“Nico, you…”
“Serenity, it’s not up for discussion.”
Fitz leaves the room.
Blood streams down Chris’s face as he mumbles through the gag, “You’re fucking him.”
I answer, “I am.”
“Of course she is. You were never meant to touch more than her hand. I should cut off your fingers for touching her body.”
“Nico, I don’t belong to you,” I remind him.
He disregards my words. “Close the knife, Serenity. Then drive it into his ribs as much as you want.”
I swallow the tears. “I can handle this alone.”
“Do as I said,” Nico commands.
He wears a green Henley, dark jeans, and boots; his tousled inky hair falling over his face in a way that makes him look dangerous and captivating.
I slam the edge of the knife casing into Chris’s ribs. “You tried to take what wasn’t yours. I said no. You thought because I’m a thick girl I’d be open to fucking you.”
Nico punches Chris’s head repeatedly. “She’s got thick, beautiful curves. How dare you disrespect her.”
A small smile blooms inside me, warmed by how Nico sees me.
I keep beating Chris until he gasps for air.
“Don’t let me find out you got rough with another woman. I’ll finish what we started,” I warn.
When my clothes arrive, Nico helps me into black sweats. He pulls my hat low and tugs my hair on either side until it shields my face like a curtain.
“You have to walk out that front door,” he says.
I nod. “Okay.”
Chris’s battered, bloodied body remains sprawled on the floor. Two of my bodyguards and two of Nico’s linger behind to set the scene.
“I’ve got you,” Nico murmurs, slipping an arm around my waist as we head toward the stairs.
“Pretend I said something funny,” he whispers close to my ear as we descend slowly. My legs wobble, barely holding me up.
“I wanted you to rip out his fucking intestines.”
I chuckle at his words. The music thumps through me. I sense eyes on me, but I don’t dare meet their gaze—I have no idea how I must look.
“We’re almost there. Just a few more steps,” Nico encourages gently.
“Serenity,” Nila calls out.
I ignore her, knowing they can’t see the mess I’m in.
The moment we step outside, my legs give way. Nico catches me effortlessly and sweeps me up into his arms. “I’ve got you. I always got you.”
I rest my head on his shoulder, letting out a silent, tearless sob as my body trembles against his.
“I won’t let you go, Serenity.”
