Page 81

The door closed with a light snap to leave them alone.

Nico didn’t rush to fill the silence. Staying quiet was one of his favorite tactics, whether it was a negotiation or trying to get a confession. Most people hated the sound of nothing, while Nico wanted to bathe in it. He loved the way the air in a room disappeared, how a nervous person grew even more nervous, the discomfort climbing higher and higher as they wondered what he might do. He could taste the fear, the worry. Hear lungs working harder, the struggle of each breath, in and out, in and out. It was practically an aphrodisiac.

“You’re an asshole,” Bennett finally said. “I can’t believe you flew all the way to Chicago to accuse him—after breaking into his house when I told you not to.”

“I warned you I was serious about finding the man responsible, whether he is your best friend or not.”

“So, you think I’m a liar. You think I would cover up this crime instead of helping you.”

Nico found this infuriating. “You think all of your teammates are a waste of my time. Yet one of them tried to hurt my fucking family. So tell me, Bennett. Which player is acceptable as the guilty man?”

Bennett ran both hands through his wet hair, distressing it further. “You’re missing the point. I told you Noah wasn’t guilty, yet you didn’t trust me. I want an apology from you.”

Another apology? Nico would rather die. A strangled sound worked its way out of his throat. From anyone else, it might be considered a laugh, but Nico would deny this accusation. “You have balls, bello. I will give you that.”

“I’m serious.”

Ma dai, the attitude. A line had been crossed and Nico needed to readjust the balance between them. He threw back the rest of his whiskey, enjoying the burn that stole through him, warming his stomach, and set the glass on the table with a click. “Get. The fuck. Over here.”

Wariness crept over Bennett’s expression. Good. He was right to be worried. Nico wasn’t entirely sure if he wanted to strangle Bennett or fuck him. It would be wise for the other man to do as he was told from now on, but Nico knew that Bennett wouldn’t, if only to show that he wasn’t afraid. Non molla mai. He never gives up. A good quality in a professional athlete, maybe, but bad when it came to this.

And Nico was not putting a name to whatever this was.

“I will not say it again.” He beckoned with his fingers. “Come. Now.”

CHAPTER 19

Bennett’s skin hummed with fury and frustration. It had started back in his room when he realized that Noah had been forcibly taken to another part of the hotel. With their rooms right next to one another, Bennett had heard the knock at Noah’s door, then a low voice speaking Italian, some back-and-forth, and finally a slam of the door.

When, in a blur of adrenaline and panic, he’d gone into the hall, he watched Noah and a stranger disappear into an elevator. The car had continued up to the penthouse and Bennett thought for sure that his best friend was about to be murdered. Here, tonight. During a road trip, at a fancy hotel.

It cost him his TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, and a promise never to reveal the name of the hotel employee who unlocked the penthouse access in the elevator for him, but Bennett got up to the top floor quickly. He’d listened and instantly heard Nico’s voice on the other side of the door. This hadn’t been a surprise. Only one Italian would force Noah Brown to the hotel’s penthouse.

And now that Italian was ordering Bennett around like he had the right. Like they hadn’t shared something that night on the ice. Like the desk sex hadn’t been next level. No, Nico was treating Bennett like he was one of his soldiers. Like he meant nothing.

Well, fuck that.

“I’m going back to my room, Marzano,” Bennett said. “I’m fucking exhausted and this is over.”

Oh, the mob boss didn’t like that one bit. His dark eyes narrowed and his top lip curled into a malevolent sneer. Anger sharpened all the angles of his handsome face. He looked fierce and demanding, a king ruling over his domain, and Bennett had visions of himself on his knees, demonstrating his obeisance by using his mouth on the other man’s dick. God, why was that so hot?

He shoved the thought away just as Nico snarled, “This is not over. Come here or I will come get you. But be warned, Bennett. If I come over there, I will bend you over the arm of that couch.”

Bennett tried to see a crack in Nico’s expression, a hint the man was bluffing, but there was nothing. Nico seemed serious and Bennett couldn’t risk getting fucked here tonight. It was something he desperately wanted, but couldn’t have—like the blueberry pancakes from the diner in Liberty Village that were not part of a high-performance diet. Nico was worse than carbs, though. He was a mistake Bennett kept repeating.

But the threat had been issued and Bennett suspected Nico could only be pushed so far. So he swallowed his reservations and walked over to where Nico stood by the windows. The Italian had shed his suit jacket, leaving him in a tailored gray dress shirt, the cuffs rolled up his forearms, and black trousers that accented his trim waist and long legs. Bennett was close enough to smell the familiar expensive cologne and see the pulse beating at the base of Nico’s throat. Nico’s expression hadn’t changed and Bennett had no idea what he wanted. “Here I am. What do you want?”

Nico inhaled, his nostrils flaring, then he let the air out slowly. Trying to calm himself? “Deliberately provoking me is very unwise, Bennett.”

“You are kidnapping my teammates! Breaking into their houses and cars. Scaring them half to death. What the fuck did you expect me to do? Thank you?”

“I expected you to stay out of my way. Not to disrespect me. And not to be a pain in my ass.”

“Well, I can’t do that when you’re showing up at the team hotel. What the actual fuck, Nico?”

Nico’s hand came up to rest on Bennett’s throat just before Bennett found himself pinned to the glass window. A very intimidating mob boss leaned in to snarl, “You act as if we are partners in this, as if I owe you answers. Let me be very clear: I owe you nothing. And you have no right to make demands of me.”

Bennett didn’t move. Who was Nico fooling? They were too far along for this. Bennett remembered the words, the warm washcloth. The assistance into bed. The tenderness, the kisses. Nico might be a murderer and a criminal, but Bennett knew other facets of his personality, a man who offered care and kindness, who was funny and charming. And Bennett was certain that man would not hurt him.