11. Vito

11

VITO

W hile Zeke read through the contract, I’d messaged one of our guards asking him to place a tracker on Zeke’s car.

I watched on my phone as Zeke left the parking lot and headed to the practice facility, waiting until the flashing dot stopped and stayed still to send him a text.

I miss you already.

When five minutes passed without a response, I assumed he was going to ignore me. Then, just as I was leaving for the arena with the contract tucked in my jacket pocket, my phone buzzed.

Stop texting me.

He might as well have begged me to text, to call, and to visit him. If he really wanted me gone, he’d ignore me. But he couldn’t stay away any more than I could.

Nice to know you miss me too.

I watched the screen. Nothing. A moment passed. Then pulsing dots appeared and finally…

No, I don’t.

Oh baby, you couldn’t make yourself clearer.

Stay away from me.

Impossible.

I pulled into a parking spot at the practice facility and headed inside to watch him practice.

The security guard eyed me as if he found me suspicious, but like most people, he didn’t have the nerve to question me. I was dressed nicely. I even made it through the metal detector with no problem. I would have been a lot happier to have brought my gun inside with me, or at least a good-sized knife, but I could do a hell of a lot of damage with my bare hands.

I sat as close as I could. I wanted Zeke to see me and know I wasn’t listening to his protests.

Practice was already going when I arrived. I’d waited long enough to ensure Zeke would be out on the ice. I settled into my seat and leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees as I watched him kneel on the ice, ass up in the air, pumping his hips to stretch his thighs. The position was obscene, and I hated that everyone else got to see him like that. But no one else would be there when I got to see him do it naked while riding my cock.

He shifted into a straddle position and pulsed his legs, opening them really fucking wide. That would be so useful.

Dammit. Now I was sitting there with a hard-on. I had to look at my phone and think about some boring accounting work my father wanted me to do. Hell, thinking about my father was enough to make my cock forget how much it wanted Zeke. Pops couldn’t find out about us, at least not for a while.

You should tell Val.

He would just tell me to back off, and I wasn’t going to.

He’s your brother. You’ve always told him everything.

I’m not ready to talk about Zeke.

He already knows you’re obsessed with him. You know Devil and Angelo told him all about it.

Everyone in this fucking family tells everyone’s business. Sometimes it would be nice to just be on my own without everyone looking over my shoulder.

Zeke hadn’t seen me yet. I enjoyed watching him when he didn’t know I was there. His focus was so intense. He threw himself fully into what he did, just like when he’d jerked off, and I was sure he’d be the same way in bed with me. I was going to love trying everything we could think of to do to each other.

Finally, as he skated off the ice for a water break, Zeke noticed me. He scowled and turned away quickly. This time, he looked angry rather than afraid, despite learning who I really was. He had to know on some level that I wasn’t going to hurt him. I was here to protect him. He’d opened up to me, let me know his secrets. I was sure the team had no idea how much trouble he was in.

I already had people investigating the situation in Vegas. No way in hell was I going to let any assholes from there get their hands on him. What was the chance Pops wouldn’t catch wind of my investigation? My brother had tried to outmaneuver him a few months ago, but Pops had been on top of it the entire time. Did I really think I was any better at keeping secrets?

I had learned a few things from Val. I wasn’t using anyone special or anyone connected with the family for the investigation. Only friends of friends, and they were looking quietly.

Maybe I’d get away with it.

I smiled at Zeke, and he turned away.

He played beautifully the rest of practice except for one play where he looked right at me and sent the puck flying off wildly. I loved the effect I had on him, but I couldn’t keep this game between us going too much longer or he would get in trouble with his coach. I wanted him off guard around me, but I wasn’t going to interfere with his career. He’d worked damn hard to get to the NHL. Sure, he’d made some fuckups along the way, who of us hadn’t? He deserved to be a star.

After practice ended, he wouldn’t look my way. He hurried toward the locker room, but I had no intention of letting him get away. We needed to have another talk. He was going to take my family’s money and clear his debt. We’d work out whatever terms he needed, but I wouldn’t let him remain in danger.

I wove through the crowd to the hallway where the team was slowly making their way to the locker room. “Zeke!”

He glanced my way, eyes wide. “You can’t be back here.”

