Conviction (The Cassano Series Book 4) (8 page)

Zev

There’s a knock on my office door, so I stand to answer it. “Victoria, what are you doing here?”

“Hi, I wanted to speak to you about tomorrow night.” She sniffles as she glances back down the hallway.

“Come in. Are you OK?”

“Adrian and I had a fight, but he said you’re a little nervous about the Feds, so I wanted to tell you how it will go down. I’ve witnessed something similar before.”

“That would be great.”

Victoria proceeds to fill me in on what should happen when the FBI busts my drug deal with Sanders. I’m only more nervous at the start, but by the end of our conversation, my anxiety has settled a bit.

I so badly want to discuss a couple of things with her, but I’m worried about the reaction I will receive.

“I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. Knowing what to expect helps a lot.” I continue to stare at Victoria, and I’m tapping my foot.

“Zev, is there something you want to say?”

“I hope you and Adrian can work out whatever problem you’re having. You two are good together.”

“He made a serious mistake by suggesting I find someone else if he goes to prison.”

“Shit, that was a dumbass move.”

“I thought so, too, so I’m going to make him suffer a while. Then, he better have come to his senses.”

I silently stare at her once again, and this time I’m chewing on my bottom lip. 

Fuck, what should I do?

“Xavier, I’ve been a cop long enough to know you’re stalling.”

“I want to tell you something, but I’m unsure if it will be
my
dumbass move.”

“OK. Who is it about?”

“Tara.”

“She’s a good friend to me. If there’s something I should know about her, then you better tell me.”

My fingers lace behind my head, and I blow out a breath. “Shit, she’s going to be pissed, but as much as I’m trying to be there for her, she also needs a girlfriend right now.”

“Is this about her needing a job?”

“I wish. No, it’s something much more serious.”

Victoria

“Noah tried to bargain with me. He would only agree to bigger deals if I gave him a night with Tara. He said it was to establish trust. Of course, I refused,” Zev says.

“I already liked her, and I might be a dick to women, but I’m not that big of an asshole. I suspected he might mistreat her. What I didn’t know was that Tara overheard this conversation.”

“Oh, god. What did she do?”

“While I was visiting my mother, she went to one of our Submission rooms with Noah.” Zev stands from his chair and strolls toward me. “Now, before I show you this, you have to promise me that you’re not going to do that impulsive shit you’re notorious for doing.”

“OK,” I say drawn out.

“I mean it, Victoria. It’s a serious situation that could jeopardize Tara’s safety.”

“Just show me. I’ll keep my cool.” He blows out a long breath as he pulls his phone from his pocket.

“This is what he did to her…” Zev scrolls through his phone and begins to show me photos. The first few are of bruises on her arms, and I believe her back.

The next one startles me. It’s of her face. She’s so bruised and swollen, I wouldn’t have recognized Tara without Zev identifying her.

“Why would she do this?”

“She thought it would keep me and my brothers out of prison. She did it to protect me. I suspect she did it for you, too, to protect Adrian.

I cover my mouth with my hand and try to still my pounding heart. “What was she thinking?”

“She said she thought it would be meaningless sex, and then she’d be done, but Noah had something else in mind. I had rejected her, Victoria. I can’t even begin to describe how I felt once I found out.

“She wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. He threatened her life, and that’s exactly why you can’t say anything about this to him.”

“Where is she right now?”

“At her condo.”

Abruptly, I stand to leave. “We have to get someone over to her place this minute to protect her.”

“Calm down, I have someone. She just doesn’t know it. They’re watching from outside.”

I cover my chest. “How have you not murdered Noah?”

“His day will come.”

“Be careful, Zev. You and your brothers have a lot at stake.”

“I know, but he has to pay at some point.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Tara

My phone buzzes in my hand. I open my eyes, and read a text from Zev. He’s letting me know he’s at my front door. I smile and wipe my eyes as I slide the chain lock over.

“Hi,” I say quietly.

“Hey, baby.” I no sooner get the door locked before he has me inside his warm embrace. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I want to take a quick shower.” He holds up a gym bag. While Zev is in the shower, I barely turn the water on at the sink, so I can brush my teeth.

I imagine we’ll be doing a lot of kissing. He still claims it’s his favorite thing to do. I smile again with a mouthful of toothpaste.

As he runs a towel over his wet hair, he strolls into my room in only a pair of navy boxer briefs. I admire his sexiness, his body a powerful sculpture of perfection.

Once we’re on my bed, he pulls me flush against him and gives my lips a gentle peck.

“We need to have a talk.”

“It’s three o’clock in the morning. Are you sure you don’t want to wait?”

“I need to get it off my chest. I don’t want any secrets between us.”

“Well, I like the sound of that part, anyway.”

