Chapter Nineteen
Nico watched Olivia until she disappeared down the stairs with Sam before turning his attention to Marco, sliding in across the booth from him. A waitress appeared and he waited until she'd taken Marco's order and left before asking, "What's the news on Carmine?"
"He's cut ties with Travis."
"Smart."
"News on the street, Travis is pissed."
"Is he going to be a problem?"
Marco shrugged. "Not if he's smart."
"I want a man on him, too."
Marco nodded.
Nico felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out, concern dipping his brows when he saw the number. "Tesoro?"
He waited a few beats, listening to the sounds of running water and mumbled conversation. Just when he was thinking Olivia had called him by accident, a male voice, sounding close, grabbed his attention. His eyes flew to Marco. "Something's wrong."
They were both up and out of the booth, racing down the stairs in a matter of seconds. Heart pounding, Nico ran full-out across the club not noticing, nor caring who he bumped into if they were foolish enough to get in his way.
The bouncer was easy to spot in the deserted hallway, lying prone on the floor. Nico didn't even pause as he stepped over him, pushing open the bathroom door.
Time seemed to slow as he stepped over the threshold, and he quickly noted three things. A big motherfucker, the gun he was holding in one hand, and his other gripping Olivia's arm.
A cold tingle slid down his spine, and it took a moment to place what it was. Fear. Something he hadn't felt in a really long time and never for another human being.
Nico heard Olivia cry out in pain as the guy used her as a shield, and every cell of his fucking being ignited in a blazing inferno of fury. "That was a really bad idea." He took a step forward, his eyes never leaving the gun pointed at Olivia's head and discreetly put his left hand into his front pants pocket.
"Yeah? What you gonna do?" The guy licked his lips, his eyes darting about.
Nico slowly pulled out his knife in answer.
The guy had the stupidity to smile. "You gonna stop me with a little knife?"
Holding the knife up, he flicked the switch to extract the blade. As Nico had intended, his actions captured the guy's attention long enough for Nico to reach behind to the small of his back and grasp the hilt of his gun tucked in his waistband.
"No." So fast, the guy didn't even have time to blink, Nico had his gun whipped out, pointed, and fired, hitting him square in the shoulder, causing the gun to instantly fall from Olivia's temple. "I'm going to shoot you with my gun."
Olivia's scream kicked him into action, lunging and making a grab for her before the momentum of the guy's falling body could take her down with him. He wrapped her in his arms, forcing her head into his chest, turning to block her view of the blood. Her arms hugged his middle, plastering herself so tightly against him, he was afraid she couldn't breathe. But that didn't stop him from holding her a bit tighter himself.
He dipped his head, his lips finding the top of hers, as he mumbled, "It's okay. I've got you."
More of his men entered the bathroom, cramping the small space. Nico took out his cell phone, hitting a button before bringing it to his ear. He turned his head to speak to Marco. "I'm taking Olivia home. Take care of this mess. You know what to do with this asshole." Then into the phone, he said, "Meet me out back with the car."
Out of the bathroom, down the hall, through the back door, and into the car, Olivia didn't say a word. Hell, she didn't even make a fucking sound. Cradled on his lap, head still in his chest, he rubbed her back with soothing strokes. The silence in the car was deafening. He wished she would say something. Hell, he wished he knew what to say.
The silence ticked on as endless moments until she broke it. "You shot him."
And there it was. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, continuing to rub her back. "Yeah." It came out more a sigh than an actual word. "I'd like to say it was my first time, or that it won't happen again, but we both know that would be a lie.
"I never intended for you to see that side of me. The side that uses violence without a second's thought or remorse. I would shield you from the world if I could. But I won't let you go, even if you think I'm a monster. You're mine, and call me selfish, but I won't let you leave me."
He wasn't sure when it had happened, when he'd grown so attached, but the thought of her leaving cut deeper than the sharpest blade. He held her tighter, as though his arm could keep her bound to him forever. And if that were so, he'd never let go.
"You don't understand, I'm not upset by what you did. He wanted to hurt me, so I'm happy you did it. What does that say about me? Doesn't that make me a horrible person?"
He closed his eyes, resting his cheek on the top of her head. The floral scent of her hair surrounded him, calming his erratically beating heart. "Tesoro, the last thing you could ever be is a horrible person. You're sweetness and goodness rolled up in perfection."
He heard a small snort. "Nobody's perfect."
"Maybe so, but you're perfect for me."
She tipped her head back, dislodging their contact. Their faces were so close, a tiny dip in the road would have their noses bumping. "Say it again while I'm looking at you."
Looking into her beautiful amber eyes, he restated, "You were made for me."
She gave him a watery smile, and cupping his hand behind her head, he drew it to his chest again.
Olivia was dozing by the time they got home. Nico carried her up to their room, laid her on the bed then spent five minutes trying to figure out how to remove her shoes. He was turning from the bed when he felt a tug at his wrist.
"Please don't leave me."
He had a million phone calls he needed to make but staring down at her, panic written on her face, there was no way in hell he was making them. His boys would have to muddle through without him. "I'm not going anywhere, tesoro."
