15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Zeke
I’d taken a chance tonight with Rory. He’d either respond or throw me out of his place.
Admittedly, he’d told me to go, but the way his body had reacted to my touch had been a revelation. My demon was more than pleased with the outcome.
When I’d eventually crawled into bed, sleep came easily, something that hadn’t happened in a long time, and the following morning, I woke feeling refreshed and ready to meet everything the day offered head on.
The walk to school with Carlotta followed the same pattern as the day before. Her friends all wanted my attention. If this carried on, I’d have to start taking her on the bike. I wasn’t averse to kids, but these were hormonal teenagers. I’d fought hordes of demons and hadn’t been so scared.
By the time I returned to Rory, he was ready and waiting.
“All set?” I grabbed my helmet and keys.
He nodded. He’d barely spoken all morning. Had I pushed too far last night?
“What’s up? Lost your words, Rory?”
“No,” he said, his jaw set.
“Then what’s wrong? Is it what we did last night?”
His cheeks flushed, and he looked away. “I’ve never been touched like that before.”
“Do you mean ever or never been touched by a man?”
“Does it really matter?” He shoved his arms into the jacket I’d given him the day before.
I shrugged. Did it matter? Probably not, but if his reaction to me was anything to go by, he’d do it again. I’d need to change my approach. I didn’t think being so bold with him would work. Kid gloves. That was what this situation called for.
“If you want me to stop, I will. I’ll not force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I’m not that kind of guy, Rory.”
I turned his face and looked into his eyes. Brilliant blue with pupils so wide, the colour was almost invisible.
“So, if I were to do this.” I rubbed my thumb over his bottom lip and slipped it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and sighed, his breath warming my hand.
He swirled his tongue around my thumb and sucked it hard. Fuck. I hadn’t been expecting that. So much for taking it slow.
“You know what I want to do to you, Rory?” I took a step closer and brought my lips to his ear. “I want to strip you naked and explore your body with my hands and tongue. Then when you’re struggling for breath, I’m going to bend you over my bike and fuck you until you shout my name.”
Rory groaned. Oh yes, that was what he wanted as well.
“We could skip work and drive somewhere secluded where I can make good on my words. Do you want to do that?”
He nodded, my thumb still in his mouth.
“Use your words, baby.” I drew it out and sucked it into my own, tasting him on my tongue.
“I want that.” He slipped his hand between us and palmed his cock. “Fuck, I’m so hard.”
“Me too.” I took his hand and placed it on my erection. I couldn’t remember being this hard in a while. My demon growled.
“Did you just growl?” He opened his eyes, a shocked look on his face.
“What? No. Why would I growl?” I inwardly berated my demon. Too soon to show our hand, that was for sure.
“God, as much as I want this, I have to go to work.” He pouted, but desire danced in his eyes.
“I want it too, but you’re right. Now isn’t the time.” Containing my demon was proving difficult. I couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t appear. Stepping away now was a good idea. Rory was just getting used to the idea of a man. How would he react to a demon with horns and a tail?
That was a conversation I wasn’t looking forward to.
“What are you doing to me, Zeke?” he asked as we left the apartment.
I didn’t have an answer for him.
The ride to work went much the same as the day before, except now he held on tighter, his groin pressed firmly against my arse.
If it hadn’t been for my demon senses kicking into gear, I’d have enjoyed it a lot more, but something wasn’t right, and when I said goodbye to him with a promise to collect him later, I drove straight back to his apartment.
Sure enough, a black saloon car sat idling at the side of the road. Ernesto stood at the door to the apartment block.
I climbed off my bike and walked towards him. “You’ve got a nerve showing up here.”
“I’m here to see Carlotta. Make sure she’s okay.” He rang the doorbell again. Didn’t he realise what time it was?
“You mean after your goons almost killed her?” My demon fought for release, but I wasn’t about to let that happen in the middle of the street. I balled my fists. Just because I couldn’t let my demon out didn’t mean I had to control my temper.
Anger bubbled below the surface. One wrong word from Ernesto…
“Those involved have been dealt with. Why isn’t he answering the door?”
“Because Carlotta is at school, and Rory is at work. Where did you think they’d be?” Fucking idiot. Had I said that out loud?
