Zach: A Chicago Bad Boy Romance Read online

  “Leave my dad alone.”

  “Now you listen to me.” Bello’s smile is gone and he’s staring me straight in the eyes. I feel like I’m locked in cement. “Do you know who I am?

  “Yes.” My voice isn’t as strong as before.

  “No, I don’t think you do. I’m Tony Bello. I’ve got the cops right where I want them? You got me? Your father owes me a lot of money. When he pays it off, he won’t have to hear from me.”

  I take a deep breath and count to three. “Either you leave us alone, or I’ll take other action.”

  “Is that so?” Bello looks deadly serious. “If your father doesn’t come up with the money he owes me, I’ll take other action, myself.”

  Bello’s cell rings. He answers it. “Yeah? All right I’ll be there in ten.” He looks at me. The smile he had on his face at the beginning has returned as if nothing has just happened. “It was nice meeting you, Kayla. Zach, I’ll catch you later.”

  Bello is gone. My hand is on the table and Zach grabs it, but I snatch it away.

  “Kayla, I’ll help you get the money, okay?”

  “You stay the hell away from me, Zach.” I scoot out of the booth and rush out of the restaurant.

  6

  Zach

  It’s been a week since Kayla ran out on me. I’m in the parking lot of the place where Kayla does her yoga classes. She doesn’t know I put a tracer on her car. I’ve got to get her talking to me again.

  Let me just say; I’m more attracted to her now than I was before. I didn’t let her know it, but it was kick ass the way she stood up to Bello, not that it mattered, but that took some balls.

  But the fact is, her old man is gonna die if I don’t step in and help. Bello won’t give a shit if I get involved. All he cares about is getting his money. If that happens, he’ll leave Franklin alone. If not, it’s curtains for Kayla’s dad.

  Thanks to Bello, I’ve got money. This is the only time I’ve stepped in to help one of his targets out. But I want to get to know this Kayla. So it’s not just me stepping in to help out some sorry fucker down on his luck.

  There she is now, coming out of the building in her yoga clothes. She’s super fit with beautiful long legs. But as soon as she sees me, her eyes get big. Now she’s rushing toward me. “What the hell are you doing here? Get away from my car!

  “Kayla, will you calm down. I want to help you and your dad out.”

  “I want you to move, Zach!”

  “And what happens if I don’t move, huh?” I smile at her. She’s not amused, but I’m not moving.

  Kayla throws me a punch. I guess she forgot she’s dealing with a former fighter who can stop a punch, especially from a chick.

  “Let go of me!”

  “Are you going to calm down?”

  “Yes!”

  I let go. Now she’s just staring at me looking mean, but I don’t know if she’s as mad as she wants me to think.

  “What do you want, Zach?”

  “I want to help you. Why don’t you follow me to my apartment.”

  Now her mouth drops open. “Ha! I’m not going to your place. Fuck you!”

  “There you go again. I thought you were going to calm down.”

  “I’m leaving.”

  I grab her again, but this time by the shoulders. “Kayla, Bello means business. If your dad doesn’t come up with the money, Bello will kill him. Do you understand me?”

  “Then what the hell am I supposed to do?” She gets tears in her eyes.

  “Let me help you.” I take down my hands.

  “You work for him, Zach! Did you forget that?”

  “Of course I know that. Follow me to my apartment.”

  “Why? Why do you want me there?”

  “So we can talk, babe. We need to work this situation out.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll follow you.”

  7

  Kayla

  What am I doing? Here I am, in my car, following Bello’s goon to his apartment. But he’s not just some enforcer guy; he’s the guy who wants to help my father, and the hot guy who gets my heart beating. What the fuck is happening?

  My father is a mess, and Zach knows it. In the condition he’s in, he’ll never come up with the money. And I know my finances. How the hell can I come up with such money? I found out he owes Bello twenty-five grand. How in the hell did things get so bad?

  Now Zach says he wants to help me. He drives a Jag. So I know he’s got money.

