8. Hidden Affections
Hidden Affections
Ezekiel
W hat happened tonight settles heavy in my bones. Micah’s just finished giving his report on the cleanup at Eve’s house. Giovanni Costa. Of all the fucking people to send after her, it had to be him.
“Everything’s taken care of,” Micah says, his voice gravelly in the dim light of my office. “No trace left behind. Far as anyone knows, Gio never made it to her house tonight.”
Sebastian paces near the window. “I thought you said Alessandro would back off?”
I lean back in my leather chair, studying the three men before me. “That’s what he said.”
“Maybe Gio went rogue?” Eli suggests. “Decided to take matters into his own hands to prove himself to his father.”
“He said he was just following orders right before I killed him. Either way, that won’t matter to Alessandro. I killed his only son. The heir to his legacy.” I lean back in my chair and rest my chin on my fingers, my anger growing.
Sebastian stops and points an angry finger at me like this is somehow all my fault. “This is going to start a war. Alessandro won’t let his son’s death go unanswered.”
“Let him try.” The words come out as a growl. I remember the terror in Eve’s eyes, the way Leo trembled against her. My hands clench on the armrests. “He should have kept his psychopath of a son in line. Instead, the fucker tried to kill my fiancée. With her nephew sleeping down the hall.”
“That must mean she was close to uncovering his crimes,” Eli says from his position by the door. Always the voice of reason. “Why else target Eve? Killing a cop is not something the mafia takes lightly without just cause.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I lean forward, my voice hard. “The moment he stepped foot in her house, he signed his own death warrant. I won’t apologize for protecting what’s mine.”
“And now she’s here,” Seb points out. “Along with her nephew. That complicates things.”
“She stays.” This is not up for discussion. “Both of them. I’ll deal with Alessandro myself if needed.”
Micah shifts, his expression grim. “The Costas have been looking to expand their territory. Taking out a cop would send a message. But it’s risky. It’d only draw more attention to them.” He shakes his head. “Something doesn’t add up.”
“Agreed.” I stand, walking to the window. The city lights stretch out below, peaceful despite the storm brewing in our underworld. “We need to figure out whose orders Gio was following—his father or someone else. If it was someone else, we’ve got bigger problems on our hands.”
“I’ll start making calls,” Seb says. “See what our people on the street know.”
“Do it quietly,” I warn. “The last thing we need is panic spreading through the ranks that I’ve killed Alessandro’s heir.”
I run my hand over my beard, a headache building behind my eyes. I’m getting too old for this shit.
Nicolo Moretti. The name alone sends a chill down my spine. After all these years of carefully staying under his radar, this mess with Gio will certainly get his attention.
“Fuck.” I turn back to face the others. “Get word to our allies in New York. They need to know what’s happened before Alessandro reaches out to Nicolo.”
Seb’s face pales at the mention of our old mentor. “You think he will?”
“Alessandro’s not stupid. He knows he can’t take us on alone.
” I start pacing, my mind racing through contingencies.
“He’ll go straight to New York, crying to Nicolo about how I murdered his only son.
And Nicolo …” I trail off, remembering the cold calculation in those dark eyes.
“He won’t be able to resist getting involved.
He’s been waiting for a reason to drag me back into his grasp. ”
“Should we reach out first?” Eli asks. “Try to explain our side?”
I shake my head. “No. That would show weakness. I’m not taking the blame for this no matter what.
We wait, let them make the first move.” My jaw clenches as I think of Eve and Leo sleeping upstairs, finally safe after the horror of tonight.
“But we prepare. Double the security at the club. I want eyes on Alessandro’s people round the clock.
And get our weapons cache ready. We may need it. ”
“What about Eve?” Micah’s quiet voice cuts through the tension. “She’s on the right side of the law. If this turns into an all-out war with New York—”
“She stays protected,” I snap, though the same worry settles heavy on my shoulders.
Having her here puts her at risk, but having her anywhere else would be worse.
“Set up around-the- clock surveillance at her precinct too. If Nicolo decides to move against us, he might try to use her job against her.”
I worked so hard to separate myself from the mafia. Or at least I thought I did. Guess I was a fool. This situation, this threat on Eve, has only proven that I’m still rooted deep in this mindset. Because for Eve? For her safety? I’d burn the whole fucking world down.
“Get moving,” I order. “We need to be ready for whatever comes next.”
