When I return home from my shift the next day, Zach is not there. I'm slightly disappointed, because I was hoping we could talk about what happened at the casino yesterday.

With an exhausted sigh I sink into my sofa and type a quick text to Zach.

*Just came home. When will you be back?*

I sit the phone aside and close my eyes for a minute. The Diner was quite busy today, even though Mondays are rather quiet usually. I haven't eaten all day, so I'm on the verge of starving, but I need to wash off the smell of old fat first. When I enter the bathroom, I get rid of my clothes and turn on the water. While the bathtub fills up, I hear my phone and spot a message from Zach when I check it.

*I'll be back in an hour.*

Just when I throw the phone on my bed it beeps again. It's another text from Zach.

*Can't wait to see you!*

I smile at my phone for a moment and then lay it aside. I'm glad we've already made peace last night when he came back after his earlier fleeing, but there are still a few things I want to know.

After taking a long and relaxing bath, I slip into my light blue jogging suit and put on some warm socks. It snowed pretty much the past few days and the temperature dropped rapidly. I can't believe it's only three days until Christmas. A shiver of panic overcomes me, as I remember I haven't got a present for Zach yet. I went to the mall a few times already, but I didn't find anything suitable, so I need to go again tomorrow after work.

Just as I'm standing in front of the open fridge, pondering over what to eat, I hear the door falling into the lock.

"I'm back!" Zach's voice resounds from the hallway and seconds later he appears in the door frame.

His face lights up when he spots me.

"Hungry?" he asks as he notices the open fridge and my desperate face. "Because I grabbed us some vegetable curry on my way home."

"Oh my god, yes. I'm starving!" I remark and close the fridge again.

Zach gives me a quick smile and walks back into the hallway just to return with a paper bag in his hands. I grab two forks for us and then sit down on the sofa beside Zach.

"Thanks," I say as he hands me one of the brown boxes, and I instantly start digging in the food. "It's delicious!" I comment with my mouth full, earning a deep chuckle from Zach.

"There's a new Indian restaurant right around the corner. I noticed it when I..." He pauses and awkwardly scratches his head. "When I ran off last night. I was looking for a bar to get myself a drink and that's when I saw it."

"Cool!" I simply retort and hungrily shove another forkful of curry into my mouth.

Zach gives me an amused smirk and starts eating as well.

Twenty minutes later, I lie on the sofa with my stomach filled and a soft blanket tightly wrapped around my body.

"You got room for one more?" Zach asks with an expectant grin on his face.

I hold the blanket open for him and he lays down between my legs, resting his head on my stomach. He pulls another blanket over his much taller body, so we're completely covered. I start playing with his wavy hair, earning an appreciative moan from Zach.

"Where were you today?" I ask after a minute of silence. Zach tilts his head so he can face me, and I look down at him.

"I met that man from yesterday, Francesco," he explains quietly.

"Will you tell me what's the deal with him?" I keep my voice soft and low. The last thing I want is to have another fight. Besides, I'm so filled up with food, I don't have the strength to speak louder anyway.

Zach sighs and looks away, "He's the owner of the casino, Olivia."

My eyebrows shoot up and I half sit up, leaning on my elbows, causing Zach to lift his head from my stomach.

"The guy who forces you to keep playing poker in his casino?" I ask disbelievingly.

Zach just nods and warily watches as a deep frown builds on my forehead.

"Why did you see him again today?" I lay down again.

"I told him that I cannot come tomorrow," Zach mutters and rolls onto his stomach. He folds his hands onto my belly and places his chin on top of it.

"And?" I raise my eyebrows and expectantly look at him. "What did he say?"

Zach angrily snorts and looks down.

"He told me that I'd better be there tomorrow, and he stressed that I should bring you along, or else he would send someone to get you," he groans, still not looking at me. "He said you would make a good impression next to me."

"What?" I can't believe what I just heard. "But why would he want me to be there too?"

Zach faces me again and a faint smile plays upon his lips. "Well, he must've heard of that incredible poker face of yours."

I roll my eyes but chuckle.

"I honestly have no idea why he would want to have you around, Liv," he sighs and shrugs his shoulders.

I look at the ceiling and think for a moment. I don't really fancy an evening with that slimy guy and probably a few others on top, but I also don't want Zach to get in troubles because of me not coming with him.

"Well, then let's kick their asses tomorrow!" I suggest, causing Zach to look at me in disbelief.

He laughs and shakes his head.

"You never cease to surprise me, Livie!" he shoots me a warm smile and tilts his head, "That's why I..." He stops mid-sentence and bites his lip.

"You what?" I ask with a frown.

Zach eyes me for a moment, and then slightly shakes his head. "Nothing."

