“Talon, I?—”
But he jumps in, interrupting me again. I know he thinks I’m going to put up a fight, but the reality is I literally have nothing. No phone. No car. No house. No job. No food. Even as stubborn as I am, I know I can’t turn him down, but I let him make his argument anyway.
“Zeke, I like you. Probably too much, all things considered, and I’m breaking alotof rules by offering this. But you need help, and I want to give it to you. Icangive it to you. Eloise is out grabbing new clothes and toiletries as we speak. We’ll get you a new phone. And I’ve informed Victoria Ruiz that she is to disregard your resignation.”
There are too many words.
Too many questions.
How doesTalonhave the authority to tellVictoriawhat to do? And what money does he have that he’s sent his sister to buy me an entire new wardrobe?
I shake my head.
“This is too much.”
“It’snot,” Talon says emphatically. “You’re not alone, Zeke. Let me help you.”
I know Talon isn’t Derek, but I’ve heard those exact words before, and the price I paid for the help I received wasn’t worth it in the end.
Is it possible things could be different this time?
Chapter 17
Talon
Ididn’t want to do this here. I didn’t want Zeke to find out who I was while he’s this vulnerable. The power discrepancy between us was already too great, even if Zeke didn’t know it.
Now, with him literally battered and bruised and not having a single belonging to call his own, the discrepancy has only grown, making me acutely aware of the shit I’m going to catch for this. But I don’t care.
Zeke’s worth it.
Do you think maybe you feel so strongly about Derek because you have feelings for Zeke that extend beyond friendship?
If I’m brutally honest with myself, the answer isyes.But I’m not sure I can name the feelings. I mean, obviously, there’s a desire to help him, but I try to help everybody. I also have a strange desire to protect him, although, again, not out of the ordinary for me. But there’s something more.
I just want to be around him. I enjoy how hard he makesme work for every smile and laugh. He doesn’t give them freely or insincerely.
How the actualfuckdid I let this happen?
I’m one of the wealthiest bachelors in New York. There are societal expectations of me, as well as familial obligations, and the feelings I have for Zeke don’t fit either of those things.
“Talon, I don’t have any other option unless I want to go back to living in my car, and right now, I can’t evengetmy car,” Zeke says, his face turned away from me. “So, I’m sort of at your mercy here.”
“You always have options, Zeke. I won’t force you into anything that makes you uncomfortable. And just so we’re clear, I’m not asking for anything in return,” I tell him honestly.
“I know. That’s the part that makes me uncomfortable,” he admits.
I should’ve anticipated that.
“Then we’ll come up with something that works for both of us, but I’m not taking your money.” Zeke’s brows furrow. “Are you in pain?” I ask immediately.
“Not really. Why?”
“That look on your face.”
Zeke chews the inside of his cheek. “I only had one other thing to offer, and I fear it’s probably not going to be particularly useful for a while.” I’m not following until he adds, “I don’t remember everything that happened last night, but bleeding from your ass generally never indicates anything good.”
The truth smacks me in the face like a ton of fucking bricks, and Iswear to God, I almost black out from anger. Flying out of the chair, my fingers curl around the edge of Zeke’s hospital bedrail, my knuckles turning white against the plastic.
