Page 58 of A Sinner's Virtue
“I’m taking you both home. Gio and Marcel will meet you back there,” he says.
“No. Let me out of this car.” I try to steady my voice. I don’t like being locked in, and I like the fact that Marcel is back there even less. What if whoever was attacking that place is still there?
I tug on the door handle but nothing happens. My heart rate picks up. So does my breathing. I can feel the panic building. I can’t do this.
“Stop the car. Please,” I say. “I need… I need to get out.” Everything sounds like it’s underwater.
Where is Marcel? I need him here. I can’t be locked in this car. A hand grips around mine and I turn my head away from the window and towards Eloise.
“You’re safe here, Zoe. It’s going to be okay. Marcel will probably be back at the house before we even get there,” she says while attempting to comfort me.
“No. I need to get out. Stop the car.” I scream louder, snatching my hand free then using it to pound against the windows. It’s not her fault, and I feel bad when I see her flinch.
Realizing I’m doing little more than making a fool out of myself, I drop my arms, reaching into the bag that I’m thankful was crossed over my body while I was dancing, and find my phone. Then I scroll through the contacts until I land on Mikhail’s name.
I don’t know where Ivan ended up in all of this mess. But right now, I could really use the familiarity. Before I press the call button next to his name, I hit the number above it. Marcel.
The phone rings, and just as I think it’s about to ring out, he answers. “Zoe, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? Tell whoever is driving this car to stop and let me out, Marcel. I need to get out. Please, let me out.” Tears are falling down my cheeks.
“Fuck,” Marcel curses under his breath before softening his tone. “Zoe, listen to me. Dan is driving the car. Dan is a good guy. I promise. He’s just taking you home. I’m going to meet you there. Wait for me in my room. I won’t be long.”
“No. I can’t. I need to get out, Marcel. I need to… I can’t…” I am almost panting by this point.
“Zoe, I can’t let you out in the middle of the street. Please, just let him take you to my place. I need to know you’re safe, Zoe,” he says more quietly.
I can’t find the words to respond. I don’t know what to say. I should just wait until the car stops and then I can run.
“Zoe, Ivan is here. He’s coming to you.”
“Ivan is there?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Put him on,” I tell Marcel. Ivan will get me out of here.
“Zoe, I’m five minutes behind you. I need you to stay with the De Bellis guy until I reach you.”
“You’re okay?”
“I’m fine. How are you?” Ivan says.
“I need to get out of this car. They won’t let me out,” I tell him.
“I know. Just try to stay calm. I’m coming to get you,” he says this part in Russian. Words I know all too well, because Mikhail has said them over and over again throughout the years. Whenever I’d have a panic attack, Izzy would call Mikhail and he’d tell her the same thing.
“Okay,” I say while taking a huge breath. I try my best to calm myself.
I’m going to be okay. I’m not trapped. Ivan is going to come and get me. And then I can go home.
“Zoe?” Marcel’s voice comes back on the line. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him. It’s not. Nothing is okay. It seems like I can’t be in public with Marcel without getting shot at. Either the people doing the shooting have really bad aim, or they’re not actually trying to kill anyone.
“It’s not. You’re not okay and that’s my fault,” he says.
“Marcel, are you coming?” I ask him.
