Roses

Chapter 25

Adam

"You're gonna have to let go of my hand now," Zoey smiles at me. We walked inside my home five minutes ago and I liked the feel of her hand in mine far too much to let it go yet.

The morning was a whirlwind of events. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for the feel of Zoey's body in my arms. It's still hard for me to believe that she is finally mine.

I had hoped once this moment came, some of my obsessive need to keep her close would subside. But it's quite the opposite. The need seems to have multiplied and I don't want to do anything other than lock the two of us up somewhere.

I was perfectly happy to spend the entire day in bed with her but she reminded me she had a job. I nearly laughed in her face at that. I am her boss!

But she wanted to see my father and I don't think I'll ever be able to deny her anything she wants.

"Adam?" She nudges her hand and smiles again. And for a moment, all I want is to stop time. So I can forever look at her looking at me like that.

"Right," I mutter as I release her hand, annoyance clear on my face. She chuckles at my expression, then turns around and makes her way upstairs. I watch her disappear from my view.

One day very soon, everyone in this fucking town will know she's mine. I wanted to at least tell everyone in my home about our relationship the second she said yes. But I could tell she wouldn't have liked it.

Hell, I know even though we're together now, I'm miles ahead. And I need to wait for her to catch up to me.

That shouldn't take too long, right?

The sight of Sam emerging from the dining room is a welcome distraction from my tendency to overthink about everything concerning Zoey. Plus, I do have things to hash out with him. I gesture him to follow me to my home office.

"How was it?" I ask him as I take my seat behind the desk.

"It was smooth. No witnesses," Sam replies, voice betraying no emotion. He's a kid and has no business cleaning up after murders. He is aware of it too. Yet neither of us will talk about it. We decided never to talk about it when we had first done something like this.

When I'd brought him and his parents to Roses, I had initially thought I may develop a close bond with Manny. But he took a liking to my father. What I couldn't have predicted was his son taking a liking to me.

I don't know what Sam sees in me. I hope it's not a role model. But whatever it is made him have my back ever since he came into my life, and I'm grateful for it.

"Good," I nod at him. "One of Bruno's men may contact you for details." He nods at my words but I can tell his mind is somewhere else. Not a good sign. "You want to ask me something, Sam?"

He takes a deep breath before speaking, "Is Zo... Miss Kirby involved in all this somehow?"

"Why do you ask?" I steel my voice, waiting to see his reaction. I don't want him to cower in front of me. But I do need to find out what's there inside his head about my girl.

"I don't think she belongs in this, boss," he says, trying to maintain a stoic expression. But I can see he cares for her.

"She doesn't," I agree with him. "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all." The truth is she is far more involved than that. But I'm not going to reveal the threat to her life so casually.

He stays silent for a moment but I know he has more on his mind. So I wait.

"Is she.... your...," he trails off without finishing his question. In all the time he's known me I haven't had a single girlfriend so it's natural he feels awkward saying it.

And honestly, calling Zoey my girlfriend would be the understatement of the century.

"She's mine," I tell him. I watch his face closely. He doesn't look surprised. Maybe a bit.... relieved. "And her safety will be top priority from now on," I add.

"I'll do my best."

"I will be working from home today. You can relax," I wave him off and he leaves promptly.

I have been working from home as much as I can lately. Staying close to Zoey for my sake is no doubt part of my reasoning behind it, but I also want her to be able to find me if she needs me.

It has pissed me off more than I thought it would that she didn't come to me for anything even once.

I shake my head as I move a folder from my desktop screen to one of the hard drives. It contains all the information I requested from Kage a few days ago.

On top of going through Bruno's security team from the party to find out the man that bothered her, I also spent a ridiculous amount of time finding out about all the men she had a relationship with back in New York.

From what I understood, her romantic relationships were all pointless from the start. I wish I had kept an eye on that aspect of her life. I could have stopped her from giving herself to lesser men.

Speaking of lesser men, her most recent ex, a pest named Arnie, seems to not grasp the idea of a breakup. If he doesn't give up soon, I might be tempted to intervene.

But it's not him I'm worried about. It's her friend Jack.

Even though the thorough information Kage provided on their relationship screamed platonic, it's very easy to see she trusts the guy. Otherwise she wouldn't have called him this morning while she stood in front of her house fearing me.

Watching her talk to him doesn't just make something very green rear its ugly head within me. It also brings back my fear of losing her. Because I know it will be so easy for her to pack up and go back to New York.

She didn't hesitate even once mentioning it earlier. Sure she was overwhelmed after finding out her father wanted her dead. But if it's that easy for her...

Where do I fall in her line of thoughts while making a decision? A fucking afterthought?

I close my eyes and slowly rein in my anger and desperation. Things are different now, I convince myself. She agreed to be mine. And with time, she will reciprocate my feelings.

I pick up my phone and dial Chief Michael's number. "Adam?"

"Do you still have your contacts at the state prison?" I ask him directly. With the serial killer investigation going on in full swing, I would hate to waste any of his time.

"Yes," he sighs like he has an inkling of what's going on in my mind.

"I would like to have a word with them."

"Does this have anything to do with Robert Kirby, son?"

I exhale quietly. He is going to make this especially hard for me by calling me that.

"Just let the girl go-"

"If you're not going to help me just say so," I cut him off.

"What do you want?" He asks after a pause.

"Kirby in solitary confinement for the rest of his life." I don't want the fucker making any more friends. Till I can figure out a way to get him killed behind the bars, this will have to do.

"I'll see what I can do," he mutters. I can imagine him shaking his head on the other line. Too bad I don't care how unhinged I sound. I will take no risks when it comes to Zoey's safety.

"Thanks."

When he remains silent but doesn't hang up either, I just know I won't like whatever he's going to say.

"You see where this is going though, don't you? Her mother was your father's downfall. And now she will be yours."