I don't press him further, but I wonder what it is what he wanted to say. I hope it's not any bad secret or anything involving other wicked men. I already met enough of them since the day I know Zach. I instantly push my negative thoughts aside and smile at Zach who looks at me with an unreadable face.

"When should we be there tomorrow?" I ask after a moment of silence.

"So, you're really coming?" Zach chuckles.

"I mean, it did sound like I don't really have a choice anyway, to be honest," I state jokingly.

Suddenly, I remember something Zach said to me a few weeks ago.

"Zach?"

He tilts his head and questioningly raises an eyebrow.

"When you told me about the casino and your poker games, you mentioned that some of the men you play with are rapists and murderer. Did I already meet any of them?" I croak in a low voice. How could I even forget about that? Just the thought of playing poker with a murderer makes me nauseous.

Zach sighs wearily. "I'm sure you remember William, right?" he questions me.

I nod and swallow hard.

"He once killed a man. They were fighting over a woman and he lost his temper. He attacked him with a knife, but he was let off as his defending lawyer pleaded self-defense," Zach explains and rolls his eye. "He's an absolute choleric person. I wonder why he kept his cool yesterday when I played him out. His tantrums are well-known at the casino, but the people there are used to assholes like him."

"Shit," I mutter and think of that slimy prick. I didn't like him from the beginning, but now that I know what he did, I despise him even more.

Zach nods as if he's agreeing with my thoughts and thinks for a second before speaking on.

"Then Jacob, the guy from yesterday. There once was a rumor going around, that he forced one of the casino girls to have sex with him. Somehow, he never got reported and that girl simply got fired." He sighs deeply, and I blink at his revealing with a head-shake.

"That's fucked up! I wouldn't have thought of him as a rapist, to be honest," I state and then add with a frown, "Anyone else being an asshole from the guys I already met?"

Zach chuckles bitterly, "They're all assholes, but except for Franco, who has got loads of dirt on him, I can't think of anyone else, no."

I nod and rub my eyes with my fingers. I don't like the thought of being around those criminals. I wish Zach would find a way out of this casino shit.

The beep of my phone draws my attention. I grab it and notice a text from Hayley.

*Do you know already if Zach is coming along? Just let me know if I should book another room, darling <3*

My eyes widen and I groan. In all the trouble of the past few days with the apartment inspection, the casino visit yesterday, and our argument, I completely forgot to ask Zach about Vancouver again.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost," Zach states with a frown and shoots me a questioning glance.

I look up from my phone and meet his hazel eyes.

"Hayley just sent me a message regarding our hotel rooms in Vancouver," I tell him, nervously fumbling with my phone. "Have you made up your mind yet?"

Zach chuckles deeply, showing his cute dimples. "Yea, I have, actually. I think it would be nice to meet your family and spend New Years Eve with you."

My face lights up and I can't hide the massive grin which forms on my lips. "So, you're coming?"

Zach shrugs and raises his eyebrows, "If I'm still welcome."

"Of course, you are! I can't wait for you to meet my mom. She'll love you!" I try to hide my excitement but fail miserably.

Zach laughs and watches me typing a quick response for Hayley.

"Our flight departs on Wednesday at 7am," I inform him, and my eyes widen the same moment I utter those words.

"What is it now?" Zach asks me, obviously very amused about my excitement. His head is still lying on top of his folded arms on my stomach, and he looks at me with a wide smirk.

"We need to get you on that flight! What if there are no more tickets available?" I remark worriedly.

"Give me your phone!" Zach orders softly. I frown skeptically but do what he wants.

After a few minutes of watching Zach typing on my phone with a concentrated face, I get impatient and lean forward to see what he's doing. Just when I'm about to ask him, he hands it back to me.

"Done!" he states and gives me a smug smile.

"Huh?" I look at him with a puzzled face.

"I just booked the flight for me. There were still plenty of tickets available." He shrugs and grins broadly

"You did?" I ask in surprise and then lean forward to give him a soft kiss. "Well, that's one problem less then."

When I pull away again, Zach twirls a strand of my hair around his finger and smiles thoughtfully for a moment. Then his face gets serious.

"Let's talk about the dinner tomorrow. You've already seen how domineering Franco is. I advise you to give him as few personal information as possible. And what's the most important thing, do not, under any circumstances, tell him about Terrence and the kidnapping!" He insistently raises his eyebrows.

"If you're trying to scare me off, I can tell you it works just fine," I scoff with a frown.

"You don't need to be scared if you listen to me. The less Franco knows, the better," Zach notes, and then adds urgently, "That's important, Olivia. Franco will use any information he gets against me or you in that case. Just promise to be careful with your words, okay?"

I know he's not joking about this, so I simply agree.

"Okay."

*****

A little filler chapter, and I have to admit I'm not really satisfied with it. 🥶

More hustle and bustle is to be expected next chapter. Promised!

Please vote and comment. ✨

Katie❤️