Disobeying Ezekiel ( A Forbidden Romance)

5.Being Honest With Ezekiel

“Let’s get started,” Zeke said, his tone a blend of seriousness and an unspoken promise. The weight of the moment pressed down on us, but there was no turning back now.

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "First, you need to know that Vanessa isn't just some woman clinging to me at a club. She's deeply embedded in the same world your father and I operate in. She’s dangerous, and she has her own agenda."

I swallowed hard, the gravity of his words settling in. "What does she want?"

"Power, influence, control," he replied, his eyes never leaving mine. "And she sees you as a threat, a piece on the chessboard she can't quite predict."

"Why me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Because of your connection to me," Zeke said simply. "She knows there's something between us, even if she doesn't understand it fully. And in our world, connections can be both a strength and a vulnerability."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "So, what do we do?"

Zeke's gaze softened, a rare moment of tenderness breaking through his hardened exterior. "We play the game. Carefully. But you need to follow my lead and trust me."

I nodded, my resolve hardening. "I really want to, Zeke. But I need to know more. About you, about my father, about everything."

He leaned back, studying me for a moment before he began. "Your father and I go way back. He took me under his wing when I was young, showed me the ropes of our business. It’s dangerous work, and it’s not something we talk about lightly. We deal in information, influence, and sometimes... more direct methods."

The cryptic nature of his words sent a chill down my spine. "What kind of work?"

Zeke’s eyes darkened, the shadows in them deepening. "The kind that keeps us alive and in control. The kind that ensures our enemies think twice before crossing us."

I nodded, understanding that he couldn't reveal too much. "And Vanessa?"

"She’s part of a rival faction. She's been trying to undermine our operations for years, always looking for a way to tip the balance in her favor," Zeke explained. "And she’s not above using anyone to get what she wants." He said, his eyes darkening as he leaned back, his demeanor turning somber. The air between us felt charged, every word he was about to say laden with significance.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself for what was to come. "I need to know more, Zeke. About you, about her, about everything. I can’t follow you blindly into this world without knowing what I’m getting into."

Zeke's gaze softened slightly, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "Alright. You deserve to know the truth. Vanessa and I... we have a history."

My heart skipped a beat, a mix of jealousy and curiosity surging through me. "What kind of history?"

Zeke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We were involved, briefly. It was a mistake, one I regret. But our relationship was never about affection. It was strategic, a way to keep our enemies close and our operations under control. She's dangerous, manipulative, and always looking for a way to gain the upper hand."

I felt a pang of hurt, but I needed to know more. "Are you still... involved with her?"

"No," he said firmly, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. "We’re not together, and we haven’t been for a long time. But she still tries to use our past against me, to manipulate situations to her advantage."

I nodded, absorbing the information. "What about the club? Why were you with her and those men?"

Zeke's expression darkened further. "I own the club. The men you saw with me are part of my crew. They're loyal to me and help with our operations. We were at the club for it's opening and also a meeting, a neutral ground where we could discuss terms and prevent any immediate violence. Vanessa showed up unexpectedly, likely trying to assert her presence and throw me off balance."

"But why did you approach me at the club if you knew it was dangerous?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "Why put me in harm's way?"I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the fear and confusion evident in my tone.

Zeke's expression darkened, a flash of irritation and possessiveness crossing his face. He leaned closer, his presence overwhelming. "Because I saw that guy's hands all over you," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I wasn’t thinking about anything else in that moment. All I could think about was ripping him apart for touching what’s mine."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of fear and desire. "Zeke, I—"

He cut me off, "You don't understand," he said, his voice a harsh whisper. "When I saw you with him, I lost control. I couldn't think straight. All I wanted to do was make sure he knew you belonged to me. f**k the consequences."

My heart pounded in my chest, the intensity of his emotions crashing over me. "You can't act like that, Zeke. It's dangerous. For both of us."

He took a deep breath, trying to regain control. "You’re right. But you need to understand something. You can’t taunt me like that. Not in public. Not anywhere. I don't know what I'll do, how far I'll go to prove that you're mine. It’s a side of me I can’t always control, especially when it comes to you."

I swallowed hard, the reality of his words sinking in. "What about my father? How is he going to react to this? To us?"

Zeke’s expression softened slightly, a hint of regret in his eyes. "Delilah, I grew up in a world of chaos and violence. Your father saw potential in me and took me under his wing, teaching me how to navigate the dangerous waters we swim in. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, made choices that haunts me but out of all my battles, this is going to be the hardest one yet," he expresses. "Your father is going to be furious. He’ll see this as a betrayal, as me bringing you into a world he’s tried to shield you from. But you need to know something. He and I... we’ve been through a lot together. He trusts me, but this... this is different. It’s personal. But," he quickly assures me." everything I do is to protect the people I care about and to maintain control over a world that could easily consume us."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "So, what do we do?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I need to find a balance. To protect what’s mine while finding a way to be with you. It’s not easy, and it won’t be safe, but I’m willing to fight for it if you are. We also need to be careful. We can’t let anyone, especially Vanessa, know what’s between us. She’ll use it against us, against me. And your father... your father can't know. No one can," Zeke said, his voice firm and unwavering. "Especially Vanessa. At least, not yet. We have to be discreet for now."

I hated the idea, the thought of hiding our connection, but I understood where he was coming from. It was dangerous. It had always been dangerous. "I don’t like this, Zeke," I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. "It’s going to be so hard for me to pretend I don’t want you whenever we're not alone."

His eyes darkened, a predatory glint in them. He loved this—the effect he had on me. It was as if my frustration and desire fed something primal within him. "You’re going to have to control yourself," he said, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "For now."

I hated and loved it at the same time. The push and pull, the way he commanded my emotions. "What if I see you with Vanessa?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. "What if she's all over you, trying to kiss you? Should I just sit still and watch? Do you know how impossible what you're asking me to do is?"

Zeke's expression turned serious, the teasing glint fading from his eyes. "I know it's hard," he said, his voice low and intense. "But you have to trust me. Vanessa's dangerous, and she'll use any sign of weakness against me. If you react, it could put us both in more danger."

I clenched my fists, the thought of sitting by and doing nothing while Vanessa tried to seduce him was making my blood boil. "But how am I supposed to just watch? It feels like you're asking me to betray everything I feel for you."

Zeke stood up from his side of the booth and took a seat beside me, his presence overwhelming, his gaze locking onto mine. "I’m asking you to trust me," he said, his voice a low growl. "You’re mine, and I’ll protect you. But you have to be strong. Stronger than you’ve ever been."

My breath caught in my throat, the intensity of his words and the depth of his possessiveness making my heart race. "And what about you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What if she tries to kiss you? What will you do?"

He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her at bay. But you need to remember something. No matter what you see, no matter what happens, you’re the one I want. You’re the one I crave."

I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself against the storm of emotions inside me. "This is going to be so hard, Zeke."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. "I know. But we’ll get through this. Together."

I nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. It was going to be a challenge, a test of our strength and our connection. But I was determined to see it through. "Okay," I said, my voice steadier now. "I will try to trust you."

Zeke's eyes softened, a rare hint of vulnerability showing through. "Good because once you step into this world, there’s no going back. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, but also everything it takes to keep you with me. No matter the cost. I wont let you go"