by E. M. Gayle
I knew in this day and age I wasn't supposed to need someone to 'take care of me', but the knowing that someone wanted to, no matter how temporarily, kind of felt incredible.
And yet...
"I guess it depends." I answered as honestly as I could.
"On?"
Apparently, he wasn't going to make this easy for me. "On whether there are closets full of skeletons or maybe a secret wife or family I should know about. A lady can't be too careful these days. If there's another scandal waiting for me around the corner I'd rather know now than later.”
His dark laugh wrapped around me and new warmth filled me. I loved hearing that sound from him and based on what I'd seen so far and how rusty that half smile looked on him, I had a feeling he didn't make it nearly enough. I was going to make it my personal mission to see if I could do something about that.
"Everyone has secrets these days. Although I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to hide a wife. And why would I? If I ever get to the point in a relationship where I can see myself married, I'm not going to keep that hidden."
I tried not to cringe at his answer. Whether he realized it or not, and he probably did, he'd just made it crystal clear that he didn't see that happening. It seemed that like most men, either the good ones were taken or they were commitment phobic. Oh well. I didn't know how long this thing we had between us would last, but I wanted to make the best of our time together anyhow.
If that was even possible considering we were both under a lot of pressure right now. He had a fight to survive. Although from what I'd seen on YouTube it didn't seem like it would be that hard for him. I'd watched video after video where he'd beaten back his opponents under every single circumstance.
The raw power he harbored in that perfect body was explosive to say the least. Not to mention that perfect record he carried.
"How important is this fight coming up? There's a lot of speculation that you are planning to retire and that this might finally be the one you lose."
I immediately regretted the words when I said them. I was feeding into the media hype that was probably all bullshit anyways. I knew better than this.
He shrugged. "It likely is the last. Although you didn't hear that from me." He traced a path along the inside of my arm as he talked and I fought to concentrate on his words not his actions. "Everyone thought the last one was the last and the one before that. It's the constant speculation as the undefeated champ for so long. Thirty-six is still prime time in boxing years, but the older I get the more chances there are for serious injuries and there's more important things I'd rather do than recover."
"Like what?" I asked, although I was still more focused on his fingers igniting heat as they traveled over my flushed skin.
"Continue to build my empire of course. Try new things on for size. Right now I'm considering an offer from Hollywood."
My eyes widened. "Really? That sounds awesome."
"Try not to sound so surprised. I may be a fighter, but there's a lot more to me than that. I'm not the thug everyone likes to label me as."
"I didn't get that at all when I was researching you. People seem to be divided on whether they like you or not, but most sound impressed with what you've accomplished in your career."
His hand stilled. "Google told you all that?"
"I can read between the lines. Plus I know what it’s like to have the media blow things out of proportion. Their desire to scandalize my personal life nearly cost me my job with the network. It's why they are still sitting on the fence about our season two renewal. Bastards are still worried I'm not good enough for their family network."
"They're idiots. You are perfect for television. Beautiful, creative, talented with a touch of both sweet and sassy to keep things interesting."
I pushed against the bed and lifted onto my elbows so I could look him in the face. "You've watched my show?"
His lips tipped again towards a smile, but was tempered by a flare of something darker in his eyes. "You're not the only one capable of research. I have to be careful about who I let in my life."
I didn't know what to say. I was equal parts charmed and horrified. It had been a good long time since I'd Googled myself. But Julie kept me in the know to a degree and I knew that a lot of what was said about me wasn't exactly flattering. Divorce may be more common than ever in today's world, but that didn't mean celebrities could go through it without being dragged out into the spotlight and picked apart one nasty rumor at a time.
"What about you? It seems in light of your recent divorce, that family would be the last you'd want to be around. Weren't you worried about running into your dickwad ex?"
I snort laughed at his colorful description. That it was true only made it better. "Life is complicated."
"It doesn't have to be."
Not true, but now didn't seem the time to argue that point. I rolled onto my back and smoothed out the t-shirt I had borrowed from him. "I was there to talk to Romeo."
"Why? I assume most people would want to keep their distance from him.“
My head turned to look at Vincent at the sound of his tight tone. That didn't sound good. Nor did it look good based on the sudden rigidity of his muscles flexing in his arms and hands.
"What's wrong?" I was suddenly nervous again and I wasn't sure how to handle this Vincent.
"Tell me, Zia. What business did you have with Romeo?"
"He's my godfather. I was there to explain what had happened between me and Dante."
Vincent's expression twisted, but I didn't fully understand why. I hadn’t even told him yet that Romeo had arranged the marriage in the first place. Clearly talking about my ex with the man I was currently sleeping with was a big mistake.
"How in the hell is that man your godfather?"
Vincent's graveled tone vibrated along my skin and set the hair at the back of my neck on edge. "He's been a friend of our family forever. Romeo and my parents grew up together. My father even worked for him."
"Your father worked directly for Romeo Rossi? Are you kidding me?"
