12. Zeke

12

ZEKE

A s soon as I got home from practice, I began researching Vito Marchesi. It was harder to find information on him than I’d thought it would be, but damn if he didn’t look hot as fuck in every picture I found of him.

Even through my phone screen I could feel him luring me in. There was just something about him and seeing him in a tux… Damn. I stared at a picture of him from a charity gala, and I swore I could feel the power rolling off of him. Sometimes, I hated being attracted to dominant men like him, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted a chance to be with a man who could hold me down and make me fight. It would take a big man like Vito to do that. I was damn strong, or I’d never be able to hold my own out on the ice.

I found a picture of Vito together with his brother Valentino. They were volunteering at a church yard sale, which didn’t seem to fit their image. They each had an apron tied around their waist and seemed to be straightening objects on the table.

Maybe they were doing penance for what they did during the rest of the day. Both their names were connected to multiple violent crimes and suspected theft. Nothing was ever proven, though. Vito had been arrested numerous times but never charged. Most likely, his family had connections in the police department.

My search only left me more confused. Was Vito a guy who smiled while working at a church or a cold, psychotic killer?

Maybe he’s both.

Was that better or worse?

I found more images of Vito with other Marchesi family members. They might all be fucking criminals, but even from a picture I could tell they cared about each other. What was it like to be part of such a big, involved family?

You might find out if you actually talked to him.

Fuck no. Suddenly, it felt like the world was closing in around me. I had to get out of my apartment. All I could think of was Vito and how he scared me, excited me, and pissed me off. I needed something to make me stop thinking about him. Some drinks and a good hard fuck might do it.

You’re kidding, right? You’ll think of him the whole time.

I told that fucked up voice in my head to shut up, changed clothes, and headed out. I walked past my regular spots and headed out of my neighborhood, hoping the cold evening air would help clear my head.

All it did was make me wish Vito was there to wrap his arms around me and warm me up. This was ridiculous. I spent half my life on the fucking ice, I shouldn’t even feel the cold anymore.

I’d taken a chaotic path, but I ended up at a gay bar I’d driven past several times. I glanced over my shoulder as I walked inside. I had the feeling someone was watching me. The fuckers from Vegas still hadn’t shown up even though I’d received written or texted threats daily. I was probably just paranoid. Between my debt and Vito, that wouldn’t be surprising.

I found a seat at the bar and ordered a beer. As much as I wanted to get wasted, I knew I needed to stay alert in case my instincts were right, and someone was following me. I sipped my beer and scoped out the clientele.

A young blond man met my gaze and smiled. I held eye contact, and his eyes widened. He rose and moved toward me.

“Oh my God, are you Zeke Balogh?”

“Who wants to know?”

“Someone who is very interested in your…career.”

I smiled. “I’m Zeke. Why don’t you join me?” I gestured to the empty stool beside me.

“I’d be more than happy to. Too bad I don’t have my jersey for you to sign. I guess I’ll have to let you choose something else to put your mark on.” He looked pointedly down at his crotch.

I laughed. “You’re outrageous.”

“Is it working?”

I wanted it to be. He was hot as fuck and so clearly offering what I thought I wanted, but I was struggling to summon any real interest. He would be fun, and I would have been pleased as hell to put him on his knees before I met Vito, but now I wanted someone willing to take control rather than a fawning fan.

The young man frowned, and I realized I’d waited too long to answer. Before I could figure out what to say, a hand clamped down on my shoulder. “What the fuck are you doing?”

The young man’s eyes widened as I recognized Vito’s voice and the heat of his hand.

“He’s mine,” Vito said.

“That’s not true,” I protested, but the young man held his hand up in show of surrender and scurried back to his friends.

I glared at Vito as he took the man’s seat. “Why are you here?”

“I came to save you.”

“I think I could hold my own with that man.”

Vito grinned. “To save you from doing something stupid.”

“Like enjoying a few drinks and a hot, willing man? That doesn’t seem like a mistake to me.”

Vito’s hand circled my wrist, squeezing hard. “I’m the only man you need to be with.”

“Who do you think you are?”

“A fucking Marchesi.”

“Is this how you usually approach men?”

He smiled. “No, most men and women are far more willing. They usually come to me.”

I could see why, but I wasn’t about to say that. “Then go find someone else.”

“I want you.”

I took a deep breath and forced myself to look away from him. There was a man seated in a corner booth watching me. When he raised a hand and smiled, my stomach flip-flopped. I didn’t recognize him, but somehow I knew he wasn’t looking for a hookup.

“What’s wrong?” Vito asked. He followed my line of sight and when he saw the man, he snarled and slid off his stool. The man rose and ran for the side door.

“What the fuck? Do you know him?”

Vito grabbed my arm. “We need to get out of here.”

“What? Why?” A moment ago I’d been thinking the same thing, but I hadn’t planned to leave with Vito.

“You aren’t going to walk home alone with that man out there.”

“I’m hardly a weakling. I can hold my own with some asshole.”

“Not if he blows your head off first.”

Now I was really fucking scared, but I played it off. “The guys from Vegas want their money, so they aren’t going to kill me.”

“I don’t have time to argue. Follow me. Now.”

“I haven’t paid my tab.”

Vito pulled a stack of bills from his pocket and threw them down on the bar. “That covers it. Don’t make me throw you over my shoulder.”

I raised my brows. “You think you can fucking carry me?”

“I know I can.”

“I’m—”

“Shut up and follow me.”

I didn’t hesitate again. I did exactly what he demanded.