“Come talk to me.”

One of the guys on the team whistled, and I gave him a glare that silenced him immediately. He might be a big, strong hockey player, but when I let my scary side show, only fools kept pushing me.

Another guy, Johnson, slapped Zeke on the back and pointed toward me.

Zeke shook his head and kept on walking. I wasn’t going to chase him. “Zeke. I said I need to speak to you.”

“Sir, you aren’t allowed back here.” Great. Now security was annoying me.

I smiled at the man who was rushing toward me and held up a hand. “I only need a moment.”

“This area is for team members only.”

“And I’m happy to leave once I’ve spoken to Mr. Balogh.”

Another guard joined us, and several players stopped to stare, but Zeke kept walking. I scowled as he disappeared into the locker room.

“He doesn’t want to speak with you, sir,” the security guard said. “You need to leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The man placed his hand on my shoulder and all my rage at not being able to get to Zeke rushed through me. I laid the guy out with a punch to the jaw.

As soon as my fist connected, I knew I’d fucked up. There wouldn’t be any keeping this from Val or Pops now.

The other guard grabbed my arms, pulling them behind me. I could have fought him off easily, but it was time to give in. I didn’t need to make this scandal any worse for the family, no matter how angry I was. I would track down Zeke, and he would talk to me.

After a humiliating ride to the police station, I was allowed to call Val to come get me. He didn’t ask questions other than what I’d done to land myself in jail. I found his silence worse than if he’d chewed me out. He told me he’d call our lawyers, and the charges would be dropped.

I had no doubt he could make that happen; we Marchesis were excellent at pulling strings. The only thing I worried about was exposing my obsession with Zeke.

By the time an officer unlocked my cell and led me out to Val, I felt like I’d been there forever. “What the hell took so long?”

“You’re welcome,” Val said. “The charges have been dropped.”

I let out a long breath. “Thank you.”

He turned around without saying a word. He hadn’t been this angry with me since I’d deliberately killed a man instead of interrogating him. The bastard had insulted Val and punishing him mattered more to me than the information we could have gotten.

I took my place in the passenger seat of Val’s car. Once he was seated, he turned to face me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

It would be a hell of a lot easier to have this conversation if I didn’t know I’d fucked up and could let my anger take over. That used to be a real problem for me but not recently. Wanting Zeke so bad had me losing control again.

“What were you doing in the players-only area?”

“Tracking down Balogh.”

“You couldn’t do that in the parking lot or at a bar or something?”

That certainly sounded like what a sane person would do. Actually, a sane person wouldn’t be stalking him at all.

When I didn’t respond, Val continued. “You can walk in any bar or club and talk your way into bed with most of the men and women in there, why are you letting your obsession with this hockey player land you in jail?”

“Would you have gone to jail for Liam?”

His eyes widened. “No way in hell do you feel what I feel for Liam.”

“Because I’m not as mature as you? Not as capable as you?”

“No. Dammit, Vito, don’t do that.”

“Tell me you don’t still see me as your kid brother.”

“I’ll always feel protective of you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re an adult.” He probably wouldn’t think so once I told him what’s going on. “Talk to me, Vito.”

I sighed. Sooner or later I was going to have to lay it all out. It might as well be now. “Can we not do this here?”

Val finally smiled. “Fine. Let’s go back to your place, have a drink, and talk this out.”

I nodded and we drove in silence.

Once we were at my apartment and we each had a tumbler of whisky, I told Val about watching Zeke play and knowing he was meant to be mine.

“Have you asked him out? Is that what you were trying to do?” I raised a brow, and my brother rolled his eyes. “Of course not. You can’t just make this easy.”

I leaned against the counter. “I’m bored, Val. You’re always with Liam or working, and fuck, I just need something to do that’s for me.”

“Going out, partying, hooking up, that’s not enough?”

“I’m tired of it.”

Val nearly choked on his whiskey. “Are you saying you want to settle down?”

“Yes. No. I don’t fucking know. All I know is that I want Zeke.”

He studied me as he took another sip of his drink. “Vito, what are you up to?”

The voice was the same one he’d used on me when I was a kid. He’d practically raised me from age ten. By then our mother was usually too drunk or high to bother. “Asking him out is too easy. I’m watching him, learning about him, teasing him.”

