AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So why the hell don't my instincts agree? Being cradled like this in his arms is indescribably nice. It feels safe, like burrowing under warm covers.
Resist. He's The Undertaker. The Attolini Heir. You can't do this, Sybil.
Finally, we leave the woods and arrive at the parking lot where Ace's car is no longer parked. It's just Nico's gleaming silver classic Aston Martin and an old beat-up car that I assume must be the Gattos'.
Nico gingerly sets me in the passenger seat, kissing me once more before buckling me in. I'd protest–I'm fully capable ofbucklingmyself, thank you very much–but I'm still in a little shock. I stare numbly at the dashboard instead.
What now? Should I still be scared? Yes. I should. I shouldn't be twisting the hem of my shirt thinking about the expression of absolute joy that put dimples on his gorgeous face down in that ravine.
He gets in and starts the engine, and before I know it, we're cruising back to Manhattan. I try not to look at him, but Nico reaches out and comfortingly places his large, warm hand on my knee.
"Are you okay?" he asks, looking over me with worry. "Besides the ankle? How are you feeling? Nauseous?"
How did he know? I look out the window like a pouty child, folding my arms. "I'm fine. How'd you know about it, anyway? I thought you had something super important come up. I was kind of counting on it, actually."
"As if that matters now.Fottuto inferno,il mio crudele tesorina.You're not allowed to put me through anything like that again, understand?" His voice is both angry and filled with a concern I try not to notice.
I understand only that I missed my chance. I sink lower into the seat, a new worry creeping into my head. I was so worried about getting away for the baby that I didn't weigh the possibilities of what might happen if I failed. As in…what he might do to my family to get back at me for trying to run.
I gulp. "Are…are you going to punish them?"
"I'm going to massacre every one of them the second I see them."
The tears start up again. It's like my hormones are hijacking my emotions every ten seconds. "Please don't.Please. I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't thinking, I was just—"
Nico does a double take, his brow furrowing as his hand smooths over my thigh comfortingly. It shouldn't be comforting, damn it.
"Shh. I didn't mean to frighten you. I was only being honest about what I have to do. The Gattos don't respond to anything less than blood."
I sniffle and frown. "The Gattos? Not my family?"
He looks genuinely confused. "Why the hell would I be talking about your family? Speaking of which, call them. Your sister saw me earlier and is worried about you."
Did he go to my family's house? I blink as he fishes out his phone and hands it to me, brain working at half speed because none of this is what I'd anticipated if I was caught.
I dial Krista from memory, and she picks up with a bright, "If this is spam, you'll regret it."
"Krista, it's—"
"Sybbie! Thank God. Your drop-dead-gorgeous bad boy fiancé stopped by earlier looking for you and it freaked me out. Just…you never know, you know? Is everything okay? Did you just forget to tell him where you were going, and he went all 'overprotective lover' on you? He seems like the type."
I pull leaves out of my hair. I can only imagine what I must look like. "Something like that. I'm okay, really. He didn't need to worry you about it," I add, shooting Nico a dirty look.
He just takes my free hand and kisses the back of it. I yank it away, disliking the warm sensation budding in my stomach at that small action.
"Don't blame him," she laughs. "It's sweet that he was so worried. You know, if you weren't all secretive about him, Mom, Mark, and I would all love to get to know him more. He seemed…well, maybeniceisn't the right word. Moresuper intense, but likable. And have I mentioned handsome? Please tell me he has hot friends or a cute cousin or something."
"Aren't you already dating someone?"
"We broke up forever ago."
I rub dirt off my cheek, grimacing at the throb in my ankle. Then I look out the window and frown. This isn't the way to go to get back to Nico's penthouse, which is what I had expected.
"Krista? Can I call you back later?"
"Sure thing! I'm busy checking out the mobsters parked down the street anyway. There's gotta be one cute Attolini who will show up eventually, right? Love ya!"
She hangs up before I can react to her knowing tease, I sigh and frown at Nico. "Where are we going?"
