Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

I 've never felt more fucking helpless in my life. Seeing my brother behind bars isn't a pleasant sight. It's a reality I've always known was possible. We don't exactly follow the law in our line of work. Gabe doesn't seem to be fazed, though. He's not concerned about himself at all. Just Daisy. His girlfriend.

I haven't had a lot to do with her personally. I know that Gabe is head over heels in love with the girl. That much is evident to anyone who spends one minute alone with the two of them.

Daisy has been at the house since Gabe got locked up. She doesn't leave her room much, which is why I was surprised to learn that Eloise and Daisy both went to a club tonight. And I laughed my ass off when Gio learned the whereabouts of his wife.

We'd just left the prison after visiting Gabe when Gio got a call from Dan. The guy he's got following El around. About ten minutes later, I got the same call from Vin, who was following Zoe at a distance. She's already got two Russians on her tail. If she knew I was also having her shadowed, she'd have my balls in a glass jar quicker than I could blink.

The last place I ever thought I'd see Zoe was a nightclub, though. I thought Vin was taking the mick when he said Zoe went into Unhinged with Lucy Christianson. Which is why Gio and I are currently on the way to that very same nightclub.

I've been trying to call her. Zoe doesn't like crowds. I don't know why she'd willingly walk into a fucking nightclub. Pulling out my phone, I fire off a text to Dom.

Me:

You know where your fiancée is?

Dom:

I always know where she is. Why?

Me:

You at Unhinged?

Dom:

In the office.

Me:

See you soon.

I don't ask him to check on Zoe. He'll be hiding out, watching both girls through the CCTV footage. I know Dom. He's not about to let Lucy out of his sight for long, especially in a nightclub. The guy has some serious control issues.

"Can this car go any faster?" I ask Gio.

"I'm already breaking every fucking road rule that exists, Marcello." His fingers grip the steering wheel so tight his knuckles are white. Then Gio looks across at me. "You really like this girl, don't you?"

"I love her," I tell him.

"What about the curse?"

"I'm not letting anything touch her." I will fall on my own fucking sword if I have to. I will sacrifice myself before I let anything touch Zoe. Fuck the fucking curse.

"We can't always protect the ones we love," Gio says with a frown. I know he's thinking about his wife, and how she was attacked not long after their wedding.

"I know, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do everything we can to try. Besides, Zoe is a Petrov. She has more than just the De Bellis family looking out for her."

"That also means she has more targets on her back," Gio points out the obvious.

It's a fact I'm well aware of. I've been searching for a possible connection between Zoe and the shooting at the restaurant. I haven't found anything, but it's odd that nothing has come from it. Like I've said before, I don't believe in coincidences.

"You should bring her back to the house. Let everyone meet her for real. If she's going to be a part of your life, then she's a part of all our lives, Marcel."

"That didn't go down so well last time I tried to bring her around," I remind him.

Zoe ran back to New York the morning after. I'm fucking petrified of doing anything to scare her off again. I've been walking on eggshells all week, almost afraid to do or say anything that could possibly upset her. It's fucked up, and something I need to sort out. It's not her fault. I don't blame her for needing time. She's been through shit no person should ever have to go through. I understand her hesitation. I just don't like it.

Although, since she's been back, she doesn't seem as flighty. She says she's all in . That she wants to give us a real go. It's me who's holding back this time, because I don't want to risk not having her.

Gio stops in front of the club and I jump out of the car before he even comes to a full stop. I hear him yell after me but I don't bother looking back. I need to see her for myself. The bouncers open the rope for me without question, as they always do. This isn't my first time at this club. And I head straight for the VIP section because that's Lucy's usual hangout spot.

I climb the stairs and find them straight away. And then I pause. Zoe isn't just sitting with Lucy. No, she's hanging out with Eloise and Daisy as well.

I spot Ivan in the booth in front of them. He clocks me, acknowledging my presence with a nod. I don't know what to do. I want to walk up to the table, take Zoe, and walk the fuck back out again. But then I see her smile. She's happy. She's enjoying herself, and that's not something I'm going to ruin for her.