  Zach knows I have no options and he also knows my going to the police is a joke.

  We pull up to a fancy apartment building on the Gold Coast. Zach leads me into the parking garage. He gets out of his car and rushes over to my driver’s window. I roll it down.

  “Park in one of those three open lots. Those are for visitors,” Zach says. “Cool?”

  “Yeah, okay.” I pull my car into one of the lots. The truth is ever since I ran out of that restaurant I can’t stop thinking about Zach. When I left, he told me he wanted to help me, but he wasn’t just saying it. You should have seen his face. He meant it. But I ran out. There was too much for me to process with Bello threatening me.

  Zach comes over to my car as I leave it. “Come on; I’ll take you up.” He takes my hand.

  “Why am I doing this?”

  “Because you know I can help you and you’d be crazy not to listen, that’s why.”

  I don’t say anything. I don’t feel like fighting. He’s right, again. I do want to listen.

  We enter Zach’s apartment. It’s the penthouse, and it’s gorgeous with huge windows all around. All this room for one person? He must have hired a decorator because everything is color coordinated. He chose a brown and beige theme. There’s a huge brown sectional sofa in the center of his living room.

  “Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink? I’ve got some good Chianti here.”

  “Thanks, that‘d be great.” I watch Zach get the wine. This guy is incredibly fit. He’s wearing a tight blue t-shirt and tight jeans. I’m not always into tight jeans on men, but his clothing shows off his incredible muscles, just like when he was a professional fighter. I take the wine from Zach. “Why am I here?” Zach sits next to me. He’s wearing cologne, and it’s the expensive kind.

  “I’ve got a lot of money. I’m more than happy to give you some of it to get your dad out of this fix.

  “In exchange for what? Sex?”

  “Is that what you think of me. You think I want something for my kindness?”

  I stand. “Look, I have to go. I’ll take care of this Bello on my own. Thanks for your help, but no thanks.”

  “Come on, Kayla.”

  “No, Zach. I have to go.”

  Before Zach can say anything more, I head for the door, open it and leave. Could I use Zach’s money? Of course, but I don’t want to owe anyone for my dad’s troubles. I’ll take care of it on my own. I hurry to my car, and thankfully Zach doesn’t come after me.

  8

  Kayla

  My father has been out of the hospital for a while. He seems to be moving around okay with crutches, and he’s back in his apartment, but not for long. I’ve convinced my uncle to let my dad use the empty coach house in his backyard until I can get my dad out of this fix.

  You see, my father, in all this nonsense, is about to lose his apartment, and I need to get him to someplace besides my place.

  My dad’s pride is completely down the toilet. He would never have agreed to live on his brother’s property. He was always the one his brother looked up to, but not anymore.

  Needless to say, my uncle won’t let my dad stay in his coach house forever, and he made that clear to me. My dad is going to have to go to rehab, get himself sober, get himself settled in employment again and move out so he can live on his own again.

  In the meantime, I’m on my way to meet Bello. Yeah, I’m talking to him again. I arranged it to where I’ll be working double shifts at my waitressing job. That means I had to give up teaching my yoga
classes, and trust me, I’m not happy about that at all. But the money I make doing the yoga stuff doesn’t compare to what I make waiting tables. Fortunately, the community center where I teach yoga said they’re happy to take me on again when I’m able to return. Thank God for that.

  My dad gave me the number for Bello. That’s how I got it. I was scared shitless to call him, but I controlled myself, stayed calm, and told him I wanted to work out an arrangement with him.

  It would have been so easy to take Zach’s money, but I can’t do it. I just can’t. I don’t want to have to owe some guy, no matter how hot he is. I have to do this thing right.

  I’m meeting Bello at the Ritz-Carlton, one of the nicer hotels in Chicago. I knock on the door. The door opens.

  “Hey!”

  “Zach?” I can’t believe Zach is here. “What are you doing here? Are you following me?”

