I love to see her relaxed and laughing after we’ve just had a scene and then some.
I think about what we’ve uncovered about her ex-boyfriend. Sanders tried to get into the Palermo organization before, but hadn’t been welcomed because he had a reputation for losing his cool and running away in tense neighborhood situations.
But when Sanders started dating Zoe, he’d met Frank through her. And it was at a time when Frank was in need of more guys. The word from people in the know was that Frank had encouraged Sanders to do something to prove himself. Sanders apparently had because now he’d gained entry as a new foot soldier in Frank’s army.
Since he doesn’t need Zoe to get his foot in the door with Frank anymore, Sanders might only want to see her because he wants her back. Or maybe he’s interested in recovering the bundle of money he left in Zoe’s place.
I don’t really care why he wants her, he’s not getting his hands on her.
* * *
Zoe
C’s Range Rover with the tinted bulletproof windows has the wrong effect on me. I feel safe and enjoy the soft leather against the backs of my bare thighs. I lean forward, looking through the songs in his playlist.
I glance over at him. God, his body is amazing. The definition in his forearms alone makes me want to touch him. What would he do if leaned over his lap? Would he tell me to take him in my mouth? I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the overwhelming lust. There’s something primal about the way I respond to him. It’s not just physical either. All he needs to do is look at me. Or whisper my name. As if sensing my thoughts, he speaks.
“We’re good together, Zoe,” he says.
My heart thuds slowly, and I stare into his eyes, getting lost in them for a long moment.
“We do have great chemistry,” I say.
“Do you think that’s all it is? Lust?” he asks curiously.
“I think... I don’t know what I think.”
“Some of the time you’re fighting this. Why?”
I sigh. “I guess because I’m used to running my own life. You’re used to running everything. It’s tough to just relinquish control.”
“Do you want to negotiate? Tell me what you want.”
“For starters, I want you to let me leave.”
“You expect me to agree to something that I think would put you in danger?”
“I think there are safe places I could go, but it suits you to have me at your place.”
“Doesn’t that suit you too? Most of the time?” he asks with a small smile. “Seems like it does when you beg me for more.”
I hold up a hand in surrender. “I like being with you, but I won’t be happy until it’s my choice to be with you or not. Otherwise, this whole thing is shades of Frank Palermo. He’s very good at keeping people under his thumb through force and manipulation. I’m not willing to live my life that way.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
“Look around, C. At times, it already is that way.”
He shakes his head. “There are things you don’t understand.”
“So help me understand.”
He shakes his head, and I hate the silence. I know this is the nature of their business. They keep secrets. Things are on a need-to-know basis, and even when things are about you, someone might decide you don’t need to know.
I need it to be different between Connor and me. After going to Joe and Manda’s I thought he’d confide more. I thought I’d shown him he could trust me. Apparently not. And that hurts more than I thought it would.
