CHAPTER XLI

I sat at the grand piano, my fingers gliding over the keys with a fluidity that eased the heavy thoughts on my mind, particularly thoughts of how to win Winter over. Each note struck a chord deep within me, a haunting melody that mirrored my internal turmoil. I took a slow sip of my whiskey, savoring the burn as the soft piano music filled the room with a peace that was as stable as a bomb on a timer, and sure enough, my phone detonated with an intrusive, insistent ring.

With a subdued sigh, I answered, my voice a muted growl. “Moretti.”

“Boss,” Enzo said, wasting no time with pleasantries. “We have a problem.”

My body tensed, and I sat up straighter. “What is it?” I kept my tone even, but my mind was already galloping toward the worst-case scenarios. If something had happened to Winter, I was going to gut a motherfucker.

“Winter is with me and... well, she wants to see you. Insists on it, in fact.”

Here? My angel, descending upon me like a bolt of lightning? I took a leisurely sip from my drink, relishing that she’d come to me on her own. Maybe Matteo was right all along.

A slight smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I swirled the liquid in my glass. “Show her in, Enzo. I’ll take care of my little hurricane.”

“Yes, boss.” His tone suggested he found this situation equally amusing, though I knew he’d never admit it. The line went silent, and I gently placed my glass down, my heart doing a little tap dance. Winter, my unpredictable little firecracker, was about to grace me with her presence. The door opened, and my smirk grew at the sight that greeted me. There she stood, her dark brown hair wild and her golden eyes sparkling with determination. She looked like she was on a mission, and heaven help anyone who got in her way.

“Well, damn.” Luca let out a low chuckle. “She looks pissed.”

“She sure does.” Matto grinned, peering over the edge of his glass.

My brow quirked upward in amusement. “My angel, what a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect to see you flying through my door quite so... dramatically.” I took in her less-than-thrilled expression and added, “Is everything alright? You look like you’re about to either kiss me or kill me. I’m hoping for the former.”

* * *

WINTER

Cocky bastard.

How was I supposed to have a serious conversation with him looking like that?

He sat on the bench at the grand piano, fingers poised above the keys, looking like some sexy, tattooed prince, wearing a dark wine-colored dress shirt with half the buttons undone. My stupid heart was doing somersaults.

“Nico, we need to talk,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest like I was about to lecture a wayward child instead of flirting with a Greek god.

Nico raised an eyebrow, looking at me with an expression that was a mix between curiosity and mischief. “Talk about what, Winter?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but then I noticed Matteo, Luca, and Lo in the background, clearly enjoying the show based on the grins plastered on their faces. All they needed was a bucket of popcorn.

“Looks like we’re crashing the party,” Luca declared, shutting down his laptop and standing up with a smirk that could charm the pants off a statue.

“Hello, Winter,” he said.

“Hi, Luca,” I replied, unable to resist smiling back.

Luca leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, glancing back like a secretive little spy at Nico. “Don’t be too hard on the boss, but make sure he doesn’t dodge whatever bullets you’re about to shoot at him.” He chuckled deeply before sashaying out of the room.

Matteo and Lo shot me broad smiles as they passed me. Just like that, they were gone, leaving me alone with the smoldering distraction that was Nico.

Okay , I thought, it’s time to get serious . But first, I had to figure out how to keep my heart from doing the tango while I talked to the man who looked like he just stepped out of a dark romance novel.

“Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to bring that cute little ass of yours over to my lap?” Nico teased, his sly grin growing wider as he closed the piano lid. He downed the rest of his whiskey and rose to his full height, sauntering toward the bar.

“Do you want something to drink?”

“No, thank you,” I replied, my eyes glued to the way his pants clung to his tight backside. It was hard to focus on why I was here when his every curve was so distractingly perfect.

“Suit yourself,” he said, glancing back over his shoulder with a playful wink. “But just know, refusal only heightens my obsession. Sweet and tempting, like a dessert you can’t have but are desperately craving.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to feign nonchalance, but the truth was, I was terrified.

“Seriously, what is this about?” His deep voice rumbled as he leaned casually against the bar, arms crossing over his broad chest. His posture had an air of confidence, but his eyes were sharp and assessing. “Not that I’m not happy to see you.”

Taking a steady breath, I met his gaze. “I heard some things today,” I began, my voice shaking despite my efforts to sound brave. “And I need you to tell me the truth.”