He watched her features ease and even a small smile formed on her lips as she stood from the bed. "I want to take a shower." Her fingers deftly untied the knot of his tie. "I can still feel him on me." She started on the buttons of his shirt, slipping them through their holes one-by-one. "But I don't want to be alone." Parting his shirt, exposing his chest, she leaned in and gave it a kiss.
She'd yet to initiate sex. She never denied him, but she'd never started it either. He worried where her head was at. He wasn't a man to give comfort, but for her he would try. She needed contact, closeness, and he would give it to her, but he wouldn't fuck her, not with another man in her head.
He slid out of his jacket, untucked his shirt, and toed off his shoes before picking her up from under her arms, saying, "Wrap your legs around me."
He walked them to the bathroom and set her down on the vanity. "Don't move." He stripped off his clothes and turned on the shower then returned to her, picking her back up and placing her on her feet.
Fisting the hem of her dress, he raised it to her waist before ordering, "Lift your arms," and pulling it the rest of the way up and over her head. Her newly exposed arm revealed a red mark already starting to bruise, and his fingers lightly traced it. "I could shoot him all over again for this."
She shook her head. "It doesn't hurt."
He cupped her face, tilting her head back. The intense anger he'd felt at seeing that asshole's hands on her and his gun pointing at her head came rushing back. He hadn't gotten the joy of making him sweat before he'd shot him, but the guy had literally held Olivia's life in his hands, and he hadn't had the pleasure to dick around. Knowing his boys were making the miserable fuck's life a living hell helped to appease some of his fury.
"I hated that you were scared. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you again." A promise he'd do his damnedest to keep, or die trying. Never did he want to see that look of fright in her eyes again.
Her hands came up to cup his face, mimicking the hold he had on her. "I won't lie, I was scared, but at the same time, I wasn't. I know that doesn't make any sense, but I knew you would come. I knew you would save me."
Nico closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her fingers stroking his face. He knew he didn't deserve the blind faith she had in him. Knew he didn't deserve her sweetness or the devotion he saw shining in her eyes. But his soul was already so dark, he didn't care. He was a greedy fucker and would take every bit of what she was offering without a shred of remorse. He might never be able to give the same in return, but he would cherish and take care of her, making sure she never wanted for anything. It may not be an even trade—after all, he was getting all her sweet and beauty—but even or not, it would need to be enough.
Instead of saying anything—words he didn't have—he took her mouth and let his feelings for her pour themselves out in his kiss. He just hoped like fuck she knew how to read sign language.
His kiss wasn't gentle, the emotions he was sharing were not the tender kind. The kiss was consuming, again proving what a greedy fuck he was, taking every ounce of her essence and letting it flow through his body.
Breaking the kiss, he swept her panties down her legs then led her to the shower. He stepped in, checking the water temperature before pulling her in after him. No more words were spoken as he carefully washed every inch of her, and by the time he was done, he had her completely relaxed.
His lips found her neck, the sweet spot right behind her ear he couldn't get enough of. The skin was so soft, and he loved the way she squirmed when he sucked that bit of flesh between his teeth. His hands started roaming, now in reverence as opposed to purpose. He cupped her breasts, the heavy mounds overfilling his palms, and he pushed them together lowering his face into her cleavage to lap up the trapped water droplets.
Her hands gripped his shoulders, and she came up on her tiptoes, pressing herself closer. He took advantage, sucking a nipple into his mouth, playing with it with his tongue and biting it with his teeth.
Fucking heaven.
But he wanted more. He wanted her taste on his tongue. A taste he'd grown strangely addicted to. A taste, he was finding, he couldn't live long without. Dropping to his knees, he buried his face in her pussy but didn't find heaven.
No, this time he found paradise.
"Spread your legs a little more, baby." She was still gripping his shoulders, leaning slightly forward. He made the mistake of looking up, her tits right there, and he had to still the impulse to go back to them. Later. He'd make her come, dry her off, take her to bed, then start all over, making her come again and again.
His mouth found her clit, and he sucked it in, flicking it with his tongue at the same time his fingers found her pussy, sliding into her warmth.
She cried out, gyrating her hips. His hand came up, smacking her ass before kneading the fleshy globe, keeping her pelvis still and plastered to his face. He licked through her folds then sucked at her lips, his mouth devouring as much of her as possible as he fucked her with his fingers.
She was panting and moaning, the sound echoing around the stall. He squeezed her ass harder and moved his fingers in and out faster. Latching back onto her clit, he sucked it in deep until he felt her shatter, spasms wracking her until her legs gave out. He stood, holding her in his arms, taking her weight.
He turned off the water, dried her with a soft towel then carried her to bed where he started all over again.
A text from Marco came through a few hours later. Frustration tensed his jaw as he read the message. The asshole wouldn't talk. Olivia lay curled on her side, sound asleep, oblivious to the heaviness that now filled the room.
He fired off a quick reply to Marco then a text to Al before he carefully left the bed. He got dressed and made sure his knife was tucked in his pocket.
Al was waiting for him when he slipped from the room. "Don't leave this spot. Olivia should sleep through, but if she wakes up and I'm gone, I don't want her to worry."
"You can count on me, Boss."
Nico gave him an acknowledging tip of his head before turning toward the stairs.
He and his blade had a date with an asshole.