Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
“I’ve missed having this house filled with laughter,” Zia’s father comments as he sits back after demolishing two plates of desserts despite Zia demanding he stop.
It seems apart from me, he’s the only one who can get away with ignoring Zia’s orders.
I find this extremely amusing since it annoys my boy, and he’s so cute when he’s angry.
“Good, I’m glad,” Zia mutters, still glaring at the plates. I’m surprised they don’t spontaneously combust from his anger. Gripping the nape of his neck, I lean in and kiss his cheek.
“He’s happy. Don’t be mean,” I caution.
Sighing deeply, Zia spares me a look and then addresses his father, who is watching us intently. “Fine, but no dessert tomorrow.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” his dad teases with a sparkling grin. “As I was saying, I’ve missed hearing laughter.” He leans in. “But you can go home, Zia, and take Nikko with you. You’re young, and you need your space—”
“You’re sick—”
“I’m not dying. I’m fine. I just had a moment,” he dismisses angrily. “I’m not a frail old man. Besides, you surrounded me with guards and doctors.”
“Still,” Zia protests, and his father cuts him off with a wave.
“You can visit. In fact, I’m demanding you do so. Our meals still stand, but I want you to be happy, Zia, not taking care of me. I’m fine. Please, go home and enjoy your time together. I will behave. I promise.”
“You never behave,” Zia argues as he stares at his dad. “I worry.”
“I know, son.” Reaching over, he covers Zia’s hand with his. “But you can’t live your life like that, not for me. You need to live it fully and happily.”
Zia is quiet for a moment, and when he speaks again, his tone is sad. “I don’t want you to be alone,” he admits.
“In this big house? I’m never alone. Stop worrying about me, okay?
It isn’t your job. I want you to act your age.
Make mistakes and have fun. You never got to be a child because of who we are, but I’ll be damned if I let you miss this part of your life as well.
” His father points at us. “Go home, that’s an order . . . if you still respect them.”
“Always, Father.” Zia bows his head. “You will always be the lead Xander.”
“Good, then listen to me. Go home and take your boyfriend with you.” He looks at me with a wink. “You can thank me by coming back to keep this old bastard company every now and again.”
“Yes, sir.” I nod, and his eyes narrow. “I mean Father.”
It’s clear Zia isn’t pleased about it, but he stands and sighs. “I’ll get our stuff.” He hurries away.
“I’ve given you the opportunity, seize it,” Father tells me. “Make him love you and then lock him down.” He offers me his palm for a high five, and I quickly give him one. “I want at least four grandchildren.”
My eyes widen. “Umm . . .” I cough awkwardly. “I mean, there’s adoption. I’ve never really thought of having kids.”
“Hmm, true. Zia is possessive, so he might hate the child if you pay too much attention to them. At least one, and you have to name it after me or I’ll take my son back.” He offers me his hand again.
Laughing, I shake it. “Deal.”
“What deal?” Zia asks as he walks into the dining room, and we break apart.
“Just talking about who is going first in chess next.” His father winks at me as he stands and ushers us to the door. “Now, go have fun.”
“You’re being weird, Father,” Zia remarks as the door opens, and he guides us to it. I step out as his father laughs.
“Son?” Zia turns at his father’s voice, and he steps closer. I linger outside to give them privacy, but I can still hear what they are saying. “Remember when I told you to find your happiness? I think you did. Now don’t let it go.”
Zia is quiet for a moment, and my heart pounds, as I know his father is referring to me. “I don’t plan to,” he finally replies, and I want to yell in victory. He’s finally giving in, finally letting himself keep me. It isn’t a love confession, but I have no doubt I’m going to make Zia fall for me.
I’ve never really been inside Zia’s house for long.
I’ve seen parts of it, but this is the first time I’ve seen his space fully and it’s beautiful.
It’s all sleek, clean lines, with incredible art and décor, but with a twist and hints of him.
It suits Zia perfectly. He shows me around it before taking me to the roof, where there is a lush paradise, then he leans into my side and stares at the river.
“I bought this the day after we met. I stood here and wondered if you were thinking about me too,” he shares as he glances at me.
“I was,” I reply without shame as I wrap my arm around his waist and kiss his head. “There wasn’t a day during those months when I didn’t.”
Smiling, he turns in my arms and sighs. “I know you live above Nexus, but technically, you’re still healing, so you’ll stay here, right?”
“I don’t want to be anywhere else,” I tell him just as a yawn splits his lips. “Come on, beautiful, let’s get you to bed. It’s been a long day.”
“I’m fine,” he mutters, but another yawn creeps up. Laughing, I swing him into my arms, ignoring the twinge of my injury, and walk down the stairs to the master bedroom. I gently lower him onto the bed. “Don’t move. What do you want to sleep in? I’ll grab it.”
He looks away for a moment, and I swear I see a blush stain his cheeks. “Zia?” I murmur.
Biting his lip, he crawls up the bed, sticks his hand under his pillow, and tugs out a hoodie, holding it to his chest as he looks at me. Frowning, I slide onto the bed to reach for it. It seems familiar, and that’s when it hits me.
It’s mine—the one he took when we went shopping.
“I usually sleep in this,” he admits.