  Bello comes to the door. “No, he’s not following you. Come on in.”

  All of a sudden the calm that was turning to nervousness is an all out crash now. I feel like I’m right back in the restaurant where I met Bello the first time. Except it’s not a restaurant, it’s a suite and a fucking nice one at that. I feel like I’ve walked into an expensive condo. I take a seat on one of the fancy chairs. “I thought I would be talking to you in private, Mr. Bello.” I look at Zach, who looks super hot, as usual.

  “Relax. Anything you say to me, Zach can hear. You want to work out a deal or what? I’m a busy man.”

  “Yes, okay, I talked to my job. I’ll be working double shifts. I’ll have enough to pay you off in installments”

  “You really care about your loser dad, huh?”

  “Mr. Bello, my dad is not a loser. He’s just a man who fell into hard times. My mother died years ago, and he hasn’t gotten over it.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to help you, Kayla?”

  I look at Zach. Apparently, Bello doesn’t care what Zach does. “I told you,” I say. “I don’t need your help.”

  Bello laughs. “I think you do. I need two grand a week.”

  “What?” My mouth drops open. “That’s a lot!”

  “Yeah, well your dad owes me a lot, doesn’t he?”

  I stare in space. “Okay.” The words just sort of come out. I don’t know how I’ll come up with the money, but I’ll figure it out somehow.

  “Starting this Friday,” Bello continues.

  Now I know I’ll barely be able to swing it. “Yes, fine.” What else can I say?

  “Zach here will give you the details on how I want you to pay me.”

  “Oh, he’s your secretary, too?” I’m sure it’s not a good idea for me to be so sarcastic, but I’m so frustrated right now that I don’t care.

  “Zach is one of my most trusted workers.” Bello gets up to get himself a drink, unconcerned with my frustration or my sarcasm.

  I slowly walk over to Zach who is smiling at me. “It’s going to be all right, Kayla.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yeah.” He hands me a sheet of paper. It’s a payment schedule and the address of where I’m supposed to send the money. He also wrote on there a hotel room number. “I’m staying in a suite one floor down. Feel free to come by for a drink. I’ll be here for a few days helping Tony out.”

  God, he just won’t let it go, will he? “I’m too busy for that, Zach. I have to come up with two grand in a week, remember?”

  “I’m here when you need me, Kayla.”

  “When? No, I’m fine, Zach.” I head for the door.

  “Friday,” Bello shouts.

  I nod my head and keep on walking toward the door.

  9

  Kayla

  So, I got a few blocks away from the Ritz, but now I’m heading right back. Why? Bello wants $2,000 a week, that’s why. Why bother killing myself with double shifts at the restaurant when I know damn well I won’t make enough to cover that.

  As I enter the hotel for the second time, I feel sick. I feel like I’ve lost all my integrity. And now, I’m super mad at my dad, too. Look what he’s done to himself, to me, to us.

  And, there’s the other thing. I’m about to see one of the hottest men I’ve ever met. If I told you I don’t love looking at his handsome face and his incredibly fit body, I’d be lying to you. You know that. I get on the elevator and take it to his hotel room.

  I knock. The door opens. “Hey!” Says Zach. “I knew you’d come.”

  He’s standing there in another one of his tight t-shirts, this time black, and he’s wearing tight black jeans. Fuck! I can’t take how hot this guy is.

  “Yes, I’m here. I need help, but that’s obvious by now, isn’t it?”

  “Relax and come on in. Okay?”

  The look on Zach’s face is so pleasant right now. Honestly? I’m so stressed right now that I do need to calm down. If he wants to help me, then he can help me.”

  I step into Zach’s hotel room. Well, calling it a “hotel room” doesn’t do it justice. It’s a suite, much like the one Bello was in. These fuckers make a lot of money taking advantage of people. That’s obvious.

  I take off my sweater and throw it on the sofa. “I want to get right to the point. How much are you willing to give me to get my dad out of this fix and what do I have to do in return?”

