CHAPTER XI

I swung my apartment door open to find Sam clutching her violin case with a Chesire grin. “Hi, Winter!” she chirped as she stepped inside. “Guess what?”

“What?” I couldn’t help but smile at her excitement.

“I’ve been practicing!”

“I’m so glad to hear that!” I exclaimed, closing the door behind her. “Show me what you’ve got.”

With a bounce in her step, Sam moved toward our usual practice spot by the window and opened her violin case. “I can play the first part of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’”

“Let’s hear it,” I said, settling into the chair across from her.

Sam positioned the violin under her chin, her fingers finding the strings. She inhaled deeply as if to center herself and began to play.

I listened intently, nodding along as she played. It reminded me of how Mom used to listen with pride when I first played that song for her. I could almost see her face, the way her smile brightened and tears glistened in her eyes.

When Sam finished, she looked up at me nervously. “What did you think?”

“I thought it was beautiful,” I said honestly.

“Thank you, Winter.” Her smile brightened even more. “So, what are we doing today?”

“I thought we could work on reading more music notes,” I suggested.

“Cool!” Sam said, her blue eyes sparkling. “I can’t wait to start playing other songs.”

I reached for a music sheet and set it in front of her. “First, let’s talk about the staff. Do you remember what the staff is?”

Sam bit her lip, her brow furrowed like she was in deep concentration. “Um, it’s the five lines and four spaces, right?”

“Exactly. And what is the purpose of the staff?”

“It represents a different pitch,” Sam answered.

“Right. Let’s start with the lines on the treble clef. Do you know which notes they represent?” I asked her, pointing to the music sheet.

“E, G, B, D, F,” Sam replied.

“That’s right. And what about these?” I prompted, using my fingers to trace the lines from the bottom to top.

She grinned. “FACE!” Sam exclaimed.

“Great job!” I laughed. “F, A, C, and E. Let’s try something a little different. Can you spot a sharp note on this page?”

Sam inched forward, the lines in her forehead creased as if she were searching for Waldo. “Um...is it this one?” She pointed to the sharp sign to the left of the note.

“Yes, that’s right. Now, using your violin, can you play the F sharp?”

Sam positioned her fingers on the strings and plucked the note. “Did I do it?”

“Yes, you did! Let’s combine some of these notes.”

Sam and I played the notes together for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” until she was comfortable playing on her own.

I watched as Sam began to play, her bow gliding smoothly across the strings. The notes came out unevenly at first, but with each repetition, she grew more confident.

When she finished, I clapped enthusiastically. “That was fantastic, Sam! You’re going to be a pro by the end of our session.”

Sam beamed, her earlier anxieties thrown out the window. “That would be so awesome!”

Sam grew more confident after a few more readings of the music notes. By the end of our session, she could play the entire song without any issues and all on her own.

* * *

I slid the bow across the strings of my violin, letting the familiar notes of “Hallelujah” wash over me. As I closed my eyes, I felt myself drifting through a sky filled with memories. I saw the day Dad taught me how to ride my bike, his patient smile as I wobbled and fell. Then there was Mom, her face lighting up when she brought home my first violin, her laughter in my mind like a sweet melody. I missed her smile, her laughter, and those quiet moments when she’d hold me close as if she could read my heart and knew I needed her without me saying a word.

The memories shifted, and suddenly, I was with my father again, his steady hand guiding me through life’s little adventures. I missed those lazy afternoons spent watching his favorite football games, the sound of the crowd cheering echoing in our home. And then there was that time one spring break when we ran through the rain after a long day of fishing, soaked to the skin but laughing like fools. He taught me how to cast a line and about the joy of watching a kite soar, the string slipping through my fingers as the wind caught it just right.

I pressed down on the highest string, letting the bow dance along with the notes, following the rhythm as it guided me. I repeated the motions a few more times until the last notes faded into the air. When I finally opened my eyes, the tears that had been building spill over, rushing down my cheeks like a dam had broken. The pain and heartache of losing my parents haunted me, a relentless shadow.

“I am so proud of you.”

“You will always be my daughter.”

“Please remember that your father and I did everything we could to protect you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t prepare you for when this day would come.”

“I need you to stay alive.”

“I love you.”

A loud, persistent knocking at the door broke my thoughts into a thousand pieces. I set the violin down, wiping my face before walking to the door. The knocking came again, more insistent this time. When I finally opened it, Tabi and her little boy, Tristan, stood there, grinning like they had just won a prize they were eager to share.

“Hey,” I said, forcing a smile. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We came to invite you to go out to eat with us. Right, Tris?” Tabi glanced down at her son.

He nodded enthusiastically, his little grin stretching wide. “Yep!”

“Come in,” I said, stepping aside.

As Tabi entered, she glanced at me. “Hey, are you okay?”

I closed the door behind us. “Yeah, why?”