Nico’s head tilted slightly to the side, his blue eyes unwavering as they held mine. “What did you hear?” His words came out low and intense.

I sighed, my gaze dropping to the floor. “That you’re... involved... with... the mafia, drugs, murder. Because of your wealth, I assumed it was just gossip, but now...” The fear I was trying to suppress was evident in my quavering voice.

The silence that followed felt like an eternity. When I stole a glance at Nico, his expression was unreadable.

“It’s not true, is it?” I asked, my voice laced with desperate hopefulness.

He didn’t respond immediately, and at that moment, my imagination ran wild. Finally, he spoke, his voice deceptively calm. “And what if it was?”

My breath caught in my throat. Nico pushed off the bar, his movements deliberate as he took slow strides toward me. “You want the truth?” he asked.

“Fine. I run a very profitable business. I own several condo properties and a nightclub, but that’s just the surface. I smuggle drugs into the U.S. using wine bottles.”

He paused, letting his confession sink in. “I’ve killed more people than the number of seats that could fill in a football stadium. And I don’t regret any one of them.”

“Drugs?” The words felt like ash in my mouth.

“Heroin,” Nico replied, his voice devoid of emotion. The cold, hard facts sent a shiver down my spine. “The cartel owns 100 thousand acres of poppy fields. Ten kilos per harvest, equating to approximately 13,000 dollars. But that’s merely the tip of the iceberg. As you travel further in the US, the profits multiply exponentially.”

He talked with a cold sense of satisfaction, as though he was describing a significant accomplishment instead of a terrifying reality. I was struggling to breathe, the weight of his words tightening around my throat like a noose.

“I was born in this life, Winter,” he continued. “There’s no way out for me.”

I recoiled, my hand instinctively covering my mouth. “Is it true that you have cops and judges on your payroll?” I dreaded hearing the answers but still needed to hear him confirm what I’d just heard.

Nico held my gaze, his intense and unwavering. “Winter, what is it that you want from me?” His tone was challenging. “Do you want me to pretend that I’m a law-abiding businessman, working a nine to five job? Is that who you want me to be?”

“Well, yeah!” I cried. “I thought you were a successful condo property and club owner.”

“I am a successful condo and club owner.” Nico’s jaw tightened, a muscle ticking. “You’d prefer I lie to you? That I sugarcoat the truth so you can sleep at night?”

My heart was pounding in my chest, and my eyes squeezed shut, as if by blocking out the sight of him, I could deny the reality of the situation and go back to our little toxic bubble.

Nico remained silent, his presence looming closer.

“Winter.” His insistent and sharp voice snapped my eyes open to find him standing a few inches away from me, his intense blue eyes searching mine as if he expected me to bolt at any second.

For a moment, I wished I could be anywhere else. But I forced myself to stay.

“So, Liam was telling the truth,” I murmured, the realization hitting me with the force of a physical blow.

At the sound of Liam’s name, Nico’s eyes darkened dangerously, and his face contorted with anger. He took a menacing step forward, causing me to flinch and retreat. “What did Liam say to you?” he demanded, his voice like a snarl.

I backed away some more, my heart hammering in my chest. “N-nothing,” I stuttered, my voice shaking.

“Don’t you dare lie to me, Winter!” Nico’s eyes flashed with fury. “What did he tell you? Why were you speaking to him after I told you to stay away?”

“He came to me,” I tried to explain, but Nico cut me off with a bitter, cynical laugh. “And he’s my friend, Nico.”

“So naive, Winter. That man has a hard-on for you.”

“No,” I protested weakly, my mind reeling. “It’s not like that.”

Nico’s eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. “You’re here because of him. Because of what he told you. Right?”

A heavy silence settled between us before Nico spoke again, his voice tight with restrained emotion. “Ask me anything. I’ll give you the truth.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Really.”

“Did you... kill Michael, Preston, and his friends?”

“Yes,” he replied, his expression unreadable.

“What did you do to them?” I asked, my heart galloping wildly.

“You don’t want the answer to that question, Winter.” Nico took a deliberate step forward, closing the distance between us to a mere two steps. “I will kill anyone who dares to harm the people I care about, and that includes you. I won’t apologize for that. If you can’t accept that, then tough shit. I will do everything in my power to protect you.”

