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This constant rehashing exhausted me. I only wanted to stare at the television and watch something to take my mind off my capture.
It had all been meticulously planned, and it wasn’t even about me.
My sister had been working on a story about our late cousin. She’d dug too deep into the mayor’s background, along with one of the prominent Mafias left in New York.
However, we soon learned that the Volkov brothers, who ran the notorious crime ring, weren’t the culprits. They were crucial figures who'd helped to save my life.
I’d learned that appearances were often deceiving.
And now my sister was married to one of the Volkov brothers.
I’d been staring at the wall for so long that I hadn’t even realized that Zack was standing beside me with a bowl of my favorite ice cream until he cleared his throat.
“I thought this might make you feel better.”
I reached out for the bowl and smiled. “Thanks.”
“If this is too hard being here with me, my brother would be more than happy to have you at his place. While doing the dishes, I realized how selfish I was for bringing you to my house. But I have tunnel vision, and all I want to do is keep you safe.”
I took a bite of strawberry ice cream and closed my eyes. “This hits the spot, and I doubt he’d spoil me like you do.”
I blinked open my eyes to see him smiling at me.
“True.”
“No. I’m a big girl.” I shrugged. “And hopefully, I won’t be here long. I don’t want to be an imposition on you any more than I already have.”
That same sentiment went for all the people I cared about. When my sister told me she was flying out here immediately, I made her promise she wouldn’t.
Zack knelt next to me, and our faces were merely inches apart. The sudden pull between us became undeniable as my body heated, and his hand instinctively moved to my knee.
I wanted to lean into his touch, but I knew better. I understood where it would get us.
“Sadie, you’re never an imposition. You will always be a priority to me.”
I shook my head slowly. “Not always, Zack. I promise you that. I can take care of myself. Even now.”
He nodded and drew a breath. “I fully believe that, but I also don’t believe in tempting fate.”
For the last several weeks, I’d been on edge and worried that someone was always lurking in the corners, and tonight was the first night that I felt like I could finally breathe again.
And I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit it was because Zack always felt like home for me.
He comforted me.
He protected me.
He took care of me.
But I knew there was nothing I could do to make things up to him.
“And someday, I hope to repay you.” I took another bite of ice cream. “I just don’t know how yet.”
“Just being you is more than enough, Sadie.” His hand slid a little on my knee, and desire shot through me.
My cell buzzed in my back pocket, and Zack removed his hand so I could answer it.
I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway, considering everything happening.
