The Wedding Dress That Became My War Paint

"Izzy!"

When Enzo saw the state I was in, a murderous rage ignited in his eyes.

He rushed to my side, shrugging off his jacket and wrapping it around my exposed body.

He held me tight, his eyes a storm of anguish and raw concern.

"Are you okay, Izzy? Don't be scared, I'm here."

My nose stung, and the tears I'd been holding back finally streamed down my face.

Enzo gently wiped them away, then looked up at Sofia with a merciless glare.

"You touched my sister. You have a death wish."

Sofia, however, reacted as if she’d heard the funniest joke in the world, doubling over with laughter.

When she straightened up, she gave my brother a disdainful look, her arrogance unchecked.

"Big words. Let's see if you're still talking so tough when you're bleeding out on the floor."

"Men! Get him! Show him that Sofia Gallo isn't someone to be trifled with!"

As soon as she spoke, her goons surged forward.

Enzo's men formed a protective circle around us, swiftly taking down several of her thugs.

But more of them poured out from behind Sofia, and our men were starting to get overwhelmed.

I couldn't help but ask Enzo, my voice tight with worry, "Enzo, is this everyone?"

Enzo’s face was grim. He patted my hand.

"Don't worry. Papa is on his way with the cleanup crew."

"I'd like to see anyone lay a hand on my sister!"

Watching her men fall one by one, Sofia began to look desperate.

Her eyes, full of venom, darted between my brother and me, then she snarled as she dialed her phone.

"You just wait! I'm calling my husband. He'll kill you himself!"

The moment the call connected, she started to sob.

"Honey! Some guy named Enzo is bullying me! He said I hurt his sister, and now he wants to kill me! You have to get here, fast!"

Sofia had deliberately put the call on speaker.

But as soon as she finished, the voice on the other end cracked with panic.

"Enzo Moretti?...Where the fuck are you?! Stay right where you are, don't move!"

After seven years, I'd know Vincent's voice anywhere.

I could even hear the tremor in it as he spat out each word.

Heh. I’ll wait.

Sofia hung up, a triumphant, shrill laugh cutting through the air.

"Hmph! My husband is on his way to kill all of you! He said he doesn't know any Enzo! He'll just pay to make you disappear!"

With that, she pointed at the thugs beside her. "Go! Whoever takes them down first gets a hundred thousand dollars from me!"

At her words, greed flashed in the thugs' eyes, their faces twisting.

One of them snatched a fruit knife from a nearby display and lunged toward us.

"Izzy, close your eyes!" Enzo shouted, spinning to shield me with his own body.

A large, warm hand covered my eyes.

A muffled grunt from Enzo, then the overwhelming, coppery smell of blood.

A terrible feeling seized me. I clawed at the hand over my eyes, my voice cracking with panic.

"Enzo! What happened!"

The first thing I saw was a gruesome gash on Enzo’s arm, blood dripping onto the pristine floor.

Then, a powerful kick sent Enzo, still shielding me, crashing to the ground.

With a wet, retching cough, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Enzo!"

A scream tore from my throat, my heart fracturing.

I was untouched, but Enzo’s shirt was already soaked crimson.

A black, venomous hatred coiled in my gut.

The next second, I lifted my face, a blur of blood and tears.

I snatched a broken bottle from a shattered display and charged straight at Sofia’s triumphant face.

In one fluid motion, I lunged and viciously drove the jagged glass into her abdomen.