Page 51 of Joyride
I force a smile. “It’s very nice to meet you, too, ma’am.”
“Make sure you find yourpapàand introduce her to him.” She pats Zack’s cheek. “And yourfratelli.”
“I will, Mamma.”
His mother is way too sweet to have raised such an awful man. I wonder what happened. A waiter walks over to us with a tray of champagne. Zack grabs two, handing one to me. Just what I need, alcohol to numb me even further. After doing a lap around the house, we end up back in the living room.
“Ah, Zack. There you are.” A man who looks like Zack, only bulkier with salt and peppered hair, walks over to us.
“Papà, this is Wren.”
His father’s eyes rake over my body, making me feel disgusting. “Such a gorgeous young woman.”
Zack’s arm wraps around my waist, pulling me into his side as if he’s staking his claim on me to his dad.Gross.
“Have you seen yourfratelli?”
“No,Papà, I haven’t seen them, yet.”
“They’ll want to meet your beautiful girlfriend.” An evil smirk spreads across his dad’s face. My numbness can’t fight off the awful feeling this man gives me. His gaze goes over my shoulder. I turn to find my very own father, grinning.
“Wren, my sweet girl. How are you,” he asks. He acts as if he doesn’t know that I know what he did.
“Zack, may I excuse myself to the restroom?” I mutter to him.
“Of course. Do you remember where it is?”
I nod my head.
“Don’t even think about running. I have men all around keeping an eye on you,” he says in my ear, loud enough for only me to hear. I walk straight to the bathroom. Shutting and locking the door behind me, I lean against it and take several deep breaths.
“This can’t be happening,” I mutter to myself. I would give anything to be able to call Sketch right now, but Zack took my phone. I dab some water on my face, careful not to mess up my makeup, take one more deep breath, and walk back out. As soon as I walk out of the bathroom, a guy grabs me, pulling me into his chest.
“Hello,bellissima. I’ve never seen you around. What’s your name,” he asks.
“My name’s Wren and my boyfriend, Zack, is in the next room.” The word leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
The man laughs. “Youare Zack’s girlfriend?”
“Enzo!” Zack growls out. “Get your hands off her.”
“What’s wrong,brother? You don’t want to share this one?” His laugh is maniacal.
“She’smine.Papàgave her to me.”
“Ah, the virgin?” Enzo’s eyes move down my body and back up before going back to Zack’s. He mutters something to him in Italian. Whatever he said causes Zack to glare at me.
“There’s no way you could know that.”
Enzo shrugs. “Believe what you will, baby brother. Let me know if you change your mind.” With that, Enzo walks away.
We don’t see Enzo for the rest of the night. Zack is pissed about whatever Enzo said to him and hasn’t spoken to me. Which I’m not complaining about, but it means when we get back to his house, all hell will be released. I am introduced to his other three brothers throughout the night. While they all give me bad vibes, none of them are as bad as Enzo. I’ve lost track of time, we’ve been here so long.
“Sit here withMamma. I need to talk withPapàbefore we leave.” He sits me down next to his mom and walks off. I can sense someone staring at me. Without being completely obvious, I glance around at all the people. My father is on the other side of the room, eyes locked on me.
“You might think I’m blind to what’s really going on. I assure you, I’m not. I’m sorry you are in this situation,” Gabi says to me, pulling my attention back to her. “If you listen and do as he tells you, he will take care of you.”
“And if I don’t?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret asking.