I didn't get what was going on. Why he sounded so alarmed didn't make sense. It wasn't as if there was any blood relation or anything weird like that. I'd married a family friend not my brother.
"Yes. He was his accountant."
"Zia."
I didn't know what had set off Vincent, but the whole thing was making me uncomfortable. It was time to make my excuses and get the heck out. I needed some space to breathe and figure all of this out.
"Zia," he repeated.
"What time is it?" I jumped from the bed and began searching for my discarded clothing. As much as I didn't want to face the real world, I still had some work down at the restaurant before I could call it a day.
"Almost eight."
"Fuck. Seriously?" We'd lost more time than I'd thought. "I need to meet with Julie and go over what I missed. My director too. He's probably pissed that I disappeared after the shooting today. I didn't even check to see if we were done before I came here."
Vincent grabbed my arm and pulled me back down towards the bed. "You can't go yet."
"I have to." If I couldn't tell he wasn't letting me go with the tight grip he had on my wrist, I could see it in his eyes that we weren't done. But I couldn't stay. My stomach trembled with nerves I didn't understand. If I didn't get out of here soon I couldn't promise I'd be able to keep it together.
What had I been thinking anyways? Everything was already on the line and getting too involved with Vincent this quick wasn't going to make that situation better. I had to tread carefully. I'd already been warned by the network that I would be watched and that any hint of anymore scandalous behavior would result in my immediate dismissal. That stupid morality clause they'd made me sign had me pinned down.
I was walking on a tight rope with Vincent and I knew it.
When the phone on the nightstand vibrated we both glanced at it. Since mine was still buried in my purse somewhere, this call wasn't for me.
I blew out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Time to get back to the real world and its normal limitations.
Without releasing me, he swiped the phone from the table and stared down at the screen.
"I have to take this. It's Houston. Maybe he has an update on our case."
My stomach tightened.
While that intrigued me, I remained focus on my escape. So many thoughts, regrets and ideas were firing inside my mind all at once and I was starting to feel the overwhelm again. I definitely needed some time alone to pull myself back together.
I was willing to compromise if that meant he'd let me go. "I'm going to the bathroom to dress. Take the call. Then we can figure out what's next."
"Don't even think about running again," Vincent warned as he swiped the screen to take the call. "Houston," he said as he released his grip from my wrist while giving me a look that commanded I do as he say. "Please tell me you have something, otherwise I'm going to have an issue with the interruption."
I couldn't hear what was said on the other end, but my brain was still focused on the look he'd given me. The commanding one that should have either made me cringe or pissed me off instead of making me want to mutter, yes Sir.
Instead of escaping into the adjoining master ensuite, I slipped out of the room and into the half bath off of the suite's entry. I dressed quickly and immediately began the hunt for shoes and purse. I caught a glance of my mussed up bed head hair in the entry way mirror and cringed. I forced myself to turn away and ignore it, forgoing trying to fix it at this point. My suite was only a few yards away. I could attack it there before heading downstairs to the restaurant.
However, I wasn't going to make a run for it as much as I wanted to, but I would be ready to bolt as soon as he got off the phone. I did want to know if there was an update on my blackmailer. If only for some assurance those pictures were never going to see the light of day.
As I slipped the found pumps onto my bare feet another buzz sounded, signaling someone was at the door.
Good grief. He had more people coming and going in his life than I did.
I glanced in the direction of the bedroom where I could still hear Vincent talking on the phone. I should just ignore it. It wasn't my door to answer.
The door chimed again. Maybe it was important. I crossed to the door and looked out the tiny peephole. There was a young woman on the other side. A very young one. Long blonde hair down to her waist. Everything inside me told me not to open that door. That whoever this was, she could wait for Vincent.
But...
Curiosity. It's a real serious thing. It crawls along your skin and immediately starts to itch until you absolutely have to scratch it. I reached for the door before I even realized I was going to do it and pulled it open.
Blonde, beautiful and probably not legal greeted me on the other side in a too tight minuscule dress, thigh high designer boots and a smile that looked positively wicked. If this was some kind of girlfriend situation he'd neglected to tell me about, I was going to kill that sick mother fucker.
"Hi," I mumbled as I grappled with my sagging confidence and vicious thoughts.
The smile on her face transformed into confusion as her gaze slid up and down as she took in my appearance. "Who are you?"
"Zia." I swallowed thickly, barely able to get my name out.
"You must be the new side piece," she said sweetly, her tone low and full of insinuations.
My stomach dropped and bile rose in my throat as I heard Vincent enter the room behind me.
"Zia, Houston has some answers, but do you want the good news or the—What the hell is going on?"
The girl turned away from me and with a beaming smile aimed at Vincent she laughed. "Hi, Daddy. Surprise."
Chapter Twenty-One
ZIA
What sick twisted world had I stepped into? Was everyone in this town out of their mind. Had that girl just called Vincent daddy?