As I'm standing like a fucking idiot staring at my girl, Gio barges right past me. That fucker has no qualms when it comes to going in, claiming his wife, and dragging her ass out of here. I follow him over to the table and get there before he has a chance to open his mouth. Sliding into the booth and wrapping my arm around Zoe. Thankful she's sitting on the edge.

"Fancy seeing you all here. Gio convinced me we needed a night out. I tried to tell him he's too old for the club scene but he wasn't having a bar of it." I give her my best easygoing smile.

Zoe's eyes roam all over my face. I have no idea what she's searching for. "Are you… Never mind," she says while shaking her head.

I frown at her, about to ask her to finish her question when Eloise's voice yells out over the noise of the music, "Gio De Bellis, if you're crashing girls' night, then at least be useful and get us a new bottle of champs."

"Oh, more champagne! Yes, that's the best idea I've heard all week." Zoe turns her attention to El.

Leaning in so only she can hear my words, I whisper, "I'm pretty sure you told me the same thing about a third orgasm last night."

Zoe gasps and spins around to face me. Her eyes wide open. "You can't say that here. In front of people," she tells me.

"What'd he say? I wanna hear." Dani, one of El's friends, chimes in.

"Nothing," Zoe says before leaning in against my ear. "I want to dance."

"Downstairs?" I ask her.

Zoe bites her bottom lip and nods her head. "I think so."

"Let's go." I stand and hold out a hand to her. I don't need a second invitation to dance with Zoe. Having her body pressed up against mine is a fucking daily goal of mine. One I make sure I achieve. "If at any point you want me to get you out of here, say the word and we're gone."

"I'm good. I wanted to come here. I want to dance—even more now that you're here." She smiles back at me.

"Well then, show me what moves you've got, babe." I take Zoe's hand and guide her down the stairs to where the main dance floor is situated. It's full of people, and I have to push through the crowd with Zoe right behind me until I find a spot.

I wanted a darkened section of the dance floor. Somewhere we're not privy to everyone's attention. I plan on making this a dance experience she'll never forget. I can feel the tension coming off her. I don't like seeing her fight with herself for control. So I do the only thing I can think of that will help. Distract her.

Pulling her body up against mine, I press my thigh between her legs and press her as close as I can get her. My arm is tight around her waist.

Zoe gasps, and her hands land on my biceps. "What are you doing?"

"Dancing," I tell her before slamming my lips down on hers. My tongue pushes into her mouth, tasting the champagne on her.

Moving my hands to Zoe's hips, I start circling them, showing her exactly how I want her body moving against mine. I swallow her moans. Her hands tighten on my arms, those nails of hers digging in through the fabric of my shirt. "Oh god. Marcel, stop."

Her words are like a bucket of cold water. My hands leave her body and I take a small step back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just…" Zoe looks around. No one is paying us any attention. "I was about to come," she whispers.

I smirk. "I know. That was the point of what we're doing," I say while wrapping my arms back around her body. "I want you to come. Right here, right now, Zoe."

"Here. Everyone will see." She gasps again as I press her core against my thigh.

"No one will ever see you. I won't allow it. Trust me, babe. I've got you. Let yourself go, Zoe. I've got you," I repeat, hoping my words sink in. I will always have her.

Zoe's eyes are filled with lust. Her breath hitches as I circle her hips against my body. And then she takes over, moving against me. Her core grinding down on my leg. "Oh shit," she hisses.

My hands cup her face, moving her hair away. "I fucking love seeing you come apart for me. I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life," I tell her.

We don't break eye contact as we dance, and it doesn't take long before Zoe's coming. Her mouth drops open and her body goes rigid in my arms.

"Fucking perfect." I slam my lips back onto hers.

And then, a sound I'm all too familiar with has me pushing Zoe to the ground. My body covering hers as I look around at the chaos unfolding before my eyes.

Reaching towards my lower ankle, I pull the small pistol out I have strapped there. And push to my feet while pulling Zoe up off the ground. All around us, people are screaming, running, barging into each other as gunshot after gunshot rings out through the dark room.

"Stay behind me," I tell Zoe as I start to drag her towards the closest exit.