“You sleep in my hoodie? Since when?” I ask incredulously.
“Since that day. It smells like you.” With an elegant shrug of his shoulders, he smiles at me. “I couldn’t even bring myself to wash it.”
My eyes narrow as I stare at the tattered fabric, and something akin to jealousy fills me, which is strange since it’s my hoodie.
Knowing it spent nights wrapped around him when I couldn’t?
Yeah, I hate a piece of fabric with a deep, burning passion.
All those nights when I wished I were with him, this was keeping him company instead,
I snatch it from his hands and throw it behind me before I even know what I’m doing.
He almost appears panicked as he scrambles across the bed to retrieve the discarded hoodie. I wrap my good arm around him and haul him back until he presses against my chest. “You don’t need it anymore, baby. I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Are you jealous of a hoodie?” he scoffs.
“Very,” I admit. “I want you wrapped in my arms, nothing else.”
Huffing, he leans back into me. “It’s my favorite.”
“Make me your favorite. I can keep you just as warm, and that smell you like? It’s all me.
” Gripping his shirt, I carefully undo it and drape it on the bed next to us before dragging his pants off and guiding him under the covers.
Shaking out his clothes, I head to his walk-in closet and hang them before leaving my jeans and shirt on the floor.
Climbing into bed next to him, I wrap my arms around him.
He struggles against my hold, so I drape my leg across him, pinning him until he sighs.
“Nikko . . .”
“Shh, I’m sleeping.” I bury my face in his neck, gently kissing his soft skin with a happy sigh.
“Nikko.” He taps my shoulder, and I groan, dragging him closer. “Nikko.” He laughs. “My phone is ringing.”
“Ignore it,” I whine.
“It might be important. One second, okay?” He manages to reach over to the side where his phone is. Grumbling, I cuddle closer to him as he sits up as much as he can and answers it. Straining my ears, I listen carefully, because whoever is calling him at this time is definitely a threat.
Maybe I should have filmed us earlier in his office and posted it because then everyone would know he’s mine.
“Sir, I thought you would like an update. They have reached the begging stage. First, there was anger, and then bargaining. It seems they have accepted their fate now.”
Lifting my head, I frown, but Zia looks pleased.
“Show me,” he orders, and he pulls his phone away from his ear and turns on the video call.
For a moment, a blond-haired man comes into view before the phone turns.
There’s a partially open cellar door, and he rips the other side open to show a hole in the ground. A light turns on to reveal a woman.
She’s on her knees, her clothes torn and dirty, and her face is smeared with makeup and tears as she begs.
“Please, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” she yells before it’s cut off as the door shuts.
He moves to another and opens it, revealing a man in a stained suit rocking back and forth.
That door shuts, and the blond man looks at the phone.
“They are all here, sir, as you requested. I tracked them down through Mr. Nikko’s school.”
“Good. Keep them there for now,” Zia tells him as I snatch the phone.
“My school? Why?”
My eyes widen as I sit up, gripping the phone as it clicks. Zia rolls his eyes when he takes it back.
“That’s all for now.” Hanging up, Zia casually puts his cell back and relaxes on the bed, shutting his eyes.
I gape at him, and one eye cracks open. “Speak, I know you want to.”
“Are they who I think they are? What are you doing? What happened?” The words tumble free, and his eyebrow arches at my urgency.
“Calm down,” he orders, and my heart slows as if it listens to him alone and no one else. “One question at a time.”
“Are they who I think they are?” I ask.
“Your old school bullies?” His smile is pure evil as it tugs up his lips. “Yes, but you already know that.”
“And you’re . . .”
“Reminding them of their past actions. Some might call it karma,” he answers calmly.
“Zia!” I gasp.
“Nikko,” he mocks.
“You can’t go around kidnapping people!” I scold.
“Of course I can. It won’t be the first or last time.” He smiles. “Let’s go to sleep.”
“They were kids—”
“They were teenagers. They knew better,” he warns. “You can’t allow these people to get away with things like that. I simply reminded them that there is always someone bigger and more powerful than they are, and they never should have messed with what’s mine.”
He must sense my horror, but he simply kisses me softly as he strokes my cheek.
“If you love me, you have to love all of me, and that includes the side of me that does whatever it takes to get revenge and keep you safe. Do you think I would tolerate anyone hurting you? Even in the past?” When I just stare, he sighs.
“I didn’t kill them, okay? They will just suffer like you did for a while.
It will make them think twice about their actions. I’m tired. Let’s go to sleep.”
Maybe I should be disturbed, and part of me is, but also, part of me can’t stand how fucking sweet this man is.
“Are you going to kidnap everyone who wrongs me?” I ask.
“No, of course not.” I relax, and he smiles. “I’ll just kill some.”
“Zia!” I admonish, but he laughs and tugs me down until I’m lying across him. This time, his lips press to my head.
“Shh, I’m sleeping.” He turns my words around, and I sigh as I relax. It’s quiet for a moment, his hand sliding up and down my back, making me shiver.
“Thank you,” I murmur. “Thank you for caring about me enough to do that for me. It’s sweet. Absolutely psychotic, but sweet as hell.”
“You’re welcome.” He kisses me again. “Now, sleep. I’m tired.”