I LIE ON THE BED, watching as Vivi puts all of her clothes into the space I made in my closet for her things. The fact she’s settling in causes this warm sensation in my chest as it hits me that she’ll be staying here with me permanently. I’m looking forward to waking up with Vivi in my arms every morning.
Vivi shoves her hands on her hips as she inspects all the clothes and shoes she’s put away. “I can’t get over how big your closet is. I’ve always dreamed of having this much space.”
“You can take the whole damn thing if you want to. I don’t mind leaving most of my stuff in dresser drawers.” I would give her anything to keep seeing that beautiful smile on her face.
She comes toward me and then falls down on the bed next to me. “I will never need that much room. I don’t own that many clothes.”
I lean up on one elbow and stare down at her before pushing a loose strand of her dark hair away from her face. “We can change that. If you ever want something, say the word, and it’s yours. I’ll take you on a big damn Pretty Woman shopping spree.”
“You and your obsession with movies.” She giggles. “I didn’t think anyone on the planet watched more than me until I met you. Your film knowledge astounds me and only makes me like you more.”
I shrug. “What can I say? Movies were my escape from all the shit going on around me. I would watch television and wouldn’t have to think about my mom and the reality of my life. I longed to be the people I saw in the movie—to be the boy who was special and got out of a terrible home life, finding people who weren’t his blood family but loved him, anyway.”
“Like Harry Potter?” she whispers, staring up at me with her curious green eyes. “You saw yourself in Harry.”
I nod, and it’s the first time anyone has ever made that connection about why I love that story so much. “I guess I did, and still do. While football isn’t magical or anything, it changed my life for the better, making me the strong man I am today. Football changed my life like magic did for Harry when he learned of his special gift.”
She smiles. “Makes sense why you love the movies so much. I guess it’s the same reason I love them too. Only I really wanted to grow up and be a wizard, but I’ll settle for breaking into the film industry and writing and directing some of my own stories.”
“If it’s something you really want to do, I believe you’ll do it. You’ve got drive, and that’s what it takes to make dreams come true,” I tell her. “Have you ever written any screenplays or anything?”
“A few, but they’re not good enough yet. I’m still working on them and editing until everything is perfect. Although since coming to Florida, I haven’t worked on them much. I’ve been busy between my job, you, and all the shit lately with Robert and Gia.”
I sigh and pull her into my arms, pressing my lips to hers. “Well, both of them are out of the picture now, so they shouldn’t be a distraction for you any longer, and we need to create an office for you somewhere in this house where you can work.”
“Really? You’d do that for me?” she asks, excitement evident in her voice.
“Babe, I’d do anything for you. You own me, which means you can have anything I own. It’s my job as the man who loves you to help you make your dreams come true.”
She stares up at me and traces the tips of her fingers against my jawline. I lean into her touch because it feels so damn good. “I love you, Zayn.”
I smile. “I love you, too, with my whole heart.”
My heart pounds as I lean down and kiss her lips. My chest presses against her tits, and even though we’re both fully clothed, this little bit of contact with Vivi already has my cock rock hard. I could make love to this woman every minute of every day for the rest of my life, and I still wouldn’t get enough of her.
Vivi’s hands snake under my shirt and glide up and down the bare skin on my back. I love that she always seems to want me just as much as I want her. This woman is my ultimate addiction.
“Yo! Z, you here?” Beckett’s voice calls from downstairs, sending Dobby shooting out of my bedroom and then down the stairs while barking up a storm. “You guys aren’t up there fucking, are you? I need to talk to you both. Pronto!”
“Ugh.” I release a harsh breath and then drop my head, resting my forehead against Vivi’s chest. “He’s got impeccable timing.”
The musical sound of Vivi’s laughter floats through the air. “Let’s go see what he wants, and we can continue this when he leaves.”
“All right.” I roll off her, then hop to my feet on the floor before stretching my hand down to help her off the bed. “Let’s get this over with.”
I walk down the stairs with Vivi in tow as I grumble, “What’s so damn important?”
Beckett rubs the back of his neck, a move he does when he’s nervous or stalling. “You two better come to the living room and take a seat. I have to show you something.”
“Oh, fuck. Not another video of me fucking something up, is it?” I growl before I plop down on the couch and pull Vivi onto my lap. “I’m done going viral with shit.”
“No.” Beckett shakes his head as he continues to mirror his cell phone to the flat screen hanging up in my living room. “This is far worse.”
This causes my muscles to tense as I wait not so patiently for my friend to show me whatever is so damn important.
“Here we go,” Beckett says, and then a video dated today on YouTube pops up on the screen.
A news reporter in a blue dress shirt and matching tie stands beneath an umbrella as rain falls all around him. “Early this morning, the body of reality television star Gia Whitt was discovered in her Florida home after her mother couldn’t reach her yesterday. Whitt’s mother returned from a business trip this morning and discovered her daughter’s body. Right now, the police are saying there are no signs of foul play, but they have not yet disclosed the cause of death to the public.”
