CHAPTER XXIV

I t had been a whole week since my date with Nico, and I’d thrown myself back into work, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was avoiding me.

I replayed that night over and over in my mind, looking for a clue that I might have missed. Did he really enjoy it, or was it just a fleeting moment for him? The thought that he’d maybe lost interest made me nauseous. What if I misread everything? I thought we had something, but now I was left in this limbo, second-guessing every interaction.

The cool air brushed against my face, snapping me back to reality. My shopping bag hung loosely at my side, the crinkly plastic filled with groceries. As I walked, a car screeched behind me. The headlights sliced through the darkness. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Nico storming out of his car with a look of fury and charging at me like a bull.

Oh, crap.

* * *

NICO

When Enzo called and told me that Winter was walking home at night from the store, I lost my shit.

What the hell was she thinking?

Winter apparently had gotten under Enzo’s rough exterior. She didn’t know that Enzo was assigned as her bodyguard 24/7. I needed to make sure she was always safe. If I had the choice, I’d move her in with me and handcuff her ass to my bed—where she belonged.

“You’re coming with me,” I snarled at Winter, grabbing her arm with a little more force than necessary, and she winced.

“What are you doing?” she asked in a trembling voice. She pulled away from my grasp and took a few steps back.

Fuck. She was strong for a tiny thing.

“Get in the fucking car.”I didn’t have time for this shit. If I had to, I would toss her pretty little ass over my shoulder and throw her in.

“No,” she sassed back, crossing her arms across her chest with her bag dangling at her side.

“I’m not asking, Winter.”

“How did you even find me?”

“It doesn’t fucking matter. You shouldn’t be walking by yourself at night. What the hell were you thinking?” I snapped. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to grab her and shove her into my car.

“No,” she whispered firmly, backing away again. “This isn’t the first time I’ve gone to the store on my own. And I am sick of you bossing me around. I’m not a freaking child.”

I’d had enough of this shit.

Without warning, I darted forward like a coiled snake to grab her. Winter turned to run, but I was faster. In an instant, I lunged at her, grasping her wrist with a vice-like grip. “Why don’t you ever listen to me,” I hissed.

Panic surged through her eyes when she glanced at me. She screamed, but the sound was muffled as I hoisted her up, tossing her over my shoulder as if she weighed nothing.

Enzo leaned against my car, his arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. “Need help, boss?” he called out, his voice dripping with mockery.

“Open the trunk,” I ordered him.

He hesitated at first but complied when I was a few feet from him.

“What!?” Winter screeched. “Let go of me!” she cried, trying to twist free.

But I was relentless, and in one swift motion, I gently tossed her into the trunk. She raised her hand to slap me, but I grabbed her wrists and yanked her to my face. “Don’t fucking test me, Winter,” I growled, holding back from taking her lips with mine.

My sweetest temptation.

I pulled back, and her chest heaved when I closed the trunk, engulfing her in darkness.

“Nico! You can’t do this!” She pounded her fists against the trunk, desperation apparent in her voice. “Let me out!”

She’d wake up with a bruise, I was sure.A good reminder to never piss me the fuck off.

I turned to face Enzo, and he looked amused. “Do you think this is a good idea, boss?”

“No, I have no fucking idea,” I grunted, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

“Grab her bag, will you?” I ordered Enzo.

“Will do, boss.”

“Don’t worry,” I called out to Winter, my voice oddly calm. “We’re going for a ride,” I said, tapping the trunk twice with my knuckles.

I slipped into my car while Winter screamed.