If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under. Maybe I had said it. Who the fuck cared? No way I was letting him near either of them.
“What do you want, Ernesto? I’m sure Rory doesn’t want to see you.”
“How do you know? And when did you get so close to them, Zeke?”
“When you decided that Carlotta’s life or Rory’s meant nothing to you. You talk a good game, but your actions speak louder than words.”
He walked down the steps and to his car. A man wearing all black jumped out of the driver’s seat and opened the door for him.
“Tell Rory I’ll be back later. There’s something I want to discuss with Carlotta.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Maybe you should drive away and not come back again.” My patience was wearing thin. What gave him the right to turn up on their doorstep, demanding to see Carlotta?
I should warn Rory at least.
I watched as the car disappeared down the street and called Rory.
“Ernesto was here.” I waited for the inevitable shout. I wasn’t disappointed.
“What the fuck?” I heard shouting, then movement and a door closing. The line went silent.
“Are you still there?” Had we been cut off?
“Yes, I was in a meeting. I’m in my office now. What the fuck did he want?”
“I don’t know, but he said he’s coming back later. What do you want me to do? I can collect Carlotta after school and take her to my place if you’d like. Ernesto doesn’t know where I live.”
He cursed quietly. This wasn’t great, not with her accident mere weeks ago. Rory knew he was the cause.
“What do you think I should do? Do you think he’ll go away?” A tremble in his voice conveyed the concern he had to be feeling.
“No, I don’t. He’s a tenacious bastard. You should know that better than anyone. He won’t give up until he’s seen her. I wouldn’t put it past him to visit the school. Does he know which one?”
“I’ve never told him, but then I never told him where I lived either. There’s every chance he’s on his way there now. Fuck, I should call them.”
“You do that, and if you want, I can come pick you up. I know it’s still early.”
“No. She’ll be safe enough in school. I’ll call them now, but when you collect her later, take her back home. I’ll not hide from him. We’ll see what he has to say.”
Rory knew best, but at least I’d be around if things went south.
All day, I was restless, unable to concentrate on anything constructive, and heaved a sigh of relief when it was time to collect Carlotta from school.
Instead of walking or taking the bike, I booked an Uber. If she was curious, she didn’t say, and we rode home in silence. Perhaps she sensed the tension in the air. It was difficult to ignore.
She got on with her homework without question and was watching TV when Rory returned. He dashed through the front door and looked at me questioningly.
I shook my head. No, Ernesto hadn’t been around yet.
“Hey, sweetheart. Good day at school?” He sat next to her and brought her legs over onto his lap.
“It was okay. Boring as usual. I thought I saw Nonno at the gate, but he’s in Italy, so it must have been someone else.”
The intercom buzzed, and we all jumped. No prizes for guessing who it was.
“I’ll get it.” I jammed my finger on the button, and Ernesto’s stoney face came into view.
“I want to see my granddaughter.”
“You’re in no position to make demands. Not after what happened.”
“Let him up, Zeke.” Rory was standing now, his brow furrowed, his skin pale. I could understand why he was concerned. I didn’t trust Ernesto and never had, if truth be told.
I nodded and pressed the buzzer, giving him access.
I waited, ready with a warning should he start anything.
“Nonno!” Carlotta ran to him, and he gathered her into his arms.
“My sweet girl. How have you been? I’ve missed you.”
Two-faced bastard. I didn’t doubt he’d missed her, but he took no responsibility for her accident.
Rory stood off to the side, his jaw tight, fists clenched. I didn’t think he’d do anything in front of his daughter, but just in case, I moved to stand next to him.
Without thinking, I placed a hand on his back, offering support.
“What do you want, Ernesto?” Rory’s voice was firm.
“I came to see my granddaughter. You would deny me that?”
Rory’s body tensed. He knew full well given the chance, Ernesto would whisk her away forever.
“Have you eaten?” Ernesto’s question was aimed at Carlotta, no one else.
“No. Oh, there’s this fabulous Italian restaurant. You would love it. I’ve not had anything like what we had at home, but this is very close. The man who runs it is from Italy! I love talking to him in Italian, and he likes it when I do. I don’t get much chance to do it in England.”