“I have security watching your condo in case Noah shows up or sends someone.”

“OK. I kind of expected that.”

“Don’t be pissed, but I also told Victoria what happened to you.”

Jerking back from Zev, I grip his shoulder.

“Zev! She’s going to freak and go beat his ass or worse.”

“No, she’s not. I promise. She took it better than I thought she would. She wouldn’t risk your safety or all that my brothers and I have worked toward.”

“OK. As long as you’re sure. I guess it would be nice to have someone else to talk to about it.”

Zev pulls me back against him.

“That’s exactly why I told her. Now kiss me.”

In a heartbeat his tongue is invading my mouth. He’s probing and stroking as his hand begins exploring beneath my tank top.

I’m turned on by his heated touch. My nipples harden, and the feel of the cotton fabric grazing against them heightens my excitement. “Zev,” I whisper as I take a breath.

“Fuck, I can’t get enough of you.” I’m abruptly pushed over until I’m flat on my back. His body presses heavy against mine. He’s groping my breast, and in a flash, I’m thinking of Noah.

Panicked, my body stiffens, and I squeeze Zev’s shoulders. He stiffens, too, as he realizes my fear. Our loud and irregular breaths are magnified from the stillness.

“I’m sorry. It’s easy to get carried away with you.” Slipping his hand from my shirt, he strokes my hair lovingly, and my fear instantly vanishes.

“Please don’t stop touching me.”

“Sweetheart, I’m going to gently make love to every inch of your body.”

His lips sway faintly along mine, and just like that, I’m swallowed up inside his warmth. Feather kisses begin to float down my neck, sending a welcome shiver throughout my entire being.

“Tara, your body is beautiful.” His smoldering breath fills my mouth again, and every time, it becomes more familiar … more comforting, replacing the evil with something heavenly.

Rising to his knees, he gently pulls my tank top over my head. Eyes travel the width of my bare chest. “So damn gorgeous.”

He shifts his attention to my thin pajama shorts and slips them off next. A smile tugs at his lips once he sees I’m not wearing panties. “Did I say your body is beautiful?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“I don’t think I have said it enough. It’s beautiful, like every part of you, and all I see when I admire you is this brightness. There’s this wholeness to you, sweetheart, this light. I need it so damn much.”

His words spur tears in my eyes. I’m blinking them away and struggling to swallow.

“One of the reasons I love you is because you see me. I’m not just a blonde bimbo to you. You see my happiness for what it is, and I’m the happiest when I’m with you. You’re smart, funny, witty, and loving.”

Pressing his fists into the mattress, he gradually lowers his head to let our lips meet.

“God, I’m never letting you go.”

Moving down my body, he swirls my nipple ever so lightly with his tongue. “That’s right, harden for me.”

The sensation leaves me clenching his broad, contoured shoulders, but it’s not from fear this time. I’m immersed in the pleasure he’s delivering to my skin, and I only want more. His tongue roams along my stomach next.

Every inch is laved by his wet mouth.

Each sensitive spot caressed.

“Mmm…,” he hums when he reaches the most sensitive spot of them all. My hands drop to the bed, and his fingers stretch upward to entwine with mine.

“I love you, Daisy.” Zev’s words are trailed by another hum of burning heat that reinforces the drumming in my core. He’s licking, swirling, and the beating grows stronger.

And stronger…

And bolder…

And brilliantly intense…

“Zev,” I utter throatily with a moan.

“Come for me, baby. Let go with me.” Our knuckles rub against each other’s, and the way he’s holding my hands feels intimate–in the moment. He buries his face against me, and my muscles squeeze until I’m pushed over the edge.

I’m no longer lost in the sensations. I’m present with the pleasure, feeling every explosion of tingling bliss.

“Zev, I love you.”

“I love you, too. I love you so damn much.”

He rises, and I open my eyes. He looks to be deep in thought as his erection bulges hard against his boxers.

“Tara, I don’t have any condoms with me. Tell me you have some left.”

“I have one.” His breath of relief has me grinning.

“I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but once I’m certain I’m out of trouble, I don’t care if we don’t use them.”

My eyes bulge about as much as his erection.

“Are you serious?”

“You’re the one, Tara. Whatever happens, I’m ready for it. I’ve never felt more fucking ready for anything.”

I blink swiftly a few times as I try to process his words. I reach over into the nightstand and then hand him the condom.

“OK,” spills from my lips. For a two-letter word, it’s inhabited inside a world of unknown, a future of possible marriage and children. It’s a life I could’ve only fantasied about until this moment.

Lowering onto me, Zev’s gaze is latched strongly onto mine. His forearms cradle my head, and his mouth begins loving mine with intense longing.

“Zev, are you absolutely sure about that?”

