“Nina Marcelle...” he said quietly.
“Baby girl, you don’t have no damn idea what’s in store for you.”
His fingers drummed against the steering wheel as he imagined the proposal.
He’d rent out a museum or art gallery if he had to, or maybe he would shut down the aquarium. He was also thinking about flying them to Italy and proposing there. Either way it went, whatever he decided, his baby was going to get nothing but the best experience.
“Might throw some fireworks in the mix,” he blurted out.
He wanted to do something she’d remember even when they were ninety years old.
Knowing Nina, she’d probably cry if he proposed in the kitchen while she was making coffee.
As long as it was him... which was the upside of loving her. She didn’t ask for grand gestures. Nina demanded nothing other than his love and attention.
God, he loved her.
A red light stopped him at the intersection. He looked over at the velvet box again before carefully picking it up. He helda promise of a lifetime of love and happiness in his hand. His thumb traced the edge of the case before he slipped it safely into the inside pocket of his jacket.
“Just one more stop...” he whispered to himself. He had to get some blunts before heading home.
The light turned green and Jio eased onto the accelerator, completely unaware that across the bridge, fate had already begun moving faster than he ever could.
η
Sleep found Nina sometime after midnight and she hadn’t realized she’d drifted off. She tried her best to stay up until he made it home but she lost that battle and she didn’t even bother trying to put up a fight. Curled beneath the comforter in one of his shirts, Nina hugged his pillow closer to her chest. It smelled like cedarwood and weed which was Jio’s signature scent.
A low growl came from Nino. It was the warning that he gave whenever he heard something unfamiliar in the hallway outside the apartment.
Nina barely stirred. “It’s okay,” she whispered without opening her eyes.
“Daddy’s home,” Nina reassured him and the growling stopped.
A few seconds later, the mattress dipped low enough for her to feel the weight behind her.
“There you are...”
Her eyes remained closed.
“I was trying my best to stay up,” she said with her eyes still closed.
She rolled onto her back, reaching across the bed without opening her eyes. “You ignoring me?”
Instead of warm skin, her fingertips brushed leather.
Her smile disappeared and her eyes bucked open.
A black-gloved hand lunged toward her, and before she could scream, it covered her mouth.
She bit down as hard as she could. It was the only thing she could think to do.
The man cursed.
She twisted violently, throwing her elbow backward into somebody's ribs.
She almost broke free but almost wasn’t good enough.
Another pair of hands grabbed her from the opposite side.