The others file out, leaving just me and Seb in my office. My brother’s jaw is clenched tight, that muscle ticking the way it does when he’s about to say something I won’t like.
“A cop, Zeke? Really?” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “Of all the women in Columbus, you had to get tangled up with a fucking detective?”
“Watch it.” My voice carries a warning edge. “That’s my future wife you’re talking about.”
He barks out a laugh. “Wife? Jesus Christ. You’re actually serious about marrying her?”
“Dead serious.” I pour two fingers of whiskey and slide the glass across my desk to him before I pour one for myself. “And soon. Very soon.”
“This is insane.” He downs half the whiskey in one gulp. “She’s going to get us all killed or worse … arrested.”
I lean back in my chair, studying him. “Kind of like how Olivia’s going to get us killed?”
The glass freezes halfway to his mouth. His eyes snap to mine, shock written across his face before he schools his expression. “That’s just for fun. I’m not fucking marrying her.”
“Please.” I snort. “You think I haven’t noticed the way you look at her? How often she frequents the club now? How you always manage to be wherever she is in the club? Or how often the two of you disappear to one of the private rooms for god only knows how long? You’re fucking her. And often.”
“Fuck.” He drains the rest of his whiskey. “You weren’t supposed to be paying that close of attention.”
“I know everything, little brother. It’s my job to know.” I pour him another drink. “So maybe ease up on the judgment about Eve when you’re carrying a torch for a mafia princess under Nicolo’s rule.”
He scrubs a hand over his face. “Point taken. But at least Olivia understands our world. Eve’s not like us. There’s no way this ends well.”
I glare at the surveillance photos spread across my desk, a cold fury building in my gut. Alessandro Costa’s men have been making moves, testing our defenses. Three separate incidents at the club last night alone.
This tells me Alessandro knew what his son was up to. Which means he lied to me.
“They’re pushing us,” Eli notes from where he stands by the window. Early morning light streams in behind him, casting his bulk in shadow. “Testing to see how we’ll react.”
I pick up a photo showing one of Costa’s men outside Eve’s precinct. The timestamp reads 6:02 AM this morning. My fingers tighten, crumpling the edge.
“Have you told her everything yet?” Eli asks quietly.
“No.” I toss the photo aside. “She has enough to deal with right now.”
“She needs to know this goes beyond the attempt on her life, Zeke. Her and the kid.”
I rake my fingers through my hair, frustration eating at me. “I know. But how do I explain this without revealing everything? She’s a cop, Eli. She already knows too much The moment she knows the full truth about who I am, what I do—”
“She’ll either arrest you or run.” He finishes what I can’t bring myself to say.
“Exactly.” I stand, pacing to ease some of the tension coiling through me. “And I can’t let either happen. Not now. Not when the Costas are gunning for her.”
“Then what’s the play?”
I stop at the window, staring out at the city I’ve fought so hard to protect from the mafia’s control.
“We keep her close. Double the security detail like we discussed, but make it subtle. She can’t know she’s being followed.
” I turn back to face him. “And we need to speed up the wedding timeline. The sooner she’s officially my wife, the safer she’ll be. ”
Eli’s expression darkens. “You really think a piece of paper will stop Alessandro from coming after her?”
“No.” My voice hardens. “But it’ll give me the right to rain hell down on anyone who tries.”
The door to my office slams open with enough force to rattle the windows. Eve storms in, her emerald eyes blazing with fury. The sight of her like this—wild and fierce—makes me feel things I’d rather not feel.
“I’m not your prisoner, Zeke,” she snarls, planting her hands on my desk and leaning forward. Her scent—fresh with a hint of vanilla—hits me hard. “You can’t keep me locked up here.”
I lean back in my chair, keeping my expression neutral despite the way my body responds to her proximity. “You’re right. You’re not a prisoner.”
“Then why won’t your men let me leave?” Her voice trembles with barely contained rage. “I tried to go to work this morning, and they blocked my car.”
“Because Alessandro Costa’s men were outside your precinct at six this morning.” I watch her face carefully as this sinks in. “You’re not locked up, Eve. But you’re not going anywhere without Eli.”
She straightens, crossing her arms. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“No, you need protection.” I stand, coming around the desk. She holds her ground as I approach, chin lifted defiantly. “Eli isn’t a babysitter. He’s the only person besides my brother and Micah that I trust with your life.”
“I can protect myself.” There’s less heat in her voice now.