“Absolutely, and you needed to hear it in case something goes wrong during this drug deal.”

“I don’t want to think about that right now. Just love on me.”

He pushes into me and grants my wish, loving my body all over again.

Zev

I tuck blonde hair behind Tara’s ear. She has fallen fast asleep, and I’m watching her and listening to her faint purrs of contentment.

My eyes are heavy with exhaustion from a long night of work, but I can’t stop staring at her and soaking up her beauty. I’m definitely lovesick. Also, I can’t stop thinking about what the new day holds.

Tonight I meet with Noah. It’s finally happening. A deal for three kilos of cocaine. I won’t keep from Tara the fact that this deal goes down tonight, but she doesn’t need to know about it until she’s had more sleep.

Once something is mine, it’s mine for keeps. I know I can trust her completely. I wouldn’t leave her unwedded and pregnant, so once I’m sure I’m out of this nightmare of a situation, I’ll make Tara mine forever.

It still surprises me, but I couldn’t live without her in my life.

***

It’s noon when my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Adrian telling me to call him immediately. Tara is not in bed, and I smile as I inhale the smell of bacon.

“Ace, what’s up?”

“You’re not going to believe what I’m about to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Two things… Blanca is an FBI informant, planted in our place to leak information. I busted her last night by hearing a phone conversation she was having with them.”

“Fuck, now there are two people I want to murder. What else do you have to tell me?”

“It’s about Theo. Karen left him for another man.”

“OK, make that three people. Bitches.”

“Zev, calm down.”

“Calm down? Are you serious? I fucked Blanca’s brains out…” I lower my voice in case Tara can hear. “Bro, I fucked her for months.”

“Yeah, I heard rumors about that.”

“Damn, how is Theo taking the news?”

“He’s hanging in there, but he’s pretty stunned. Are you all set for tonight?”

“As ready as I can be. Hey, does this mean you need a new personal assistant?”

“Yes, do you have someone in mind? Someone we can trust completely?”

“Actually, I know the perfect person for the job.”

Ending my call with Adrian, I prowl up behind Tara while she’s cooking at the stove. My arms circle her waist, and I breathe her in.

“Luring me awake with bacon, are we?”

She giggles against my face that is buried at her neck.

“I thought it might drag your butt out of bed.”

I spin her around and she smiles.

“Actually, Adrian woke me up. He had some important stuff to discuss with me.”

“Oh, is everything OK?”

“Not exactly. My brother Theo … his wife left him.” I’m quiet now as an unpleasant thought of Tara leaving me travels through my mind. I will it away because I want to trust her.

I want this right here. I desire to have my arms wrapped around her on a lazy morning over bacon and pancakes.

“I’m sorry, Zev. That’s terrible.”

“I have something to ask you, and I want you to be completely honest with me. Adrian and Theo need a new assistant. Is that a job you might be interested in?”

Tara’s eyes avert to the floor. “I don’t know how I feel about working at Submission.”

“I completely understand why you’re hesitant. The place holds bad memories for you, but aside from you, it’s my world. I need you to be comfortable there again. I thought this might be a good way to make that happen.

“You would never have to enter the lounges or Submission rooms. Never. My brothers pay well. You would make six figures. Will you at least consider it?”

“Wow, six figures. I didn’t expect to make that at a new job. I could continue to sock money away for the future. I’ll think about it. I would like to have good memories there again, too.”

Bringing her in for a hug, my lips press to her neck.

“Thank you. Mmm … you smell like bacon and daisies.” We both laugh, and I couldn’t ask for a better morning with her.

Her eyes flit away again. “Um, I will understand if you got caught up in the moment this morning. You know, when you said that about not using condoms.”

With a finger, I tilt her chin. “Tara, look at me. I meant every word.”

“Since I woke up, my mind has been reeling over it. I um, I’m not having a baby out of wedlock. It’s not the future I have in mind. I want a solid family.”

“Fuck, I would never try to knock you up. I meant the whole package, baby. Of course, only if you want it, too.”

Her bright smile resurfaces and lights up the whole space around us like every other time I’m lucky enough to see it. “This is all happening fast, but it feels so right.”

“It’s time you meet my mother.” Tara giggles hard. “What? Why is that funny?”

“You’re adorable. Can we have bacon and pancakes first?”

“I didn’t mean today, silly. Actually, something else is happening today.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“Noah’s world is going to come crashing down tonight.”

“It’s tonight?”

“Yep.”

Her arms sling around my neck, and she hugs me tightly. “I’m scared for you.”

“I’ll be OK. It’ll all be over soon.”

“I’m going to be a wreck as I wait and wonder.”

I frame her face and look her in the eyes.

“Tara, I will be fine, and I’m never going to let that sick bastard hurt you again. Not ever.”