His words, delivered with conviction, cracked the shell of denial I had built around myself. My heart, which had been frozen in fear, began to thaw, and I felt a surge of conflicting emotions.

Shaking my head, I looked away, unable to meet his eyes. “This is insane. I... I don’t know what to say,” I whispered.

He stood silent for a moment before lifting my chin with his finger, forcing me to meet his gaze. “This is my world, Winter. I’m not going to disappear just because you don’t approve. You need to understand that.”

“I don’t want you to disappear,” I said without thinking, and he smiled.

“Good. Because you will never escape me. You—” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Are.” He kissed the side of my mouth. “Mine.” He sucked on my lower lip and tugged it, then gave me a wide mouth kiss and devoured me like he was licking the leftover cake batter from the bowl.

My hands flew to his wrists, holding him in place so I could feel his tongue in my mouth and savor his taste of whiskey. My god, this man could kiss. He made me feel weak in the knees, and I just wanted to melt into him. When he pulled back, oh so slowly, I wanted to cry.

“Can I have you tonight, Angel?” he asked against my lips in a deep voice that had me leaning forward until our bodies touched and I could feel how hard he was.

Right as I was going to respond, a sultry voice called Nico’s name. He stilled and straightened to his full height, removing his hands from my face. When he looked over my shoulder, his jaw ticked.

“What do you want, Lana.” His words were clipped.

I glanced over my shoulder and wished I hadn’t because she looked at Nico as if he was her next meal.

That was oddly inappropriate.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company,” she said, and then took a step forward.

“Stop where you are,” Nico demanded. She complied, looking hurt and confused.

“You asked me for a...” She looked down at his pants and licked her lips seductively. “Favor. I’ve come to offer my services.”

Oh, okay. Wow.

Correct me if I was wrong, but I was assuming this was code for sexual favor. I might have been new at this, but it sounded like Lana and Nico had a little side thing going on, and I didn’t want any part of it.

My heart sank, and I wanted to scream and cry, but I didn’t. I turned back to Nico, who was now staring at me as if daring me not to leave. Well, tough shit. I was not staying here for this.

“I think I’m going to go,” I said, and Nico’s lips drew into a thin line.

“No, you are not leaving.”

I started to spin on my heels when he gripped my arm. “Ow,” I whispered, trying to yank myself free, but he just tightened his grasp.

“Lana, I suggest you get the fuck out of my house,” he said to her but kept his eyes trained on me.

“But—”

“Enough!” Nico interrupted her. “Leave. Now,” he snarled and continued to tighten his grip.

“Nico, you’re hurting me,” I pleaded in a whisper, and when he looked down at me, his eyes softened. He released me but then wrapped his hand around my neck, pulling me in.

“I’ll handle her, but you will not leave. Go wait up in my room. You remember the way.” He placed a hard kiss on my lips and backed away. “Go.”

I walked past Lana without looking in her direction, but I could sense her body trembling in fear. I stood in the hallway, staring at the lavish staircase and then the front door. I was planning my escape. When I looked over my shoulder, I was glad to see I was no longer in his view.

I was so freaking confused.

The man was a mafia king.

A murderer.

A drug dealer.

But I wanted him more than my favorite chocolate bar.

This was my chance to get the hell out of here. Maybe I should take it and move somewhere else. I needed to get a hold of Uncle Malick and see if he could send me to a different state. Maybe a small down in Oregon or Colorado. I’d always wanted to go out west. Just as I was taking a few quiet steps toward the front door like a thief in the night, Enzo stopped me.

“Winter? Are you leaving?”

I turned to him and nodded.

“Does the boss know that?”

I lied with a blink and a nod. And, of course, he didn’t buy it. His facial expression softened in understanding. “What happened?” he asked me.

“What makes you think something is wrong?” I whispered, trying not to draw Nico’s attention to my escape. Enzo took a few steps closer and smiled. “Because I know how much he cares about you, and you about him. Why are you trying to sneak out? Did the fucker do something?” His tone hardened and his eyes narrowed.

I shook my head. “No, it’s just...” I sighed. “Lana.”

His dark brown eyes, almost black, conveyed understanding.

“So... they’re a thing?” I asked him, afraid of hearing the answer.

“No,” he said.

“But they’ve done things together,” I said.