“You look like you were crying,” she said, her tone soft but her eyes filled with concern.

“Oh no, just something in my eye.”

“Okay, if you say so,” she replied, giving me a pointed look. “But seriously, get ready so we can go get something to eat.”

“Oh, I’m not really hungry, Tabi,” I admitted.

“That’s okay. Just come hang out with us.”

I glared at her playfully but couldn’t help but smile back. “Okay. Give me a minute.”

As I headed toward my room, I heard Tristan giggling, and my sadness felt a little lighter for a moment.

* * *

We drove about fifteen minutes to a local burger joint tucked away near Chinatown. After a bit of circling, we finally snagged a parking spot on a side street.

As we walked in, lively chatter and laughter hit us, and the mouthwatering scent of fries and burgers made my stomach growl. The hostess led us to a cozy booth by the window.

“Here are the menus,” she said, placing them on the table. “Your waiter will be with you shortly.”

“Thanks,” Tabi replied, returning her smile while Tristan scanned the menu.

Just a few minutes later, a waitress approached us, her bright smile lighting up her face. “Hey there! I’m Shay, and I’ll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“I’ll take chocolate milk, please!” Tristan declared cheerfully.

Tabi chuckled. “I’ll go with iced tea, thanks.”

Shay turned to me. “And you?”

“I’ll take a Coke.”

Shay nodded, jotting down our orders. “I’ll be right back with those.”

As she walked away, I turned to Tristan. “What do you normally get?”

“A cheeseburger and fries!” he replied, clearly in his happy place. “And Mommy always gets the chicken sandwich. Boring.” He scrunched up his nose and rolled his eyes for dramatic effect.

Tabi gasped. “Chicken is not boring.” Tabi placed a hand on her chest as if wounded.

Tristan giggled and leaned into her side. “I’m just kidding, Mommy.”

Tabi kissed his forehead. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“Do you know what you want to order?” Shay asked when she returned, placing the drinks down and sliding straws toward us.

After Tabi rattled off her and Tristan’s orders, Tristan grabbed the crayons on the table and started coloring the printed kids’ menu.

“Okay, I am dying to know,” Tabi started, twisting the cap off Tristan’s chocolate milk.

“About what?” I asked, removing the paper from the straw and settling it in my drink.

One of Tabi’s perfectly arched brows shot up, and she tilted her head, giving me that “really” look. “You sent me a text last night, remember?” she drawled, stretching out the last word.

Oh, right. The text about my interaction with Nico.

“Not G-rated,” I said, gesturing subtly toward Tristan, who was now humming a tune while lost in his coloring.

Tabi’s eyes grew large, and her mouth shaped into an O. “Did you fuck him?” she mouthed, her expression a mix of shock and excitement.

I nearly spit my drink across the table. “Oh my God, no!” I hissed, trying to keep my voice down.

Tristan looked up, his brow furrowing. “Did the water come out of your nose?”

“Yeah, buddy. But I’m okay.” I smiled, wiping a napkin over my face.

“Okay, you’re killing me. Let’s talk in code,” Tabi whispered, leaning forward.

“Code?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“Yeah, you know, secret words .”

“I know what a code is, Tabi,” I said, shaking my head and trying not to laugh.

“Okay,” she said, flipping her long hair over her shoulder. Then she leaned in closer, resting her elbows on the table conspiratorially. “Did you go to the special room?” she asked.

“Wait. You know about the room?” I asked, raising my glass of water to my lips, but as I took a sip, my gaze drifted to the entrance and I froze.

What was he doing here?

And how did he find me?

Nico walked into the restaurant, his presence commanding as he scanned the room. When his eyes finally locked on mine, my heart did a little flip.

Shit.

“What’s wrong?” Tabi asked. She followed my gaze, and when she spotted Nico, her head whipped around so fast I half-expected to hear a snap. “Shit,” she whispered, her eyes going wide.

I set my water down with a thud as he strolled over to our table. Damn it, he looked good in his navy suit that was tailored perfectly, the silver vest giving him a sharp edge. He glanced between me and Tabi, his expression unreadable.

Then he looked directly at me; a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Hello, Winter.”

* * *

NICO

I never claimed to be a good man.

I’ve taken lives without a second thought.

And not an ounce of remorse coursed through my veins at getting Winter fired from her job. In fact, it only intensified my desire to have her close to me.

But I found myself wrestling with the need to apologize, even though I didn’t feel remorseful. The thought of Winter harboring resentment toward me...bothered me. I couldn’t shake the discomfort it brought. So I drove my ass to her apartment, but when I arrived at her place, it was empty. Frustrated, I called Luca. If anyone could locate her, it would be him.

When I arrived at the burger place, conversations hushed as I stepped through the door and eyes widened with disbelief that I was walking into a family restaurant. Others quickly averted their gazes, aware of my reputation.