I needed to be sick. Like literally any second I was going to puke my guts out. I didn't just fall down the rabbit hole. I fell, hitting my head on every rung of the ladder on the way down. What else could explain this madness?
"Lana! What the hell is wrong with you?" Gabe, the hotel manager, filled the doorway behind her. "You agreed to keep quiet and stay out of trouble if I brought you up here."
She shrugged. "What? I've always wanted to do that and watch people freak out. It's a joke. Everyone relax."
Gabe groaned. “I’m sorry. I should have insisted she stay with Nina."
I was so confused now my head spun.
"What exactly is going on?" Vincent demanded. "Because as far as I can see this isn't funny."
He pressed a hand to my back at the waist and I jerked from his touch. I wholeheartedly agreed. But that didn't mean I wanted him touching me right now either. Not until I had a crystal clear explanation.
"This is my fault." Gabe started. "This is Lana, my teenage sister.”
“Half-sister,” Lana interrupted with a smirk and a roll of her eyes.
Gabe took a breath. “My half-sister and all around pain in the neck troublemaker. She's moved in with Nina and me this week. She begged me to introduce her to you Vincent because supposedly she is a big fan. But you can just ignore her now."
A huge grin spread across the young girl's face and a snort laugh escaped her lips. "I wish I'd taken a picture of that. You should see your faces right now. Priceless."
"I don't understand. She is your sister and—" I couldn't say the words.
"No!" Both Vincent and Gabe said in unison.
"That really was Lana's idea of a joke, as sick as it was." Gabe turned to the young girl and pushed her gently through the door. "You've had your fun. Now it's time to go home." She started to protest and Gabe closed the door in her face. "I am so sorry about that. I knew she was trouble but Jesus Christ. She needs a full-time keeper." He looked up at us where we were both still standing rather speechless. "Seriously. I'll make sure she doesn't bother either of you again."
Gabe's apology finally knocked me out of my stupor. "I need to go."
"You might want to stay. I came here to talk to Vincent while Nina went looking for you. Actually, everyone in the free world is looking for the two of you."
The heat of a new blush bloomed in my chest and crawled up my neck. So much for discretion. My big plan to come to Vegas for a fresh start was quickly falling apart. If everyone in the hotel knew what was going on between Vincent and I, then it was only a matter of time before the rest of the world figured it out.
"What's going on?" Vincent's voice came out so tight I felt the air in the room vibrate with the tension.
"There's been a development. Lana found a story that just posted to the internet about twenty minutes ago and brought it to my attention. I don't know if you've seen it yet, but I wanted to make sure you were both aware of it." Gabe held up his tablet and typed in his passcode to open it. "We're going to have to put our heads together and figure out how we're going to spin this one. Although right now I don't have any solid ideas. Maybe you need to tell me what exactly is going on."
I knew before he even turned the screen around. My head throbbed with it. The pictures.
Everything I had tried to hide came crashing down on me as the screen came into focus. A sob tore from my throat as panic seized my heart.
There it was on the internet for the world to see. A picture of me with my hands above my head and tied to a bed. A blindfold covered my eyes, but that didn't exactly serve as a disguise. And I wasn't alone. This picture I remembered well. Because it had captured the first moment whenVincent leaned over me, wrapped his hand around my throat and thrust inside me.
Every time I looked at this photo I felt him between my thighs all over again. It was a moment to relish and live over and over again. Until now.
I was so focused on the photo and what it meant I almost missed the headline.
HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMP CLAIMS HE'S HEIR TO THE ITALIAN MAFIA THRONE AND
EXPLOITS DEAD MOBSTER’S GODDAUGHTER TO PROVE HIS POINT.
"What the holy fuck!" Vincent exploded and I couldn't speak. Not with the pain radiating through my body as if I'd literally been stabbed in the back. First, the money and now this.
“Wait. Romeo Rossi is dead?" I croaked out.
Gabe nodded his head. "Official news hit the internet only a few hours ago. The timing between that and this is incredibly suspect."
"Zia." Vincent reached for me and I reared back. My stomach was on fire. Everything was on fire. He couldn't touch me. Not now, not ever.
"You're his son?" Those three words were the only ones I could get out as my brain tried to comprehend this news.
"Yes, but—"
"And that makes me what? A pawn in some power play? You weren't at that party because of some fan. You set me up. Why?" I staggered back as the possibilities infected my mind. "Oh God. You helped him. I was right all along. You lied to me repeatedly and like an idiot I fell for it."
"It wasn't like that. Zia, let me explain."
He tried to wrap his arms around me and I fought against him, flinging my arms wildly to get free. But the burning in my stomach had turned to heaves and I couldn't do more than clutch my stomach a moment before I lost control and puked my guts out.
All over both men…
The bearer of bad news and the liar.
Vincent and Zia's story concludes in DIRTY BIG SINS. Available for preorder now.
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Also by E.M. Gayle
Contemporary Romance