He looped his arm through mine as we stepped through the exit. Did he think I was going to run? Did he really think he could stop me so easily? Hadn’t he seen the fights I’d been in on the ice? He had to know I wasn’t someone he could easily fuck with.

I let him lead me down the street to his SUV. It beeped as he unlocked it and gestured toward the passenger door. “Get in the car.”

“Vito, I’m not going home with you.”

“Get in now. I’m serious.”

“You can’t?—”

“There’s a man over there watching you. If you hadn’t come out with me, he and his accomplices would be beating you in an alley right now.”

“What?” It felt like ice water had been splashed in my face. The pleasant buzz from the drink I’d had seemed to fade as I glanced toward the man. Holy fuck. I recognized him. He was the man who’d broken my arm. He’d come at me like a crazy man, and no matter how many punches I’d landed he’d just kept beating me like he felt nothing.

Vito grabbed the side of my face and forced me to focus on him. “Don’t look his way. Get in the goddamn car and let me take care of you.”

I pulled the door open as Vito moved around to the driver’s side, keeping his eye on the man waiting in the alley.

The man didn’t move. He clearly didn’t mind if he was seen.

“Don’t pursue this,” Vito yelled. The man just laughed. Did he know who Vito was?

“Do you know those men?” I asked when Vito started the car.

“Yes. Loony, the man I chased out of the bar, is a mercenary we’ve hired before. The other man is Benito, a fucking psycho who’ll do anything for the highest bidder. He’s not supposed to show his face in Boston anymore.”

“I saw the second man in Vegas.”

“Fuck. Did they send him after you?”

“Yes.”

“That’s fucking overkill if all you want is to scare someone.”

“He did the job by breaking my fucking arm”

Vito slammed his fist against the dash so hard I thought it would crack. “I should kill him right now. How dare he. He fucking ruined the end of your season.”

I didn’t want Vito deciding to go after him now, so I tried to change the subject. “He was there when I borrowed the money too.”

Vito glanced toward me, then back to the road. “I’m going to need to make some calls.”

When Vito turned onto my street, I realized I’d never told him where I lived. “You know where my apartment is?”

“Yes.” He didn’t sound the least bit apologetic.

“What the hell?”

“I found your phone number, didn’t I? You really think I couldn’t find your address?”

“This has got to stop.”

“What has got to stop is these men following you. They mean business, and Benito gets off on torture. If he gets ahold of you again, things will be even worse than before. He’s a mastermind at killing, Zeke. You’ve got to take this seriously.”

“I am taking it fucking seriously. I’ve been looking over my shoulder since I moved.”

“When did you start getting threats?”

I sighed. “A week ago.”

“How often?”

“Daily.”

“Fuck.”

“I’ve seen you fight, but you weren’t really trying to kill the opposing team. You just wanted to put them in their place. This man loves killing, maiming, torture. Do you understand what that means?”

“Yes, I get it, okay?”

“You’re going to need some bodyguards.”

I sighed. “So you’re going to use this as a way to follow me around even more?”

“I can’t be with you twenty-four seven, but I have men who can be.”

“I can hire my own security.”

“If you could hire men as good as mine, you would be able to pay off your debt without coming to me for money.”

I wanted to scream. “I didn’t know it was you.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It does.”

“No. I’m the one you came to, and I’m the one who’s going to help you.”

“I—”

“No more protests.” I sank back into the seat. When we reached my building, he pulled up to the garage entrance. “Code?”

“Vito, I’m not?—”

“Don’t play with me.”

“Isn’t that what you’re doing. This is a game to you, right?”

He snarled. “Not anymore.”

“What does that mean?”

“Tell me the fucking code.”

“Five. Eight. Nine. Two.” He punched in the numbers and the bar rose, letting us in. “You would just have rammed through the gate if I hadn’t told you, wouldn’t you?”

He just smiled. The bastard.

He pulled into a spot clearly marked reserved. “You can’t park there.”

“I can do whatever I want.”

“Including stalking me and forcing me to let you into my apartment.”

“Do I really have to force you? Are you telling me you won’t let me in of your own free will?”

“Are you telling me you won’t force your way in if I don’t?”

He scowled at me. “I want your permission.”

“You’re not a fucking vampire, are you?”

He smiled. “No, but I have every intention of draining the blood out of Benito once I know you’re somewhere safe.”

The world spun around me. He was fucking serious. “You won’t.”

“I will. He threatened you, and I’m not going to let him live.”

“You’re psychotic.”

“Maybe, but I’m on your side.”

I huffed. “You’re on your own side.”

“Baby, no. I’m going to take care of you.” A shudder ran through me as he spoke in a low voice.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Call me baby.”

“Why?”

“It’s…too personal. Too… Look, I know you want to fuck me, and you’ve got some kind of crazy control kink but?—”

He took hold of my chin, his grip just shy of painful. “You’re wrong. I want way more than a single hot fuck with you. You’re meant to be mine.”

“That’s insane.”

“Maybe, but it’s true.”

“Vito.”

“Take me up to your apartment. Let me make this problem of yours go away.”

I should say no. Any sane person would know better. I believed Vito could help me, but then I’d be indebted to him, and he wouldn’t let me go easily. He was no less dangerous—and possibly no less crazy—than the men who were watching me tonight. So why was I sure I could trust him, at least with my physical well-being?

He turned off the car and reached for his door handle. “Come on.”

I laid a hand on his arm. “You can come up, but that’s all I’ll promise.”

His smile made me shiver. “That’s a start.”