Page 28 of Blood on Ice

“Fuck, that’s not what this is about, is it?”

“No.” My answer was too fast and loud. I’d given myself away. The last thing I wanted was Val feeling sorry for me because I was all by myself. “You need time with Liam, I get it.”

Val narrowed his eyes, studying me. I kept my expression neutral. I didn’t want him to know how bothered I was. He’d spent a hell of a lot of years taking care of me. I shouldn’t need that anymore. “Stay away from him, Vito.”

“Would you have stayed away from Liam if I’d told you to?”

“No. But that’s?—”

I scowled at him. “How do you know it’s different?”

“Because Liam was never a game to me.”

“Are you sure hiring him wasn’t a game?”

Val drained his drink and slammed the glass down on the counter. “Just don’t get in trouble again.”

“Fine. Go back to your husband.”

“Vito, I’m?—”

“No, I’m fine. Just go. Thanks for taking care of things tonight.”

“I’ll let you know if Pops says anything to me.”

“Yeah, that’s good, thanks.”

When he left, I sank onto the couch. I pulled my phone from my pocket and toyed with it. Val was right. This was crazy, but I wasn’t going to stop. I needed this. I needed the game I was playing, but more than that, I needed to make sure Zeke was safe. He was in trouble with people who wouldn’t hesitate to hurthim, and an injury could put an end to his hockey career. That wasn’t going to happen on my watch.

I wondered if he’d resist the urge to respond if I texted. Would he even pay attention to his phone? He could be out. He could be with another man.

Anger burned through me. Fuck, no. I would not allow that.

I need to talk to you.

No.

I want to help you.

I can handle this.

Just let me talk to you again.

I can’t.

Don’t you mean you won’t?

He didn’t reply. I waited a while, then I called him. When he didn’t answer I decided it was time to go looking for him.

12

ZEKE

As soon as I got home from practice, I began researching Vito Marchesi. It was harder to find information on him than I’d thought it would be, but damn if he didn’t look hot as fuck in every picture I found of him.

Even through my phone screen I could feel him luring me in. There was just something about him and seeing him in a tux… Damn. I stared at a picture of him from a charity gala, and I swore I could feel the power rolling off of him. Sometimes, I hated being attracted to dominant men like him, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted a chance to be with a man who could hold me down and make me fight. It would take a big man like Vito to do that. I was damn strong, or I’d never be able to hold my own out on the ice.

I found a picture of Vito together with his brother Valentino. They were volunteering at a church yard sale, which didn’t seem to fit their image. They each had an apron tied around their waist and seemed to be straightening objects on the table.

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