Page 17 of A Sinner's Virtue
“Did you talk to him?” I direct to Gabe while jutting my chin towards where our baby brother was just standing. I could use a quick shift in topic. And truth is, he needs their attention a hell of a lot more than I do. Especially after what we found at one of the properties only Vin seemed to know about. The shit inside those walls was the thing of nightmares.
“I did.” Gabe nods.
“And?”
“And nothing. Who’s the girl?” Gabe mimics Gio’s glare.
“Zoe,” I say. “I met her the night of Santo’s bucks.” I look to Santo and see how he flinches. The pain is still fresh and I really don’t want to send my brother over the deep end.
“Why were you looking for her in a Russian club? Is she Russian? Because if she is, that isn’t going to end well for anyone,” Gabe questions.
“She’s not Russian. She’s American,” I tell him. “I think she has connections to them, though. Haven’t figured out what it is yet. I’ve been looking for her ever since that night.”
It won’t take my brothers long to figure out that I’m lying. That I know exactly how she’s connected to the Russians and the Bratva. Through their Pakhan. Right now, I’m just trying to buy myself some time. So that I can keep digging into her past. And I can’t do that if Gabe knows she’s connected to the Petrovs.
“Have you got any more to go on than a first name?” he asks.
“A picture.” If there’s something to be found, Gabe is usually the one to do it. But it’s not her name I need. It’s her past.
“Send it to me. I’ll find out who she is,” he says. “Why wouldn’t you just come to me?” My brother sounds almost offended. And now, I feel like shit holding back information. I don’t usually lie to my brothers. But something about this girl is different. And I’m not ready to share her or risk them trying to stop me.
“If I don’t find her by the end of the week, I’ll let you do your thing. But this.” I gesture a hand around my face. “Is going to draw her out.” I smirk. I’m not stupid. I know my brother. Which means I also know he’s going to start looking as soon as he walks out of this room. Curiosity always gets the better of him.
“You got the shit beat out of you to draw her out of hiding?” Gabe asks. “That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”
“No stupider than fucking one of El’s friends. She’s going to rip your balls off when she finds out.” I laugh at him, figuring now is as good a time as any to mention the fact that I caught him balls-deep in one of Gio’s girlfriend’s friends. “The house isn’t soundproof. I saw you two going at it in the kitchen. Word of advice? If you’re trying to keep it under wraps, stop with the sex in public places.”
“The kitchen is not a fucking public place, and I’m not fucking her. It was a onetime thing. No one else needs to find out, Marcel,” Gabe grinds out.
“Your secrets are safe with me,” I tell him while offering a sarcastic two-finger salute.
Chapter Eight
Five days. That’s how long it’s been since Marcel turned up at my house and delivered on his promise to give me a night of pleasure I’d never forget. Five days I’ve been wondering if he’ll show up again. And then wondering if I wanted him to show up again.
My vagina wants him to. That much is evident by the wetness I can feel every time I think of what Marcel did the other night. And the time before that. The man is skilled, and then I question how a person gets that skilled at sex…
Practice, clearly. Those thoughts lead to an irrational jealousy.
“Earth to Zoe. You in there?” Lucy snaps her fingers at me.
Shaking all thoughts of Marcel from my head, or at least trying to, I give her my full attention. “Sorry. I zoned out,” I admit with a shy curl of my lips.
“What’s on your mind? Or should the question be who is on your mind?” Lucy lifts an eyebrow at me.
I debate telling her. Marcel is one of her fiancée’s friends after all. And I don’t want to make things complicated between us or difficult for her. Lucy might be my friend, but she’s also my boss. I work for her and Savannah Valentino. The latter of whom I know from my time in New York. When Savannah found out I was looking into moving away, she offered me a position here. I hope to one day be as talented as both Lucy and Savannah are and have my own company. Right now, I’m content with just learning from them, though.
“Is it because your Russian friends beat the crap out of Marcel?” Lucy asks when I don’t answer her.
My eyes widen and I can’t hold back my gasp. “What?”
“Oh shit, you didn’t know?”
“No, what happened? Is he okay?” I rush out. I’m about to pull out my phone and call him. Except I realise I don’t have his number.
“He went into Varka, looking for you. Dom had to go and pick him up. Said he’d had the crap beaten out of him. I figured you knew,” Lucy says.
“When did this happen?” I ask her.
