Page 58 of Playing for the Dark

“My dad was a cop, but not a good one, to say the least. We lived in a border town, and I think he had his hand in the cartel—or more like they had a hand in him,” he trails off. I think he’s done, but he surprises me and continues, “ My sister still doesn’t know this, but the cartel took me when I was ten for a week because my dad wouldn’t obey one of their commands. He didn’t even give a fuck that they had me… I begged him on the phone to come and get me and do what they wanted. He just laughed. They never hurt me, but I think that shocked them more than it did me. From that day on, I never trusted my dad. He, thankfully, has never hurt my sister, but I’ve definitely seen more shit than you think I have.”

I didn’t see that coming. Whoever his dad has working with him cleans up their trail well. Noah didn’t find anything of those sorts on his whole family.

“I still don’t like you quiet.”

He snaps back, “Well, you’re usually bitching or acting like my questions are dumb when I do talk around you. Why is it different now because we’re in your car alone?” I pull into the parking garage and whip into my normal spot. Slamming the car into park, I turn and throw my hand around his neck, squeezing, but not enough to hurt him.

“This smart mouth of yours will get you in lots of trouble with me,Il Novellino.” He lets out a moan, and I let go of him but continue to smirk at him.

“Your hand finds its way to my neck a little too often for my liking.” His mouth gets me every time. I’m glad he’s snapping back now; he’s back to his normal self.

“That feral moan you just let out makes me think you like my hand around that pretty throat of yours. It clearly didn’t work when I warned you away from Ellie.”

“I tried. Zamir wouldn’t let me. He said you wouldn’t hurt me because you couldn’t hurt someone Ellie cared about.” He’s not wrong there, but that’s not the only reason I wouldn’t hurt him…

I huff and climb out of the car. I see Zamir and Ellie making their way into the building, still wearing their helmets. They’ve got something up their sleeves I’m sure of it.

By the time everyone got up to my apartment, Ellie had showered and ended up passing out on the bed in the spare room, but I picked her up and carried her into mine. The helmets were going to be fun, but they’ll have to be saved for later.

Nash and Zamir are sitting on the couch talking, and I take one of the accent chairs. “I know you both won’t agree with this plan, but I need this to work. Keep in mind this is all for her safety.” They both give me a nod,and I keep talking, “I want to take her birth control implant out.”

They both are looking at me like I’ve grown another head and breathing fire out of both of them. “Rewind. Why the fuck would you take her birth control out?! And are you even certified to do that, Marcello? You really are fucking nuts, aren’t you?” I would say that struck a nerve with Nash. Zamir’s still just examining me. I know that look all too well. He’s figuring out what my intentions are with all of this without me having to say anything.

Zamir questions me, “You want her pregnant, don’t you?”

“Bingo, give this man a prize.”

“Why? What does Ellie want? She doesn’t even want a goddamn boyfriend, let alone a whole-ass child.”Nash and his women empowerment.

I roll my eyes and tell him, “The only way I can make sure Ellie is safe is if she’s carrying my child or married to me.”

He slams his hand down on his thighs and goes to get up, but Zamir pulls him back down beside him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Zamir fans himself dramatically, saying, “Pissed Nash is hot.” Nash turns to him, giving him a death glare. “But let me guess, she still doesn’t know you were her stalker?”

“No she doesn’t, but that neither here nor there. And I don’t care who’s baby is in her, as long as we make it look like mine to the public. Or we could forge a marriage, but the image of her pregnant does things to me.” I take my hand and rub it up and down my cock. Nash’s jaw is on his chest, and he’s staring up at me.Speechless… for a decent reason this time.I continue, “If she’s married to me, she wouldn’t be able to be seen with you two in public. So, pregnancy would be the best for all of us… Are you all in or out? Doc went through everything with me—it’s quick.” I’m praying to the devil they’re on my side.

Zamir answers first, “If it keeps her safe, then I guess I’m in.”

Nash says with a devilish grin, “I’m going to be the one to get her pregnant. Y’all are too old.”Coglione.

Chapter 45

Ellinor

It’s been a week since the explosion at the bar that changed everything. I pretty much live at Cello’s now, unless I sneak away to go to Nash’s. Zamir and I still haven’t fucked, and a part of me wants it to be with him alone the first time we do, but I don’t want to step on the dynamic between him and Nash.I don’t know why I care so much.

I’m done with my schoolwork for the week, the guys have a home game, and Marcello has been nothing but an angel. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him, but I’m so glad he decided to come barreling back into my life; finally announcing the feelings I had for him was a weight off my shoulders I didn’t know I carried around.

I walk into Cello’s apartment, yelling, “Honey, I’m home.” No sooner than the words leave my lips, Marcello’s rounding the corner with a feral grin lining hislips.Oh, fuck.The guys step out from behind him like some worked-out routine, and I know this is about to be a night I’ll never forget.

Marcello’s smile is shocking; I’m not used to seeing it, and he says, “I have waited my whole life to hear you say those words.” They are all so vastly different, but that’s what draws me to each one of them. Marcello and Zamir are absolutely covered in tattoos. Nash’s are more sporadic but fit him with the patchwork littering his stunning body. We’re all in a stare-off, and I’m not complaining; I get to appreciate each one of their bodies.

“I don’t know what kind of charity I did in my past life, but I’m going to thank that bitch later for doing it,” I mumble, raking my eyes over each one of them while groaning and biting my fist for show.

Marcello and Zamir both stand at six three, and Nash is just an inch taller. Marcello is bulkier than both of them, spending god knows how long in the gym—or probably from throwing bodies around. He’s right there with the two professional football players, even with having more than a couple of years on them.

Zamir is the first to start walking up to me. “Hi, dirty girl. I’ve missed you the past couple of days.” He and Nash have had some long practices and film to watch afterward. They both crash every night. Honestly, I’m shocked to see them here tonight.

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