Page 20 of Dirty Big Sins

“Your woman is here?” he asked. “Where?” I could hear the disbelief in his belligerent tone. “I need to meet the woman who can tolerate someone like you. Offer her my condolences.”

I didn’t move my gaze from his. I wouldn’t give him that kind of satisfaction. My business was my business and I planned to keep it that way for as long as I could or until Zia was on board with us. The near crushing blow our budding relationship had taken with the release of one picture would be nothing if I couldn’t control the rest of the narrative out in the wild.

“The details don’t matter. What matters is that you are in my way, and right now you don’t want to be there.”

Anger radiated off of him as we continued our stare down. This wasn’t what I had planned for this evening, but now I had to see it through. I would never back down. This wasn’t just about me. It was about her and nothing mattered to me more.

After several long minutes Murphy finally took a step to the side. I felt the symbolism of him not taking a step back all the way to my core. He wasn’t backing down so much as allowing me passage. “Take her then and get the hell out of my club. You aren’t wanted here and I won’t do this for you again. Next time you step in here I will show the world exactly what you are.”

Between his over abundant ego and the fucking chip he carried on his shoulder, I had to quell the urge to teachhima lesson. Starting a fight in public wouldn’t hurt my image, but it could hurt Zia’s and for some frustrating reason that woman thought that meant everything. As if it was more important than the people around her and the love they had for her.

I almost stumbled as that word charged through my mind. Of course that didn’t apply to me. I cared for her. But love? No, we had not come that far. Still… The word stuck to my brain like any good blood sucker would and if I wasn’t careful, it would grow fucking roots.

As if on cue, my gaze drifted upward to the balcony that lined the entire dance floor and settled on the woman I sought.

Zia.

The most gorgeous fucking woman.

There at the railing, looking down at the scene with her eyes wide and mouth slightly open. As if she couldn’t believe I had come for her. There was so much she needed to learn about a man like me.

I pushed my way past the security team that had surrounded us, barely mindful not to touch Murphy. He would have to be dealt with later. Preferably in the ring. But dealt with nonetheless.

With my focus drawn to the woman above, I couldn’t afford a misstep. I had to convince her I wasn’t what she thought I was and getting in a public brawl wasn’t going to help my cause.

After taking the steps three at a time, I made it into her booth before she could take a breath let alone flee. I didn’t trust that she wouldn’t try to run, though. Her desire to hide from me this week had damn near driven me crazy. I wasn’t exactly the pillar of patience, but I’d done my best to honor her needs.

However, it was time for her to face me and nothing worked as well as simply ripping the band-aid off.

“Vincent,” Nina cried in greeting, pulling some of my attention away from Zia. “What a surprise!”

I eyed her warily. We both knew it wasn’t. While her little girl posse had been on the roof having dinner, I’d been grilling Gabe within an inch of his life on Zia’s plans. He’d managed to stall until they were gone, but from there it had been easy enough to figure out where they’d gone next.

Between Nova’s social media videos and Zia’s own Instagram posts, they didn’t do much without documentation. I didn’t begrudge their carefully curated lives. These days social media had the power to make or break careers if you weren’t mindful. Of that Zia was one hundred percent correct. Not that I’d admit it. Most of my posts were handled by a media consultant who hounded me constantly for more content.

“Nina,” I greeted, although unable to take my eyes from Zia and her little black dress, which hugged her curvy figure much like my hands whenever I touched her.

My muscles were already tight from the almost confrontation with Murphy and that situation only got worse from my finally seeing this woman live and in person.

Her wide dark eyes seemed to drink me in as much as mine did her. Maybe my imagination was overworked and overtired, but maybe not. Was she glad to see me?

Nina touched my shoulder and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I’m still not sure this is a good idea so tread carefully. If you screw this up there will be hell to pay.”

I smiled, glad I wasn’t the only one who had Zia’s interests at heart as I all but shook off her warning. It was past time for the two of us to talk and nothing was going to stop me.

I squeezed Nina’s hand and walked to Zia who still stood at the railing—waiting, her eyes averted to the crowd below.

I tried not to look down at Murphy and failed. As expected, he was watching my every move from his vantage point down below. I had no idea if the bastard would expose my intent, but I could no longer wait for Zia to come to me.

“Are you ready to talk?” I asked, fully aware my timing wasn’t ideal.

“Definitely not. You shouldn’t have come here.” With the words pushed through her clenched jaw, I could hear the tension in her voice. “I don’t think we should be seen together.”

That statement bristled although I knew why she was so paranoid and I was going to have to fix that however I could. “When you refused to answer my texts, you gave me no choice. I’ve been patient, Zia, but a man like me has limits.”

Her eyes flared and the emotions racing across her face before she could hide them were the equivalent of a warning shot across the bow of a ship just before the final kill shot. Not that I intended to heed any warning.

“I waited for a reply. When it didn’t come, I realized how pathetic I was expecting one. So I left my phone in my closet and came out tonight without it. So spare me your bullshit about not getting answers. I warned you this thing between us wouldn’t work. We both should have listened.”

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