“You’re fucking stalking him?”

“Maybe.”

“Vito, what are you thinking? The last thing we need is a fucking family scandal. We get away with a hell of a lot, but that could come crashing down if we start being stupid. This arrest puts you on the cops’ radar again for no fucking reason other than you’re playing games with a man and letting yourself lose control.”

“I’ve been good for ages. I’ve kept my anger in. I’ve done every fucking thing the family has asked of me.”

“Behaving like a sane person isn’t supposed to be something with a time limit. Not losing it and punching cops should be something you always do, just like going after willing men and women, and not stalking an NHL player. You’re going to get in serious trouble.”

“It’s just a game. I’m not doing anything seriously wrong.”

“Vito, I just had to come get you out of jail and burn a favor to get the charges dropped. That’s not fucking nothing. Do you really think being a stalker is a game?”

Did I? “Relax. I’m not going to hurt him.”

“Ask him out or walk away.”

“Like you did with Liam?”

Val snarled. “Don’t bring Liam into this.”

“Right, because you can do whatever the fuck you want, but I’m supposed to play by the rules. That worked when we were kids, but not anymore.”

Val huffed. “You’ve never played by the rules. I’ve just kept you from self-destructing.”

“Well, now you’re not around to do that. I’m on my own, and I’ll do whatever the fuck I want.”

“The fuck you will.” Val shoved me against the wall and pinned me there with his hands on my chest. I pushed at his shoulders, but he didn’t budge. I hated how he’d always been the strongest one in every possible way. He was always going to be the one our father trusted, the one Lucien trusted, the one they considered a leader.

“I do my work. I deserve to have a little fun.”

“You can have fun without acting like a fucking psychotic stalker.”

“I like watching him.”

Val let me go and held up a hand. “Please don’t give me details about your kinks.”

I grinned. “What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll find out how boring you are?”

“There is nothing boring about what I do with Liam.”

I grabbed my glass and downed the rest of my drink. “I don’t want to be bored either.”

“I’m not asking you to be bored. Find somebody for whatever kinky shit you want to do. Hire somebody. I don’t care, but do not get yourself arrested for stalking. You know what Pops is going say when he finds out.”

“Any chance he won’t?”

Val raised his brows and stared at me.

“Yeah, I know. That’s a stupid question. Does he know already?”

“I didn’t tell him.”

“Thanks.”

“Seriously, Vito? Do you think I’m ratting on you to Pops now?”

“I don’t know. Things are…different.”

“Fuck, that’s not what this is about, is it?”

“No.” My answer was too fast and loud. I’d given myself away. The last thing I wanted was Val feeling sorry for me because I was all by myself. “You need time with Liam, I get it.”

Val narrowed his eyes, studying me. I kept my expression neutral. I didn’t want him to know how bothered I was. He’d spent a hell of a lot of years taking care of me. I shouldn’t need that anymore. “Stay away from him, Vito.”

“Would you have stayed away from Liam if I’d told you to?”

“No. But that’s?—”

I scowled at him. “How do you know it’s different?”

“Because Liam was never a game to me.”

“Are you sure hiring him wasn’t a game?”

Val drained his drink and slammed the glass down on the counter. “Just don’t get in trouble again.”

“Fine. Go back to your husband.”

“Vito, I’m?—”

“No, I’m fine. Just go. Thanks for taking care of things tonight.”

“I’ll let you know if Pops says anything to me.”

“Yeah, that’s good, thanks.”

When he left, I sank onto the couch. I pulled my phone from my pocket and toyed with it. Val was right. This was crazy, but I wasn’t going to stop. I needed this. I needed the game I was playing, but more than that, I needed to make sure Zeke was safe. He was in trouble with people who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him, and an injury could put an end to his hockey career. That wasn’t going to happen on my watch.

I wondered if he’d resist the urge to respond if I texted. Would he even pay attention to his phone? He could be out. He could be with another man.

Anger burned through me. Fuck, no. I would not allow that.

I need to talk to you.

No.

I want to help you.

I can handle this.

Just let me talk to you again.

I can’t.

Don’t you mean you won’t?

He didn’t reply. I waited a while, then I called him. When he didn’t answer I decided it was time to go looking for him.