  Zach shakes his head. “Jesus, Kayla, can we just chill for a minute? You want to chill with me or not?” Zach takes a seat on the sofa. He looks heavenly sitting there. Of course, I want to relax with him. I’m so tired of being stressed out about this.

  “Yes, okay,” I say.

  He pats the sofa. “Good. Come on over here.”

  I take a seat on the sofa next to him, close, but not too close.

  “How about something to drink?” He says.

  “Sure, okay.”

  “I’ll get us some wine.”

  I watch him and look at his body like I’ve done before. I don’t want to argue. I don’t want to storm out. I just want to sit here and stop stressing.

  He comes back holding two wine glasses that contain red wine. I take one of them and sip the wine.

  “This is good, Zach. Thanks.”

  “This is a new Merlot I picked up. One of these days, when I get a house again, I’m starting a wine cellar.”

  “You’re pretty good with wines.”

  Zach puts his glass down on the coffee table and then sits next to me, closer this time, but I have no interest in protesting. Besides, he smells perfect. “I wish you weren’t a hit man,” I whisper.

  “I don’t think of myself that way, but maybe someday I’ll end this line of work, get into something legit, you know?”

  “Good idea.” The way Zach is looking at me right now, I know what he wants. But the thing is, I want it too. I take another sip of my wine and then set my glass next to his.

  10

  Zach

  This is as good a time as any to get closer to Kayla, and I know she wants me too. I turn to her and kiss her on the mouth. She responds by opening her mouth and putting her arms around me.

  Now we’re really into it, putting our tongues in each other’s mouths. She’s moaning now. I know I’m not the only one enjoying it.

  And now she’s even put one of my hands on one of her tiny, but firm breasts before I could make a move. It feels nice through her blouse, and she’s moaning even more now.

  “Does that feel good,” I whisper in her ear.

  “Yes, really good,” she whispers back.

  Knowing she’s okay with it, I undo a couple of buttons on her blouse and feel her tit through her bra. All the time we’re mad kissing. I slide a couple of fingers inside her bra and feel her hard nipple. She moans even more, but then suddenly, pushes me away.

  She sits straight up and removes her blouse. Then, off comes the bra. Kayla is a beautiful, petite woman. I love that, and I don’t always have to go for the big-breasted types so many of my buddies go for.

  I put my hands on her waist. “You’re beautiful, Kay
la.”

  “Thank you,” she says.

  I lower my gaze to one of her nipples and kiss it. While I do that, I play with her other nipple. Kayla is moaning nonstop now. She’s not the quiet type, and that’s fine by me.

  “Let’s move this party to the bedroom,” I say. “Are you down for that?”

  “Yes!” Kayla smiles. “I’m down for that.”

  A naked Kayla is on the bed on her back. My naked body towers over her. My fingers are in her tight pussy, and I’m fingering her so vigorously that her legs are moving in ecstasy. She’s so turned on she’s buried the back of her head firmly in the pillow with her eyes tightly closed.

  Soon, I’ve located her sweet spot, and you should see how much her pussy is dripping with her creamy juices. She’s saturated my fingers, and I put one in my mouth while she watches. I can’t even describe how good she tastes and as she watches me lick my finger, I can tell that she loves the passion she sees in my eyes.

  “Fuck me, Zach! I want to get fucked!”

  “You sure?” As I tease her, I’m smiling wide.

  “Yes, asshole! Now!”

  There are condoms inside my bedside table. Kayla is so horny right now, she’s probably not thinking about one, but I am. I’m not ready to become a dad.

  I pull a condom out of its packet and slide it over my hard cock. Then, I spread her shaved pussy and fuck her with long full strokes nearly all the way out then right back in.

  It’s only the fourth or fifth stroke, but Kayla’s pussy is gripping my cock with a spasm that can only be one thing. That didn’t take long. You can probably hear Kayla’s scream in the neighboring suite.

  11

  Zach