“We’re going to New York. There’s something going on with Zoe. Sounds like a stalker.”
“Is she hurt?” he asks sharply.
“No, just worried.”
There’s a beat. “All right. We can drive to Boston and fly from there.”
“Yeah. I’ll call ‘Vil to let him know we’re going. Since I’m not bringing Laurelyn, can you get a couple guys to watch my house?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be at your place in twenty.”
“Trick, why am I hearing about a problem of Zoe’s from you?”
“I don’t know. She thinks you’re mad at her. Are you?”
“No. At least I wasn’t until she called you first. I don’t need to hear things through a middleman. She should’ve called me directly.”
I grimace and think about holding back what I need to say next. It wouldn’t be good though to not give him the lay of the land. In his place, I would want to know. “C, she didn’t tell me to call you. She asked for my help, not C Crue’s.”
He’s silent, and I rub the bridge of my nose.
“Your help, huh? Not Anvil’s? Rachel’s her best friend.” There’s a beat. “She didn’t even mention me?” There’s another moment of silence. “Maybe you want to go alone?”
Is he seriously implying I’d take a run at Zoe? There is no fucking way, and he ought to know it. First of all, because she’s his, and second of all, because I’m married.
“I’m not going alone, C. I’m a married man. No strip clubs, no sex clubs, no hanging out alone with other women. If you’re not coming, I’ll take Miller or someone else.”
“Anvil could go.” C’s voice is detached and cool.
I get that C’s pissed that Zoe left him out of the loop. I would be too, but I can’t believe this is how he’s going to play it. In his place, fucking chains couldn’t have held me back from coming to the rescue.
“C, be serious. ’Vil wouldn’t go to New York in the middle of the night to sort things out for Zoe unless you or Rachel asked him to. And I don’t actually want ‘Vil with me. If Laurelyn’s home alone at night, I want him in the house next door.” I stand up and go to the dresser to yank a drawer open. “I called because I figured you’d want in on this. If you don’t, all right. I guess you and Zoe are over then, and I’ll handle it myself.”
“No,” he says, his voice hard but resolute. “I’m coming.”
“Good. I’ll give ‘Vil a heads up we’re leaving and head over.” I end the call and mutter, “For fuck’s sake.”
“Scott?”
“Yeah?”
“I trust you. If you need to go to New York alone to help Zoe, it’s ok.”
I walk over to the bed and lean down to kiss her. “I appreciate that. I really do.” I give her another kiss, this one deeper. “Try to go back to sleep, babe. Your body needs the rest.”
“I will,” she says, but she props herself up on some pillows. “Why do you think she didn’t call Connor? Rachel says every time Zoe and C are in the same room, they can’t stay away from each other. You know the night we went to Rachel and Sasha’s for the pool party? Zoe slept with him that night. Did C tell you?”
“No, but it doesn’t surprise me.” I zip my jeans and pull on a t-shirt, then strap on my gun. “I don’t understand why they didn’t resolve this on opening night of the show. The way they looked at each other could’ve burned down the building. If this was business, he’d have sorted it out a long time ago.”
“Relationships are more complicated than business, Scott.”
“They are when you let them become that way.” I shake my head and pull a sweatshirt over my head. “Zoe’s his, and that’s the way they both like it. He’s been crazy about her from the first time he laid eyes on her, and she turned out to be the perfect match for him. That’s a gift. But when he had her, she made itclear she needed a bigger commitment, and he ignored her. And instead of waiting it out and giving him time to come around, she left. Now he’s running through girls faster than I’ve ever seen. I bet he couldn't tell you the names of the women he was with last weekend. C could fix things with Zoe any time he wants, by telling her the truth, which is that she’s the only woman he’s ever been in love with. Instead they’re fucking around, and, to me, it seems like they’re making things worse instead of better.”
Her translucent green eyes widen. “I’ve never heard you say anything critical about Connor before.”
I run a hand through my hair and exhale impatiently. “Yeah, well, the situation’s fucked up. If Zoe was still with C, she’d have a bodyguard with her in New York, and a stalker would never have gotten close enough to scare her. C would’ve found out and put an end to it immediately. Instead, I’ve gotta leave my bed in the middle of the night to deal with it. I don’t like things interfering with our routine. I only have a little while left before our little guy messes it up for me.”
