Chapter 3 Fire ( Zane)

The bass of the music vibrated through the soles of my shoes, heavy and dark like the storm sitting in my chest. From my post against the wall-my black suit coat hanging off one shoulder, drink untouched in my hand-I watched her.

Suzanne. God help me.

She moved like she was born to dance. Loose. Free. Pretending she wasn't shattered inside. Pretending like I didn't exist. Her hair caught the lights like threads of gold, swinging with every sway of her hips. That body... that mouth...That fucking dress.

It was barely covering her, but it was... red.

She had no right looking that good. Not tonight. Not when I'd spent the last few months waking up in a cold sweat, haunted by the ghost of her laughter. Not when every woman I'd tried to distract myself with ended up getting compared to her. Always her.

She isn't even looking at me. She was dancing with him. Josh.

If this wasn't all my fault, I would've killed him-just for looking at what's mine.

His hand was on her lower back. His eyes glued to her like he had a f*ck*ng chance. My jaw clenched, the muscle twitching as I fought every goddamn instinct not to rip him away from her and put my fist through his perfect little face. I wanted to bury him six feet under the VIP lounge I bought just to see her again. well I bought the whole building.

Yeah. I bought the club. Rebranded it. Gave it a new name-Fire & Gold.

For her.

I told myself it was business. an expansion. Diversifying the portfolio. But no it was her. It was always her. And this place? This place was us. it was where I branded her mine.

Chris appeared at my side, as if summoned by the flames burning behind my eyes.

"You good, boss?" he asked, eyes scanning the crowd, sharp as ever.

"No," I said bluntly, sipping from my drink. It tasted bitter. Everything tasted bitter.

He followed my gaze. Saw them.

"Want me to take him out back?" he asked, half-joking.

My silence was answer enough.

Chris whistled low. "D*mn. You're really gone for her, huh?"

"I was never not," I muttered.

"Still think pushing her away was smart?"

I shot him a look sharp enough to cut glass. "You got something you wanna say, say it."

Chris shrugged, unbothered. He'd been with me since we were teenagers, hustling on the streets before we wore tailored suits. He was the only one who got to talk to me like that. him and dave.

"She looks happy," he said.

"No, she looks good. There's a difference."

And f*ck, did she. That dress hugged her curves like a second skin. Her skin glowed under the lights. Every man in that place was watching her. And every single one of them was on my hit list. My club was gonna be built over corpses.

"You gonna talk to her?" Chris asked.

"Yeah."

"When?"

"When I can look at her without wanting to bend her over the nearest table."

Chris grinned. "Now that's the Zane I know."

I didn't smile. Couldn't. Not with the sight of Josh pulling her closer, whispering something that made her laugh.

I took a step forward. Then another. The crowd parted without me having to push. They knew better.

But before I could get to her, Dave intercepted me.

"Yo," he said, already buzzed. His tie hung loose around his neck, and he looked like the happiest man alive. "Didn't think you'd actually show."

"I own the place," I said dryly.

"Still. You and parties? Not exactly your scene these days."

He followed my gaze and smirked.

"Ah. So that's why."

"Shut it, Dave."

He chuckled. "You know she's trying, right? Trying to move on."

My chest tightened. "She shouldn't have to try."

"Well, maybe if you didn't disappear-"

"Don't," I said, voice low. Dangerous.

Dave raised his hands. "Alright, alright. Just... don't f*ck it up more than you already have. We need to figure out how to keep you both." the fact that our friends are marring each other amazes me. don't get me wrong am happy for them. but it is easy for him to say. He wasn't the one carrying the weight of a secret so dark, so unforgivable, it could burn down everything.

I finally broke away. Couldn't take it anymore.

Then Sam found me. I flighted the urge to close the club and call it a night.

She looked radiant, flushed from dancing, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Zane," she said, grabbing my arm. "Hey."

"Sam."

"You've been watching her all night." she said following me

"Observant as ever."

"She's been... different since you left."

I said nothing. don't say anything

"She misses you."

That almost broke me.

"She doesn't," I said. "She misses who she thought I was."

Sam frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means you wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

I shook my head. "Not tonight. Just... look after her."

"She's not a porcelain doll, Zane. She doesn't need protecting. She needs you."

I walked away before I could answer.

And found her.

In the center of the dance floor. Laughing with Josh. Spinning like I never happened.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I stalked across the floor. Controlled. Dangerous. Every nerve in my body screaming.

When I reached them, the music faded in my ears.

"Let's talk," I said, voice rough with restraint. But even I could hear it-the low, dark velvet of lust threaded through every word.

Josh didn't move.

"She's busy," he said, trying to play the hero.

I stared him down. I could break him with one hand. And I would've-if she hadn't stepped in.

"It's fine," she said. And the look in her eyes... it shattered something inside me.

She still felt something.

That was all I needed.

We slipped out into the hallway, silent at first. Her perfume hit me like a drug. I wanted to pin her against the wall. I wanted to tell her everything. Tell her how much I have missed her. I wanted to ruin her all over again-just so I could put her back together. just because I can. she made me feel powerless and I hated that>

"You look good," I said. My voice sounded hoarse even to me.

She turned, arms crossed. "Save it." she gave me a look that says say what you wanna say

"You were about to kiss him." I felt sick imagining it.

"That's none of your business," she snapped.

"Everything about you is my business. He should be glad he didn't."

She flinched. Just slightly. But I saw it.

"Funny, 'cause I was there, remember? You chose this."

She was hurt. I hated myself. I did this to her. What the fuck am I even doing?

I'm doing it all over again. She wouldn't give me a glance if she knew the truth. yet am here doing god knows what?

"Don't do that," I said. "Don't act like I didn't care."

My voice sounded strange to my own ears.

Her eyes were wet. For a moment, I wanted the world to stop right there. I couldn't see her hurting anymore. I wanted to hug her. I stepped closer-

"Don't get closer to me," she said.

I froze.

"And I'm not acting. I know you don't."

I felt frustrated. I can't be with this girl. Not in this world, anyway. But I couldn't stay away. I couldn't just sit there while I saw her dance with another man.

She fucking made me insane.

"You have no idea what I am going thr-" I started blurting nonsense.

"No, don't. Don't make this about you."

"It was never about me. It was always you. You don't get it. It isn't something I could help."

"Help? You left, you didn't even say goodbye don't make it sound like I didn't get you" she yelled. What are you doing, man? Why can't you just walk away?

It was all getting too much.

She was fire and fury and heartbreak wrapped in silk and skin. I wanted to sink to my knees and beg. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and steal her away from this place.

"I couldn't," I said, too close to blurting out the whole thing. Maybe then this f*ck*ng nightmare would end. "Your mom... she..."

"Stop," she said, holding her hand up. She blinked, fast. Her voice was sharper now."Just stop. You don't get to bring her into this. Not now. Not ever. You know she might've been the worst person in my life... but she was there. For better or worse."

She turned before I could say anything else. she walked away from me. I remember punishing her once, I tied her on my bed and drive out every limit she had. it was too much for her she almost used her safe word. my sweet girl

suddenly I felt dark. anger boiled inside me.

My good sweet girl knew better than to repeat the same mistake.

she shouldn't have walked away.