The way he looked at me, the way he moved inside me, slow and deep, staring into my eyes like he was trying to memorize every part of me… it didn’t feel like fucking. It felt like something more.
Something terrifyingly close to making… love.
I lie there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything. The masquerade. The way he protected me. The way he listened when I told him about my sisters. The tenderness in the shower afterward. I don’t know what to do with any of it.
Eventually, I get out of bed. After using the restroom, I wash my face and brush my teeth, staring at my reflection for a long moment. I don’t want to crawl back under the covers and overthink everything, so I get dressed in comfortable, worn jeans and one of the soft sweaters Nico has brought for me, then head downstairs for breakfast, where I get informed by my new guardthat Nico isn't within the estate premises, so I end up having breakfast alone.
I spend most of the day in his library, surrounded by books, trying to distract myself with reading. I don’t see or hear from Nico at all. The silence gnaws at me more than I want to admit.
By evening, I’m restless. I need to clear my head, so I decide to head to his private gym. I step onto the treadmill and start running, pushing myself harder than I probably should.
I’ve only been running for a few minutes when the gym door opens. Nico walks in.
He’s not dressed for a workout, but in a black button-down and slacks, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looks like he’s been working all day.
“There you are,” he says. “I’ve been looking for you.”
I slow the treadmill to a stop and step off, wiping sweat from my forehead. “I needed to run.”
He walks over, closing the distance between us. Without a word, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me flush against him. Then he kisses me, slow, deep, and consuming.
His tongue strokes against mine like he’s been thinking about this all day. I melt into him, hands fisting in his shirt, tasting the faint hint of whiskey on his lips.
When he pulls back, rests his forehead against mine. “Is something on your mind?”
I shake my head. “No. I just… needed to run.”
He studies me for a moment, then nods. “Okay.”
But something in his expression shifts. He looks serious.
“I have something to tell you.”
The tone of his voice makes my stomach tighten. He leads me over to one of the benches, sits down, and pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling him.
I look at him, heart beating a little faster. “What is it?”
Nico brushes a strand of hair away from my face, his thumb lingers on my cheek for a second before he speaks.
“We have a lead on your sister and her boyfriend.”
My breath catches in my throat. My heart starts racing so fast it feels like it might burst. “Really? Where are they? Are they okay?”
“For now, yes, but if we’ve been able to find them, it’s only a matter of time before Gallo and your father do too.”
I immediately panic, my hands gripping his shirt. “Does that mean you want to kidnap her too? Nico, please, don’t hurt her. She’s finally free. She’s in love. Please don’t take Domenico away from her?—”
His face hardens instantly, jaw tightening. “After everything, if you still think I’d hurt your sister, or you, then maybe I haven’t shown you what I’m ready to do for you.”
I flinch at the cold edge in his voice. “I’m sorry,” I whisper quickly, ashamed. “I know how important this deal is to you. I just… I don’t want anything to happen to her. She’s finally happy.”
Nico’s expression softens slightly. He cups my face with both hands, thumbs brushing my cheeks.
“I don’t want to hurt her either,” he says. “I’m not going after her to kidnap her. I plan to give her money, enough for her and Domenico to disappear somewhere far away. Somewhere neither Gallo nor your father can reach them.”
Relief floods through me so strongly my eyes sting. “Okay… yeah. Thank you.”
“Are you done working out?”
