Page 14 of The Second Deal

Ipush him away, grab his hands, and lead him to the passenger side of the car. “Alcoholwill do that.”

Zakdoesn’t say anything else asIusher him into the passenger seat and shut the door.

Turningto face the approach,Isurvey the area shrouded in shadow and night, trying to discern any creature of the night.Stillnothing out here except a truck leaving the bar and heading the other direction.

Theride is silent beyond the screaming music playing at a low volume.Idon’t offer anything, and neither doesZakasIpull into a driveway to turn around and head north, just a half mile past my road.

Supposemisery loves company, but, fuck—really?

TheRamosestate is exactly asIleft it beyond the tree line hiding aSpanishrevival style house from the road.Itspans wide with a clay-tiled roof and beige stucco walls, and the heavy wooden front door glows in golden light within a hidden archway.Behindthe house lies a pool and a small building that hostsTimeless’sheadquarters, and beyond that are acres of land for cattle.

Anew deep purpleHellcatand blueTacomareplacesZak’sCutlassandAdrian’sSuburbanin the roundabout driveway.Ipull up to the front door around a live oak tree and park, glancing between the new rides and the houseIused to hang out at almost every single day for seven years.

Cuttingthe engine, music roars through the stucco.LuckyforAdrianthey live without neighbors nearby so he can make as much noise as he wants.

Zakleans against the window, softly snoring.Ibite back the urge to push stray locks of hair out of his face and shake his shoulder, instead. “Hey, wake up.We’rehome.”

Iwince at that last part.

Gradually, he rouses, looking around with closed eyes. “Huh?”

Igrumble all the way to the passenger door and growl asIattempt to pull him out of my car.Whenhe finally emerges, his bodyweight propels him forward.Ialmost trip over myself gaining footing asIshove him back against the car—he must’ve gained at least fifty pounds of muscle, he’s so fucking heavy.

“C’mon,”Igrunt asIslip an arm around his waist and pull his arm over my shoulders.

Dragginghim to the front door is like pulling a freight train.

Ijiggle the knob.Locked.

“Z, where’re your keys?”

“Mm?”

“Goddamnit,”Iwhisper, trying to keep his heavy arm around me asIhold him upright and search his pockets.Unfortunately, that means my forehead pressing into the crook of his neck soIcan reach around him.

Thebitch giggles, grinning as his head tilts back. “Oh, this is fun.”

“Shutup, ass.”

Thescent of alcohol and sweat fills my nostrils asIhunt through his pockets.Myfinger loops through a metal key ring, butIlinger.

WhenZak’sarm slips from my shoulders, down across my back, and his hand rests on my hip, everything in my body seizes.

Ireallyshouldn’t be huggingZaklike this, missing the way he feels in my arms, the scorch of his body on mine, the rhythm of his heartbeat under my touch…

Hismouth isright.There.

“Mm, babe?” he mumbles, tilting his head towards me.

Chapter6

Pull Me Under

–Dream Theater

Icould takeadvantage of this situation.

Icould press my mouth toZak’sand kiss him for the first time in nearly two years.Proceedto vomit out all the apologiesI’verehearsed over and over in my head untilIgave myself a migraine.

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