Romano comes to stand next to me. It really takes a lot of effort not to cringe or shake under the weight of his glare. He may as well have a forked tongue and crawl on his belly with the feelings he incites in me. And I fucking hate snakes.
He hands me a drink, which I do accept as graciously as I can, but have absolutely no intention of drinking. “Glad to see you take us seriously, Tori,” he says standing extremely close to me, making my stomach churn with nausea.
“I’m just here to do what you ask and then we’re done.”
“Oh, we will be far from done if you make it out of this fight in one piece. That is, of course, unless you’ve changed your mind about protecting your sister.”
I’m not surprised to hear him say this. I knew going in that this would be ongoing until I can find a way to get Cara far, far away from Stephano. I just don’t know how quite yet. She will never believe me if I tell her what’s going on. She is totally enamored with the asshole who is only using her in this sick little game.
“Of course, I haven’t changed my mind,” I tell him pretending to sip the champagne.
“Smart girl,” he chuckles before walking off.
I hope I might get a few minutes to rid myself of this dirty, gross feeling that crawls over my skin every time he or James come near me, but I’m not that lucky. James sidles his way to me next, making certain to get very much in my personal space. He wraps his arm around my waist pulling me close to him. I can’t help when my entire body goes rigid. He drops his mouth to my ear. “It would probably help matters if you smiled like you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Fuck you,” I hiss through tightly clenched teeth.
“Is that an invitation?” This time I can stop the rolling tremble of disgust from coming through.
“I already told you I have a boyfriend, but even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.”
A very smarmy, shark like grin spreads across his face. “I don’t think we need to worry about the boyfriend anymore.”
I start throw another jab when I notice he’s not smiling at me with all those teeth. His eyes are set somewhere else. I turn to follow his gaze and my stomach begins a freefall that I’m not sure will ever end.
Standing there, glaring dagger my way is none other than Zane Valen looking like ten million dollars in a tux with a glass of dark liquid in his hand. The look of disgust and betrayal in his face makes me wish the floor would swallow me whole.
I move to go to him, but James quickly stops me. “Oh no you don’t, darlin’,” he hisses in my ear. “You’re staying right here.”
I turn to him quickly while jerking my arm out of his grip. “You knew he would be here, didn’t you?” I accuse.
He gives a shrug, putting his drink up to his lips. “I knew the odds were in my favor.”
“Why the fuck would you do this?” I seethe, trying hard to keep the threatening tears at bay.
“No distractions, darlin’.”
“Stop fucking calling me that. Do you really think I won’t be distracted now? Now all I will be is distracted.”
“I think you will be just fine. And I got to see the look of heartbreak on poor Zane’s face.”
I jerk back with surprise and confusion. What does Zane have to do with anything? By the attitude and tone, I’d say that James and the rest picked me because of more than just my fighting ability. It’s an attack on Zane as well. “Why? Why are you doing this? Do you even know him? What could you possibly have against him?”
He shakes his head still grinning that disgusting grin. “Nothing you need to worry yourself over. Now come on, we have more people to meet.”
My stomach clenches and turns as I begin to wonder how I am ever going to explain this to Zane. Wondering if all of this just ruined everything. Then realizing that, of course, it’s ruined everything. How could it not?
The thought of losing Zane because of all of this makes my heart seize. A pain shoots through the center of me knowing that he will probably never give me a chance to explain, but even if he did what would I say?
Knowing that I may lose Zane forever, my body begins to shudder as the very thing I’ve tried hard to ignore comes flooding through.
I love him.
I don’t stop the tears that begin to fall.
Zane
“Nine hundred ninety-seven, nine ninety-eight, nine ninety-nine, one thousand,” I growl coming up into my final sit up. I wipe the sweat pouring down my face with a towel as I turn to drop into pushups.