My mouth drops open at the photographs and videos of Gia playing as the news of her death sinks in. “Shit.”
The reporter continues. “Whitt is the granddaughter of Florida Devil’s owner, Bruce Bayne, and the daughter of real estate mogul Darlene Bayne. Police Chief Decker informs us this is an ongoing investigation until ruled otherwise by the county coroner. Gia Whitt was twenty-four years old.”
Beckett hits pause on the video and turns to face us. “When is the last time either of you spoke to Gia?”
“Not since I saw her at work two days ago,” Vivi says.
Beckett directs his attention to me, expecting an immediate answer. “Last time for me was the night I dropped her off at her house following the premier party. I blocked her after that and have had no contact with her.”
He nods. “Okay. I was only checking because I’ve seen enough crime shows to know if this girl was murdered, they’re going to want alibis from everyone who was in contact with her.”
“Murdered?” Vivi questions. “That reporter made it sound like there was no foul play, and they’re considering her death either natural causes or…suicide.” She runs her hand through her hair. “I can’t imagine Gia killing herself. It doesn’t seem like something she would do, but she was also young and healthy, so dropping dead from a heart attack seems unlikely.”
Beckett’s mouth twists. “I guess sometimes people are really good at masking the pain. If that’s what happened, it’s a shame she didn’t feel like she could talk to someone to help her through whatever she was going through.”
Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of Gia, it doesn’t lessen the sadness I feel over the loss of such a young life. Loss of life at any age is a travesty, but to die so young hits harder. It’s like they had so much more life to live, and now they’ll never get the chance to do it. I feel bad for her mother, who discovered her, and I don’t even want to think about how upset Bruce is. Hell, I knew he would be pissed at me once he found out I refused to take Gia out on any more dates, and I hope he doesn’t blame me for upsetting her to the point where she would take her own life.
Vivi’s cell rings, and she hops off my lap before grabbing it off the coffee table. “Bella?” She pauses for a moment. “I just heard. I can’t believe it.”
While Vivi and Bella discuss what’s happening, Beckett motions for me to follow him into the kitchen.
I stand and then scrub my hand down my face, trying to make sure I’m not having some sort of nightmare and all of this is really happening.
Beckett stuffs his phone in his back pocket. “This isn’t good, and I hate you were the last known guy to date Gia in the public eye. The cops will question you for sure.”
“Let them,” I say. “I have done nothing wrong, so I absolutely have nothing to hide.”
He nods. “I know, but this is just more fucking drama tied to your name we don’t need. I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but this couldn’t come at a worse time. Going out with the girl was supposed to help your image, but being linked to her could hurt you more.”
I sigh. “All we can do now is weather any storm this sends my way. I just tell the truth that I barely knew the girl and had nothing to do with whatever happened to her.”
“You don’t have to convince me,” Beckett says, raising his hands in surrender. “You’ve been with Vivi the entire night, and I’m sure after the amount of making up the two of you had to do, you didn’t even think about leaving this house. If the authorities question you, they can always check the security footage of your house to verify you never left last night.”
“That’s true. That makes me feel better, to tell you the truth. Video doesn’t lie,” I tell him.
Beckett’s gaze flits over to Vivi and then back to me. “You’ll have to come clean to the Devils about what’s going on between you and her. You cannot keep passing her off as your niece after the video posted of the two of you on her Instagram.”
“I actually planned on calling Bruce’s office to set up a meeting today. Now I’m thinking it’s best I wait a couple of days.”
“Good call, just don’t wait too long. The truth is always the best route to go, my friend.” He releases a heavy sigh. “I’m going to head back to the house. Call me if you need something.”
“All right.” We lock hands in a quick handshake, and then Beckett heads for the front door while Dobby follows him to see him out.
The door’s hinges squeak a bit as it opens, and there’s a pause before Beckett says, “Yo, Z! You got a weird-looking package on your porch. It’s a red velvet box.”
“What?” I call through the house as I walk toward him. “Who’s it from?”
“It doesn’t say…Shit! Call the fucking cops!” The panic in Beckett’s voice barrels through the house, causing me to jog the last couple of steps to get to him.
All the color has drained out of Beckett’s usually tan face, and he’s staring at the contents of the red velvet–covered shoebox he’s holding in his hands.
“What is it?” I question as I take a hesitant step, worried because it takes a lot to rattle my best friend. “What’s in there?” I swallow hard as my heart races as I close the distance and peer down inside. Nothing could’ve ever prepared me for what I’m looking at, and my mouth drifts open. “Holy fuck!”
“Let me see,” Vivi says as she steps up next to me, and before I can stop her from looking, her eyes widen. A blood-curdling scream rips out of her just before she passes out.