Carlotta clearly loved her grandfather, her face animated as she spoke to him.
“Well, we should go there and have dinner. What do you say?” He spoke in Italian, but we all understood him.
“I’d love to. Papa? Zeke?” She looked over at us questioningly.
“Let’s just the two of us go. I’m sure your Papa won’t mind. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, and I’m sure you have a lot to tell me.” Ernesto smiled, a smug, supercilious smile I longed to knock off his face.
“Papa does mind,” Rory said and took a step forward. I knew he feared Ernesto would steal her away from him, but I wasn’t about to let that happen.
“Oh, come now, Rory. You’ve had her all to yourself for months. Let me take her out and spoil her. We could do some shopping first. Get you some nice clothes.”
“Papa? Please.” How could he deny her? Her pleading eyes, the clasped hands in front of her. I knew he’d cave, but I had a plan.
“She needs to be back by nine at the latest. She has school tomorrow.” Rory turned and walked out of the room towards his bedroom.
Tempted as I was to follow, I remained. I didn’t trust Ernesto.
“Go get changed, Carlotta. I’ll keep your grandfather company.”
She danced away, clearly ignorant that everything that had happened to her was because of him.
“What are you hoping to achieve? You won’t leave the country with her if that was your plan.”
“Of course not. What kind of person do you take me for?”
“We both know what you are. You think I don’t know about you and Dante? Bad news travels fast, and you are bad news.”
“I don’t care what you think. Your opinion is irrelevant.”
I’d give him irrelevant. My demon was champing at the bit, begging to be released, but Carlotta’s arrival stopped that.
“Do you have your phone, sweetheart?” Rory appeared too, calmer than before, but the tick in his jaw said otherwise. “Be back by nine.” He refused to acknowledge Ernesto, but the moment they left the apartment, he broke, sinking to his knees.
“Hey. It’s going to be okay. He’ll bring her back.” I dropped next to him and took his hands in mine.
“Why did I let her go? I should have said no.”
“He put you in an impossible position. Imagine what Carlotta would have thought had you said no. Now get up off the floor. We have things to do.”
“Like what?” I held out my hand, and he stood on unsteady legs.
“Like following them. Did you think we were going to let them go alone?”
“How can we do that? They have a head start on us.”
“You know you can track her phone. We can follow them on the bike. Rory, get moving.”
I’d never seen him move so fast, and within minutes, we were astride the bike, following Carlotta’s phone. True to his word, Ernesto headed for Bond Street and the multitude of designer shops.
“What if it’s not her phone?” Rory worried his lip as we sat a few doors down from where we thought she was, but when she appeared holding Ernesto’s hand, he relaxed a little.
“We won’t lose her. I promise you, and if we do, I’ll do everything in my power to get her back. You know where he’ll take her.” Despite what Ernesto had done, I believed he cared for her.
“We should get her now. Take her home.”
“Relax, Rory.” I rubbed his thigh, his muscles jumping at my touch. This wasn’t how I’d envisaged the evening going. I’d planned on carrying through on what we’d started last night, but with the advent of Ernesto, that would have to be put on hold until Rory was satisfied she was safe.
“How can I?”
I could think of a few ways for him to relax, and it involved both of us in bed, but I attempted to calm his nerves.
“She’s safe. He wouldn’t dare do anything with all these people around. Stay calm.”
“I’m going to be sick.”
“You won’t. Now come on. They’re getting in the car.”
We followed them at a distance to the restaurant Carlotta had mentioned. It wasn’t far from their place, and I felt happier, knowing he kept doing as he said.
Rory fidgeted the whole time they were in there, and only when the car turned for home did he relax a little.
I knew a shortcut and was able to get home before they did, and when Carlotta let herself in the front door, the relief on Rory’s face was clear for all to see.
“Home by nine. Just as you said.” Ernesto followed her into the apartment, carrying some of the shopping bags.
“Did you have a good time, sweetheart?” Rory asked through gritted teeth.
“We had such a good time, and Nonno has asked me to go visit him.”
“He did?” Panic flashed on Rory’s face. My demon was becoming agitated by his obvious discomfort.
“Yes. I said as long as it was okay with you, I’d go stay with him for the October school break. You don’t mind, do you, Papa?”