He didn’t respond, but with the way his lips turned into a sad smile, I had my answer.

“Please take me home,” I told him, but he shook his head.

He shook his head.

My life and Nico’s did not mesh well together. He was in the freaking mafia and I was still coming to terms with that.

“Fine. I’ll catch an Uber,” I said and started toward the door, then looked back again. “Bye, Enzo.” I walked out and jogged down the steps and across the lawn toward the gate. I pulled out my phone and ordered a car when I heard the front door open and heavy footsteps follow. I already knew who it was.

Before I had a chance to turn around to face him, my body was suddenly air lifted, my phone flying out of my hands and onto the grass. I was thrown over strong shoulders.

“What are you doing?” I screamed but Nico clamped his arms around my legs to keep me in place and smacked my butt. Not once but twice and hard.

“Stop it!” I said to his muscular back while smacking it but he didn’t flinch.

“I told you to go to my room and wait for me.” He slapped my ass again.

“Would you stop that?” I yelped, and started to pinch his sides, but he didn’t even cringe or react to my touch.

As soon as we were back in his house, I looked up in panic. “Wait! My phone. You knocked it out of my hands!” I snapped and then smacked him in the ass.

“Enzo!” Nico hollered. “Grab her phone.”

“Yes, boss.” Enzo snickered, and when I saw the amusement dancing on his stupid face, I gave him the evil eye, but his grin only widened.

Demon barked and trotted after us.

Nico carried me up the stairs like a caveman, and I noticed two guards escorting Lana out of the house. She threw daggers at me the whole time with her bloodshot red eyes.

When we reached Nico’s room, he told Demon to stay put. Demon huffed in annoyance but obeyed and laid down like a guard dog. Nico shut the door with his foot and locked it. Then he lightly tossed me on his neatly made king-size bed.

I scrambled until I was on my knees, ready to bolt. Nico stood at the end of the bed, looking at me with fury, his breathing erratic.

“Did you have a nice time with Lana?” I snarked, unable to hold back. The jackass smirked and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. “Were you jealous?” he asked, amused. “Is that why you were throwing a tantrum?”

A tantrum ? “No, and I’m not a child, so stop treating me like one.” I gave him a dirty look.

“Then stop acting like one,” he retorted.

“You have some nerve,” I told him with a hard and brave tone. “You’re the one kissing me, then fucking your housekeeper!”

“Watch your fucking mouth!” he yelled, pointing at me.

“No!” I yelled back. “And I don’t see you denying it.”

“That’s because there’s nothing to deny,” he replied.

I scoffed. “Right, so you never fucked her?”

“What did I say about watching your mouth?” He stepped forward until his knees hit the bed. “And no, we never fucked.”

“But you did things,” I told him.

He sighed. “What does it matter? It’s in the past.”

“You said you would always tell me the truth, right?” I asked him.

“Yes.”

I waited for him to expand further, but he just stared blankly at me, which infuriated me even more.

“When was the last time you did things together?” I asked, using air quotes to emphasize did things .

He continued to eye me, and right as I was about to “throw a tantrum,” as he liked to call it, he finally responded.

“A few weeks ago, I asked her to suck my dick,” he said. I flinched, but he continued. “But I stopped it before it went any further.”

“Why?” I asked quietly.

“Because she wasn’t you,” he simply said as if I would understand what the hell that all meant.

“But I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand, Winter?”

“You’re a mafia king,” I said, and he looked at me as if waiting for me to continue.

“Yeah, so?” he says.

“Well, don’t you guys have sex with lots of women?”

He reared back at my words. “The fuck, Winter,” he snapped. “No, I don’t fuck lots of women. I’m loyal to a fault. If a woman wants to fuck, it’s consensual and no strings attached. When there’s someone I want, I will never fuck around.”

I swallowed.

“I’m a virgin,” I blurted out, but I had no idea why. Maybe it was because I knew what was about to happen and I wanted it to happen. I wanted a mafia king to be my first. What does that say about me?

He chuckled and nodded once. “I know.”

I smiled at the sound of his laughter. It was deep and warm like my favorite fleece pajamas that I loved to wear during the winter season. For some reason, as ruthless as Nico could be, I felt safe whenever I was with him.

“But just because you are doesn’t give you a pass for how my dick is going to ruin you.” Nico said in warning.

Oh, crap.