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Alex waved his hand at Tootsie. “He kidnapped her.”
“Kind of,” Zoe said, frowning at her brothers. “And I’ve gotten over it. He did what he did to keep me safe.”
“So, because it was just light kidnapping, you want to marry him?” Nikos shouted, jumping up from the chair, sending it rocking.
“I—” Zoe’s cheeks reddened as her eyes dropped to the floor.
Marco stood, slamming his hands on the desk. “Enough.” The room fell silent, and he pushed his hair back. “Until Luca is free, Tootsie will remain here in St. Louis under the family's watch.”
“I understand,” Tootsie said, running his hand down Zoe’s back.
“Then I’m staying with him.” Zoe set her chin defiantly.
“No. You’re not.” Her brothers said at the same time, both radiating anger.
“I have to agree with your brothers.” Tootsie tucked a lock of her behind Zoe’s ear. “You won't be safe with the Morettis until Luca and I have it out.”
“Neither are you.” She gripped his leather jacket, pulling him closer.
Taz slammed his glass down. “No one’s touching Tootsie.”
“Then it’s settled. Zoe, you’re coming home with us, and Torquato will stay with his family,” Alex said, taking a step toward his sister. “You weren’t on the run for a year, only to come back and be killed by the Morettis.”
Tootsie kissed the top of Zoe’s head, then let her go. She stood there for a moment, staring up at him. To her credit, she didn’t cry, didn’t plead, but man, did she give good face. The two of them were wrapped in their own little bubble, and the rest of us were just spectators.
The doorbell chimed through the house, getting Zoe’s attention. “They’re here,” she lamented.
“So Zoe goes home with her brothers, and we have a truce,” Marco said.
“Done.” Nikos held out his hand, and this time Zoe went to him.
Another knock on the door and Tommy showed in a smiling Officer Russo and a sour-faced Detective Bennington.
“Then it’s true. You’re alive,” Bennington said, disappointment clear in his voice. He took his phone out, tapping away. “Excuse me.” With his phone to his ear, he left the room, Tommy hot on his heels.
“You’ve just ruined his whole year.” Russo chuckled and took out a small notebook. “All right, what’s the story?”
Marco relayed the story that put both families in the best light, playing up Zoe’s fear for her life from an unknown enemy. No one was about to incriminate a Moretti or a Chronis.
After about ten minutes, it became clear that Bennington wasn’t coming back. “I guess I should go see where he ran off to.” Russo sighed and shoved his notes in his pocket. “I’ll make sure this info gets to the right people, and we get Mr. Moretti out ASAP.”
“Thank you.” Marco shook his hand and held the door for him.
With the cops gone, the Chronis brothers prepared to leave. “We should be going. There are a few things we need to handle before Zoe’s resurrection becomes common knowledge. Come on.” Alex waved his sister to follow.
Zoe passed Tootsie without a word, both keeping their eyes on the floor. The tether between them stretched, pulling until Zoe left the room, and Tootsie sagged, his hand going to his chest.
I went to his side, touching his elbow. “You okay?”
He let out a heavy breath and nodded. “It has to be this way. You saw her brothers. They don’t want me with their sister.”
“So?”
“Let’s get through Luca kicking my ass. Then we can worry about the woman who might not even want me.”
I laughed, taking a drink from Taz. “Believe me, she wants you.”
Tootsie walked over to his brother, and they started a hushed conversation.
