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Nico huffs out a breath. “By doing whatever I had to in order to survive.”
CHAPTER 26
WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?
Nico
Maisy marches into the kitchen in a conservative but chic pale gray skirt suit and a soft pink blouse. I instantly drop my iPad and the article from the Wall Street Journal to gawk. With her hair in a prim updo that exposes her long, delicate neck, she has that naughty librarian look down pat. All she needs is a pair of cat-eye glasses to complete the ensemble and bring me to my knees.
I’m momentarily too distracted by her sexy outfit to put the pieces together. “Where do you think you’re going?” I finally manage.
“To work. It’s Monday morning.” She lifts her leg and twists her ankle from side to side. “See? All better.”
I wrinkle my nose at the sneakers which are completely at odds with my hot librarian fantasy then refocus on the matter at hand. “I didn’t say you could go into the office today, little fox.”
“Oh, you didn’t say?” She slaps her hands on her hips and glares up at me. “Let’s get something straight, Nico Rossi, I am staying here of my own free will. I am not your prisoner, and you do not get to control my entire life.”
I stalk toward her, my teasing smile morphing into a scowl. She doesn’t even budge as I approach her. The little fox is getting too brazen for my liking. She’s not even scared of me anymore. When I’m standing in front of her toe-to-toe, I loom over her petite form and glare down. “Let me be clear, Maisy. You. Are. Mine. Mine to protect, mine to keep, mine to torture and before long, mine to fuck.”
She snorts on a laugh and the little firecracker squares off with me. “I’m sensing a pattern to your delusions.” She tosses me a sweet smile, flashing her teeth. “I’ve already done this before with Jasper, and I refuse to do it again. I’m thankful for your help with my ex, but I won’t be some princess locked away in an ivory tower, despite your best intentions.”
“You misunderstand me, little fox, I never said anything about best intentions.” I flash her a smirk. “My only intentions at this point are purely selfish.”
“Don’t do that,” she hisses then jabs a manicured finger into my chest. “Don’t pretend that all you want is to claim me, to use me as some sort of toy. You’re full of it, Nico Rossi. You hide behind this monster’s mask, but I’ve seen glimpses of the real you. It’s the only reason I’m still standing here today. You may want everyone else to fear you, to believe you’re a sociopath, but I know real evil, real depravity. I slept beside it for four years.”
I stare at her, jaw slack, as she finishes her monologue. Just when I think I know this woman, she surprises me.
“I’m going to work now, and I’ll see you this evening when I come ho—back.” She spins toward the door, and I’m so shocked it takes me a minute to chase after her.
“Wait,” I shout. Reaching for her, I wrap my hand around her upper arm and jerk her toward me. “I’m coming with you.”
She rolls her eyes dramatically. “You can’t babysit me all day, Nico.”
“It’s not always all about you, little fox. I’m simply going to accompany you so that I can get my workout in for the day.” I certainly need something to ease the sexual frustration, and I’ve been so busy with Maisy I haven’t gotten a moment to paint. My studio has sat vacant since this woman whirled into my life.
Maisy lifts a skeptical brow, but she finally releases a lengthy exhale when I don’t relent. “Fine, you can drop me off and pick me up.”
“How kind of you.” I offer her a smirk. “Max will be thrilled to be allowed the honor.”
“Oh, shut it.” With a satisfied grin, she marches toward the door, and I trail behind her like a whipped dog.
What the hell is happening right now?
“Fuck,” I yell, earning a glare from the woman manning the front desk at Palestra. In spite of my promises to Maisy, I’d spent the entire day at the gym. I’d maintained a low profile hiding out in the men’s locker room while I attempted to work until a second ago when that email came through my inbox.
I scan the text from my assistant, Mel, for the tenth time muttering curses. The fucking commissioner didn’t take the deal we’ve been working on for months. Which means he must have gone back to the damned Kings.
Fucking Dante.
He must have threatened the man or his family to get him to comply. Good man, my ass. Maisy’s words still echo across my mind, the irritation at her believing my crazy half-brother is a good man writhing beneath my skin like a venomous snake.
How could she be okay with her best friend with that monster and have qualms about me?
My phone vibrates in my jacket pocket, and I jerk it out, nearly ripping the delicate stitching of the bespoke suit. “What?” I grind out.
“Did you see Mel’s email?” Marco growls.
“I’m not fucking blind, brother.”
