Chapter 27
Ellinor
The biggest surprise of the night is me not freaking the fuck out on the back of this goddamn bike. I find myself leaning into Zamir more and more, trusting that he has us. We’re pulling into the parking garage, and he finds a spot beside another badass-looking bike. I say into the mic of the helmet, “That’s a nice bike.”
He answers, “Thank you.” I’m so confused for a minute, and then it clicks that it’s his as well.
“Of course, it’s yours too.” I roll my eyes for no reason at all. He can’t see me because I’m still behind him. He lets the kickstand down and gives me his hand to help me off.
We step off the elevator and start to walk up the hallway that leads to his apartment. I look to the right and see fucking Marcello Barone unlocking a door.
1 “Barone?” I call out. Zamir looks over at me with a “what the fuck are you doing” look. Marcello”s ass was just sitting beside me and Dad at the game, but we were so immersed in the game that I didn’t even talk to him all that much. I’m sure Zamir doesn’t know we grew up together.
Cello looks up at me. “Ellie, fancy seeing you again. You know Zamir?” I’m hit with a pang of sadness. We used to have so much fun together, but with him taking over after his father passed, we grew apart, to say the least.
I point up at Zamir, who’s carrying both of our helmets now, and pat his chest. “Yeah, pretty sure he’s been stalking me, but he’s convinced me otherwise.” Marcello stiffens and reaches for what I know is his gun in his waistband, but Zamir doesn’t even flinch. Interesting.
“Woah woah, cowboy, chill. I’m okay. Seriously, though, I think I do have a stalker, and your cops aren’t doing jackshit to help; so if you could call one of them up, that would be great.” With that, I turn to Zamir and nod my head toward what I’m guessing is his door because the other is Nash’s. I haven’t heard anything from Big Boy in a minute. I’m trying not to let that get to me, but he might’ve chipped this frozen heart of mine open. He didn’t even acknowledge me at the game, and I know Zamir told him he was planning on trying to get me to come over after the game. We even locked eyes a couple of times. Fuck he’s making me feel like a hormone-crazed teenager. He’s the goddamn teenager here.
We say our goodbyes and head to Zamir’s door, which has this wild-finger scanner to unlock it. “That’s some futuristic shit; what, do you think somebodies going to get through muscles downstairs?” I snort a laugh, but Zamir stays stone-faced. There’s a darkness peaking through before he catches himself and covers his mouth in a sly smile.
“No, nobody can get through my man Tom.” He shoots me a wink, and fuck if it doesn’t go straight to my pussy. We walk in, and his apartment is laid out just like Nash’s. It’s just decorated so much better.
“You need to help Big Boy decorate.”
He snorts. “Wine?” Ignoring my question at first, he adds, “I offered my designer. Hopefully, he goes with him.”
“Of course, thank you,” I respond. He’s also pouring himself a couple of fingers of what looks like scotch.
He hands me my glass and puts his up for a cheers. “To you, Ellie, for trusting me enough to open up that facade you’ve been trying to fool me with.” I’m gawking at him; how the fuck did he already have that figured out about me? Guess it has been a couple of weeks of him weaseling his way into my life.
I watch his face turn hard as a switch flips within him, and he demands, “But… I need to know how you know Marcello Barone.” He’s all business now.
I hold my glass up but don’t clink his, meeting his eyes with my raised eyebrows.
“We grew up together. You know my dad works at Barone’s? We used to be super close.” I leave it at that, not needing to go into the mafia shit with people. I have a sick feeling he might already know about Marcello; most people do if they spend any significant amount of time in this city. Marcello is like a myth; you never want to be the one to find out if it’s true or not… but guess what? Every story about that unhinged man is, in fact, true. He gives me a curt nod of his head, looking like he’s in deep thought now.
Marcello was always a crush I had when I was younger, but I was sure he just thought I was an annoying kid. I see him here and there, but being that close to him in the hallway, I won’t deny he looks fucking good. I miss him so much… We had a connection, both having one shitty parent, and being able to run around the restaurant together.
We finally clink glasses, and he brings his to sit on that pouty bottom lip that bitches pay good money for. It’s me, I’m bitches. He takes a big gulp, and I watch in pure fascination as his Adam’s apple bobs up and down. Why the hell are men’s throats so fucking hot?!
He catches me staring and, of course, calls me out on it. With the sexiest gravelly voice, he says, “You like watching me, Shpirt Im?” But before I can answer with something snarky, his phone starts to vibrate on the counter, and somebody named Alex is flashing across the screen. “I’ve gotta take this. Excuse me.”
He walks towards the hall off the side of the couch, but with his whole apartment being so open, I can hear him clear as day. I’m anything but self-restrained, so I lean to hear what he’s saying. I know a little about him but not nearly enough.
I hear the one-sided conversation.“Alex,” he clips out.
“What else have you found out?”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”
After that, he starts speaking Albanian, so I’m not understanding a word of it. I wonder if he wanted to make sure I didn’t know what was being said after that first snippet. I know he’s hiding something, and my nosey-ass needs to know. It still worries me that my stalker is still out there. I know it’s likely not him, but a part of me still wonders.
I’m sipping my wine when he comes up behind me, no longer on the phone, and wraps his arms around my waist. “Sorry about that. It was my cousin from back home.”
“You’re fine.” I try not to be snippy, but it definitely came out that way. “Do you know what the hell is going on with Nash?”
“What do you mean?” He looks at me like he’s genuinely confused. Maybe they’ve been fine this entire time? It could just be me.
“He hasn’t texted or talked to me once since that night we had together.” I feel the heat coming to my cheeks, clearly not over the shit we did that night, but needing to know what the hell has been up with Nash. “I guess this pussy might not be as good as I hype it up to be.” I snort, trying not to let that sound as vulnerable as it was.
“He’s been a little distant with me too, but I figured it was because he was preparing for his first game as a pro.” He trails off, looking at one of the kitchen walls, trying to put it all together. “And if that pussy feels as good as it tastes… I think I might just pass away when I finally sink into you.” My whole body shivers, and his ass is smirking.
“Not to sound like a pick me, but I thought we all hit it off.” I shrug and chug the rest of my red wine, setting my glass back down.
He pulls his phone out. “Well, let’s see what the fuck has been up his ass because it sure as hell hasn’t been me.” I snort; no wonder that poor boy doesn’t want to be around us.
He shoots Nash a text, and about ten minutes later, another full glass of wine is gone and there’s a knock at his door.
1.Dethrone - Bad Omens