“Merry Christmas? You are sorry? Please forgive you? Nico, your ear!” The collar of his shirt is soaked with blood, and I can see more dripping down from his ear. A little piece of his earlobe is missing.
He swipes at it, unconcerned. "Even uglier now, eh?"
I open my mouth to say more, but he tugs me toward him for a rough kiss. Hot. Dominant. Mind blowing. My bones melt under his lips, and smoky liquor flavors his tongue.
But there’s a coppery tang underneath as he plunders my mouth like hidden treasure. My pulse begins to pound, centering between my legs. He’s too much to resist.
When I start to lose my balance though, I shriek in Italian,“The stairs! Do you want a broken neck for Christmas, too?!”
Without a word, he throws me over his shoulder, nearly giving me a heart attack before he carries me a dozen feet down the hallway to safer terrain.
That's when I detect an unfamiliar perfume on his clothes.
“Nico?” I whisper when he sets me on my feet again, all my passion extinguished in a millisecond.
I don’t have to say more. His head tilts to the side, reading the fear and suspicion in my eyes as easily as others might read a book. “It’s not what you might think.” He takes my hand, tenderly kissing the inside of my wrist. “I crashed a party tonight; the so-called private runway showcase Giacomo invited your sister to. The other teenage girls who went to Spice were about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and it wasn’t modeling contracts they’d be getting. We disrupted their plans.”
My mouth falls open in horror, undercut with traumatic memories of my abduction.
“Some of those girls are a little too fond of their perfume bottles, but they needed to get back where they belonged once the men were subdued. I had to ensure that was properly handled. That's all."
Swallowing hard, I nod, mentally kicking myself for doubting his faithfulness. “You saved them?”
“I’m not very good at saving people, but I tried. I’ve been hunting for the trafficking ring that took you over the summer ever since you told me what happened. I finally found Violet earlier today, the lead I’d been hoping for.”
“You looked for her? For the traffickers? But… you have a war with Alessio. Your father is dying. You are Capo. I thought… I was not sure you cared about that.” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “You did not mention it again after I told you that night.”
“Because I could tell how much it upset you to share the experience, Matilde. Not because I didn’t care that it happened.”
“Oh.”
“After Maddalena told me about Giacomo’s invitation, I wondered if there might be a connection. Today, I confirmed it.” Seeing my growing dismay, he frames my face in his hands. "Matilde, speak to me. Tell me if you want to hear more or not.”
Forcing a steadying breath, I meet his intense gaze and give him a nod to continue.
“Tonight was the start. I’m going to kill every last one of them. For you.” His stormy eyes convince me of it. “But I’ve uncovered more danger than expected in my city. The Barzetti Family has been plotting against us for months now, traitors to the bone. They've been working with the Bratva, agreeing to a partnership if it meant they could rule the Chicago Trio.”
I grasp his shirt, desperate at the thought of another mob war in our midst. “They will try to kill you and Dante.”
“We struck first. Giacomo is dead and soon the rest will be, but the thought of you or the children being hurt… I could not bear that, Matilde.” Emotions swirl in his eyes, emotions he prefers keeping concealed. “I’ve failed before. If I fail again-”
“Are we in immediate danger?”
He shakes his head. “I’m increasing the guards here and at my parents’ home. Despite his rasher impulses, Dante knows how to be vigilant. We’ve captured Antonio, but I must ensure we take down everyone who was working with them.”
He killed Giacomo. He’ll probably torture his father before killing him, too. On top of wiping out the trafficking ring.For you,he said. Not a typical Christmas present but one the daughter of a Cosa Nostra soldier and wife of a Capo is capable of appreciating.
I lightly touch the wound on his neck and his bleeding ear again. A bullet graze. An inch difference and he might not be standing here with me. He could’ve died tonight, but he’s very much alive. And so am I.
“I know you will keep us safe. I need you to be safe, too, Nico."
I rise to my tiptoes and press my lips to his wound, not caring that my skin is coated with his blood when I sink back down again. Hunger flickers in his eyes as he stares back at me, slowly brushing his thumb over my stained lips. Lust and need, we both feel it.
“Open your mouth,” he rasps. I do, drawing his thumb into my mouth and sucking lightly. I taste his coppery blood on my tongue, never breaking eye contact. “I've never needed anything the way I need you,tesoro.”
With a little popping sound, I release his thumb and drag his hand down to my breast. “If you need me, take me. You protect us. I take care of you. That’s our deal, right?”
For a second, his eyebrows draw together before his expression clears. His hand lightly squeezes me through the t-shirt I wore to bed,hist-shirt, and he teases my nipple into a stiff peak. “I will protect you, but we take care of each other. Take my shirt off.”