing the door, and I can hear her sobbing.

  “And there’s something else I want you to remember. I’d do it all again if it meant you were safe and protected.”

  She wipes her eyes, stands up straight, takes a deep breath, and continues to walk proudly toward the door. When she reaches it, she touches the knob and hesitates.

  Is she coming back? I ask myself. Suddenly I’m hopeful as I wait patiently for her to make her move. But all hope is shattered when she turns the knob, walks through the door, and closes it behind her.

  Chapter 1

  Zaira

  It’s been two weeks. That’s fourteen days or 336 hours or more minutes than I care to consider since I walked out of Michael’s life. We’re still married. Apparently, in the State of New York, you have to go through what they call a separation without cohabitation. I tried for an annulment, but even though my amnesia would have been acceptable as a state of duress, with Michael’s connections and power in this state, it would never happen. So we have to remain married but live separate for a year. Vince reluctantly filed the agreement with the Suffolk County Clerk of Court last week, so now we wait. When the year is up, the state will concede I have grounds for divorce. Apparently the fact that Michael murdered my father isn’t grounds for a divorce in this state.

  I guess it’s all said and done on paper, but somehow my heart doesn’t seem to get it. It doesn’t understand how everything got so bad. I try to rationalize that it all began with a murder and a lie. My brain gets it and accepts it. However, my heart is still struggling.

  I know I was the one who left, but he let me go. In a fit of anger and rage—not to mention feeling totally lied to—I told him I wanted out. I was suffocating and had to get away. He tried to get me to stay. He tried to get me to see reason. He even tried to explain, but I didn’t want to hear it. I was done. He put up a fight, but in the end, he let me go. I was adamant on leaving, and I really didn’t give him any other choice. Isn’t that the truest test of love? He loved me enough to let me go. He put my needs before his own.

  My heart hurts.

  I’m back in my family home now. All my things have been moved out of Michael’s home, and all my memories have returned. Once they broke through, it was like a damn breaking loose. Michael was right. My father was a sadistic son of a bitch, and yes, he abused and used both my sister and me. But he was still my father, and even though he was all that, some part of me still loved him. And Michael murdered him.

  Vince confirmed my father ordered the hit on my mother. At least I know Michael didn’t lie about that. Vince also confirmed he ordered the hit on my father. When I asked him why he’d had our father killed, he claimed he did it for me. He said he was so tired of his abuse toward us. He wanted us all to get out from under him and be happy. He wanted us to live our lives however we chose. His heart was in the right place, but he never considered the consequences of his actions. And he never consulted either Mia or me.

  I feel so lost.

  The two men I have loved and trusted the most my entire life have betrayed me.

  How do I get past this?

  Mia has even tried to make me see that everything was done in the best of interests. She forgives Vince. She tells me he was only protecting us.

  I think about what my life would have been like married to Victor. I begged Vince to do something about it, and he did. I think back to the state of mind I was in then, and I realize I would have agreed with Vince’s decision. But now… now that it is done and we can’t go back and change it, I feel differently. I feel responsible for my father’s death.

  Maybe I just need to get away from all of them.

  Leaving my room, which is where I have mostly stayed since I got back, I decide to find my brother. I’m taking a vacation.

  I run into Mia when I get close to the stairway.

  “Zaira. I was just coming up to see you,” she says.

  I give her a chaste hug. “Have you seen Vince? I need to speak with him.”

  “He’s downstairs in his study. He just got back from meeting with his client in Edinboro. You know, that biker guy? Vince has asked about you.”

  “Well, I’m heading his way, so he can see for himself,” I reply smartly and then I suddenly feel bad for being so short with my little sister. I know she means well and cares about me. “I’m sorry, Mia. I’ve just got a lot on my mind. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  “Hey, no worries, sis. I know you are going through a rough time. I’m here if you need to talk.” She leans in and gives me another hug and turns to head down the stairs. I follow behind. Mia t
urns right, and I proceed left toward Vince’s study.

  When I get to the door, it is slightly ajar. “Vince? May I come in?” I ask, peeking my head in to ensure I am not interrupting a meeting with someone.

  “Zaira, of course. Come on in.”

  I can see he is genuinely glad to see me. It really is a rare occasion over these last two weeks for me to leave the safety and confines of my room. Perhaps he’s taking it as a good sign that I have ventured out on my own.

  “How are you feeling today?” he asks.

  “Well, that’s one of the reasons I came to see you. I’d like to take an extended vacation.”

  “Oh,” he says, disappointed. “Where were you planning on going?”

  “I want to go to Florence.”

  “Damn, Zaira, I don’t think I can get the time away. I just got back from Edinboro, and Mia will be going back to school soon. We just can’t go now.”

  “You’re not understanding me. I want to go alone.”

  He shakes his head. “That’s impossible, Zaira. I can’t let you go alone. It’s not safe.” He thinks for a moment. “Besides, Michael would have my head if I let you leave here without one of us.”

  “In case you have forgotten, dear brother, I no longer belong to Michael Vitali,” I say.

  Vince rises from his chair. “No, little sister, you have forgotten that this entire family belongs to Michael Vitali. It was part of the deal, and I don’t regret it one single minute.” He waits to see if I say anything back, and when I don’t, he says, “And you are still his wife.”

  This is so unfair. So I’m a damn prisoner either in this house or his for the next fucking year. “Can’t one of the body guards go with me? Can’t D go with me?”

  “I don’t know, Zaira. I would have to clear it with Michael.” He shakes his head in frustration.