But I didn’t give a shit about that. My focus was on Winter and the unresolved tension between us. I scanned the room, searching for her face among the crowd, determined to set things right, even if it meant stepping outside my comfort zone.

When I finally found her in the back, I smirked at the look on her face. She was frozen to the spot and her eyes widened like a cartoon character’s. I walked over and stood in front of her.

I looked at her friend, at the little boy beside her, and then back to Winter, who stared at me with caution. “Is there a reason why you’re here, Nico?”

“Yes, there is.” I almost responded harshly, annoyed as fuck at how much I loved that she was challenging me. Questioning me . “I wanted to apologize for getting you fired,” I said.

“You are?” she replied with a hint of sarcasm, raising an eyebrow. “So, does that mean I can go back?” The hope in her voice was almost palpable, but there was an edge to it, as if she was trying to push my buttons.

“No,” I said, my voice firm. There was no fucking way she was going back there to flaunt her ass for other people to see.

She tilted her head, a challenging glint in her eyes. “I don’t think that’s your call to make.”

“You seem to forget something,” I hissed, my body heating with a possessive rage. “When another man thinks he has the right to look at you, I’ll rip out their eyes. If their hands feel any part of your body, I’ll chop them off for touching what is mine,” I growled. “And then I’ll cut off their dicks and reattach them just to rip them off again to remind them who you belong to. Is that what you want?”

Her friend started coughing. I turned to check on her, and she grabbed her drink and swallowed down whatever was caught in her throat while her son patted her on the back.

I turned back to Winter, leaning down so our faces were almost level. I rested one hand on the table, the other grasping the back of the booth. In a low, teasing whisper meant just for her, I said, “It’s my call, and trust me, the only person you’ll be working for in this city is me. With every move you make, I’ll be two steps ahead.”

She swallowed hard, her resolve flickering like candlelight being snuffed out, but she didn’t back down.

“You can’t do that,” she challenged as her stomach growled.

“Sure, I can,” I replied, holding back a smile. “I just did.”

“Then I’ll run.”

“I’ll catch you,” I said, leaning in a little closer, my voice dropping lower.

“I’ll hide,” she countered, a hint of a smile breaking through.

“I’ll find you.”

Her chest rose and fell with every breath, and my gaze drifted down to her lips, drawn to the way they parted slightly as she bit down on her bottom lip. I noticed the subtle way she clenched her thighs together, fidgeting in her seat, and I couldn’t help but grin. She was fucking turned on.

“Why won’t you leave me alone?” she whispered, not in annoyance but with what sounded like only curiosity.

“Because I can’t bear the idea of you being taken away from me. You won’t escape me, and I won’t let you,” I replied, my voice steady.

The waitress approached the table and set down Tabi’s and her son’s plates. But when she left Winter’s spot empty, I stepped in front of her

“Did you forget a plate?” I demanded.

“Um, no, sir,” the waitress stuttered. “She didn’t want anything.”

I whirled around to face Winter, confused as fuck as to why her lack of appetite was pissing me off. “Is that true?”

“Yep!” Tristan answered for her. “She’s not hungry.”

“You’re not hungry?” I shot back. I’d heard her stomach let out a small growl just moments ago. “When was the last time you ate?”

Winter let out a heavy sigh, clearly annoyed. “Nico, just leave it. It’s not a big deal. I’m not really in the mood for food right now.”

“Get her a burger with fries,” I ordered the girl.

She looked between me and Winter. “Um, is that what you would like?” she asked Winter.

“Don’t ask her,” I snapped at her. “Just get the damn food.”

She scurried away, and Winter glared at me with her beautiful amber eyes. “Nico. You don’t have to be rude,” she said, glancing in the little boy’s direction.

“Does it bother you, kid?” I asked him.

Winter groaned and muttered something that sounded like asshole .

“Nope,” he said, popping the P.

“Good man.” I winked at him.

He grinned.

The waitress came back with the burger and fries for Winter. After she left, Winter stared at the food like it pissed her off.

“Eat your food, Winter,” I told her.

She glanced up at me and furrowed her brow. “Don’t tell me what to do,” she hissed.

I leaned down and rested my hands on the table until I was literally in her face again. My eyes dropped to her plump lips and then back to her eyes. “Eat your fucking food, or I’ll shove it down your throat.”

She grabbed the burger with attitude and took a bite and chewed while staring at me. “Happy?” she sneered.

My lips curled up in the corners. “Yes. See? That wasn’t so hard.”

She rolled her eyes.

I straightened up and pulled down my suit jacket. “I’ll let you enjoy your meal,” I said, reaching for my wallet and dropping a one-hundred-dollar bill on the table.

Her eyes widened again, looking at me and then the money a few more times until she spoke. “No.” She shook her head. “We are not taking your money,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Tough shit,” I replied. “Take it and drop the fucking attitude.”

Not waiting for her to respond, I walked out the door with a huge stupid smile on my face.