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“You can’t tell me—”
“You’re forgetting who I am, Dante. I tell you to jump and youwillfucking jump. Now, I’m telling you to leave.”
“Listen here, Niko—”
“You’ve got about two seconds before I prove to you that I don’t care who your uncle is.”
“This isn’t over,” Dante spews. “You may have my father’s old position, but you can’t tell me who I can talk to within the family.”
“I can in this instance.”
“The fuck you can!”
I jump because Niko’s fist comes up and plows into Dante’s face. The man stumbles, staggering to try and remain standing. Watching it all, takes my breath. I gasp at the anger that permeates the air. I don’t quite understand what I’m seeing. The fury on Niko’s face isn’t contained at all now.
“Remember who I am,” Niko bites out. “I can do whatever the fuck I want, especially when it comes to my property.”
“Your property?” Dante questions, but I hear the fear in his voice. It’s nothing compared to the fear that I’m feeling, however.
What is Niko saying.
“Exactly. Victorio?”
“Yes, Mr. Petrova?” My bodyguard speaks up, moving from behind Niko.
“Take Mr. Russo into the library. I’ll be there after I dance with Emilia and talk with her. You and two other men keep him contained. I don’t want to see his face back out here tonight. Are we clear?”
“Yes sir, but—”
“Neverquestion me. You don’t know me that well yet, so I’m going to give you a slide.”
Victorio nods.
“When I give an order, you carry it out. There are no ‘buts’. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Since I can guess what you’re asking and Dante’s cocky look is annoying me more than it should, I will tell you I have clearance from the top on dealing with Dante in any way I see fit.”
“No fucking way!” Dante says, paling.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m having trouble dragging air into my lungs. Zoe grabs my hand and I lean into her.
“Breathe,” she whispers into my ear. “This is good. It’s going to be okay.”
She sounds so positive.I am anything but.Niko sucks all the air out of the room—leaving nothing to breathe. He’s bigger than life. I’m positive being called his property is anything but good. When he turns to look at me as Vic and two other men practically pull Dante away, my heart thunders in my chest. He reaches out his hand. I look at it, finally knowing the meaning of the spider and the fly. I force my gaze back to his face. He's not smiling. He’s not showing any emotion at all. He’s back to being the cold, closed off Niko that I am familiar with. I have to say, I prefer that to the anger that leaked through moments ago.
“Shall we dance, Emilia?”
I want to say no. I want to run away. Instead, Zoe nudges me from behind and I stumble toward Niko. When his hand closes in around mine…it feels like a shackle.
CHAPTER9
Niko
I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. Seeing Dante grab Emilia’s hand and try to pull her to him made something snap. I didn’t plan on accepting Maxwell’s offer. It was the furthest thing from my mind.
It’s obvious I’m losing my mind.
