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"Great. Now that you've met, Nico can get back to work. He just wanted to swing by to say hello, but he really can't visit for long this time. Right,babe?"
For once, my glare does something useful. He chuckles and looks apologetically at my family. "Right.This time."
Shit. I did say that, didn't I? Great. Now they're going to think he'll be back. Nico says a pleasant goodbye to my mom and Krista before I usher him out the door. Before I can close it in his face, he captures my jaw in his hand and pulls my face to his to kiss me, long and deep.
When he turns his face to speak into my ear, I can practically hear his devilish smile in his whisper. His lips tickle my earlobe. "I enjoy seeing you flustered,crudele tesorina."
"You're a dick," I hiss back. "You didn't need to come here and complicate my life. They never needed to meet you, because of this little thing between us? This is just a contract for a baby, and it will never be anything else. How dare you get my family emotionally invested? From now on, leave them out of this."
He pulls back to study me. Whatever playfulness he'd had moments ago dissolves, and he shrugs coldly. It's such a stark change that I'm thrown off.
"Whatever you say,monella.My men nearby will keep an eye on you but do your best not to endanger yourself. As you said, I have business to get back to. Those bones won't break themselves."
Then he just leaves me there, mouth hanging open.Hot and cold. A freaking paradox, and I hate it.
I slam the door shut.
Chapter 12
Nico
My macabre gift to Mad Blood Gatto has caused problems. I expected them, and I can handle them, but the breakout of fighting and scuffles between his family and mine is no less taxing.
I finish wiping the blood off my hands as I walk out of the warehouse. Percy is right behind me, whistling low.
“You’ve gotta admit, it’s a little impressive. I would’ve sung like a bird if I was in that Gatto’s situation.”
“Very reassuring,” I say dryly.
“Aww, it’s a joke, Nico. Lighten up. Want me to stay here and question him a bit more? Someone as loyal as him has got to knowsomethingabout Lorenze’s whereabouts. Maybe a little more pressure would loosen his lips.”
I rub my face, hating the smell of blood on me. I straighten my tie, ignoring its stain. “No. We’ll leave him here overnight. It might make him more chatty tomorrow.”
He grunts. “You seem tired. I take it your little Sybil keeping you busy at night?”
It’s not Percy’s fault my temper is so short today. But it is his fault for daring to askthat. I turn on him, wrenching him down by the front of his shirt. He nearly falls over and winces back from me before I can do more, rubbing the back of his neck and taking a big step back.
“Got it. None of my business. I’m fucking off starting now. You’re tense today, huh?”
He’s as annoyingly perceptive as ever. I’m pent-up. I haven’t touched Sybil for a day and the two very long nights she’s spent in her room on her floor. It was only right to give her a break, after learning I was making her so sore. Not to mention her words at her family’s house.
This is just a contract for a baby, and it will never be anything else.
I grit my teeth as I stalk to the car Percy drove us here in. Maybe if I was having any luck finding Lorenze Gatto, it would distract me from the addictive, feisty little minx in my home. But no. Despite how much I’ve riled his family, and despite my taunt about killing his son, the old man is as elusive as ever. Which means I’m no closer to fulfilling my father’s second requirement.
Percy wisely keeps quiet as he drives me back to the Upper East Side. Until I’m out of the car, which gives him the balls to roll down the window and call out, “Maybe Sybil’s willing to provide some stress relief, Boss. Tell her she’ll be doing me a favor.”
He laughs as he pulls away, but I just rub my face again, exhausted. It’s been a difficult day in a strange week. Despite the heaven I’ve experienced with Sybil, I should give her another night to herself before moving in on her again.
Ace and Giovanni are stationed outside, chatting in Giovanni’s dented car. They nod to me as I pass. In the elevator on the way up to the penthouse, I stew some more.
Giving Sybil space is necessary, butcielo aiutami,I fucking want her. But even if I did approach her, one of us would start a fight and make things more difficult than they need to be. As always. My need for her isn’t practical, and I’m too tired to fight tonight.
I expect the penthouse floor to be dark and quiet when I walk in, but I blink to see the lights on. Music is playing softly from my smart home speaker system, wafting out of the cracked door to my room—some 70s song I’ve never heard.
I tense. No one has found where I live in two years, but it wouldn’t be the first time to find my enemies waiting for me at home. Maybe the music is just to throw me off. Fists clenched at the thought, I push open the door to my room.
That’s when I hear the shower running in the bathroom, and Sybil’s voice singing along. I blink as I step through the final door, going still at the sight in front of me.
