Chapter 16
NICOLAS’S POV
Damien’s eyes was filled with anger but he wasn’t about to lose his temper again. He eyes were on me, no longer on Milene. He swallowed hard. then his face went blank and cold as he stood straighter. My gaze flicked to the scars on his wrist hidden by our matching tattoo, then down to similar scars on my own which looked more painful. My fingers almost brushed the scar over my eyebrow, something I’d done often in the past.
“You’ll have to patch her up yourself. You started this and lost. You underestimated her, Damien said calmly before walking away. I stood there, both furious and fucking thrilled.
I slowly turned toward Milene. She swayed on her feet but stood tall, blood dripping from her lip where she’d bitten down to stay silent. My eyes moved lower to her nightgown, stained with the blood from her arm
She wasn’t like the others. Most women gave in easily, but not Milene. She’d surprised me, chosen the hard path, and forced me to act. She hadn’t given me the satisfaction of breaking her in front of her family. Damien was right. I’d underestimated her because I thought she was like the others. But she wasn’t. Milene was proud and stubborn. Next time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.
I looked at the wound on her anm and wondered why she chose that spot? When I looked back up, her eyes were on nine han full of triumph. She knew she’d won this round.
I walked closer to her angrily. She tensed but didn’t back away, I grabbed her arm, inspecting the cut. It wasn’t deep. I hadn’t pressed hard enough to make it worse. I didn’t want to hurt her. That was new. Seeing her blood didn’t give me the same satisfaction it usually did.
“How does it feel to hurt me! Do you enjoy it?” she asked angrily.
1 leaned in, cupping her chin. She held her breath as my tongue brushed her lower lip, tasting her blood. I gave her a dark smile. “Not as much as
this.”
She jerked away, nearly falling, but I caught her. Not this time. This wasn’t the fall she’ll take.
“We need to clean your arm.
She didn’t argue, letting me lead her upstairs. My grip on her arm kept her steady as we walked to my room. Once inside, I brought her to the bathroom where I kept medical supplies. She leaned on the sink. “You should sit,” I told her
“I’ll stand,” she replied.
1 let her go and she gripped the sink to steady herself. I bent down to get the medical kit, but my eyes caught the slit in her nightgown, revealing her leg. She shifted to face me fully. Smirking. I grabbed the kit and stood. Her face was pale and she was sweating profusely. She straightened her back with effort, her gaze challenging mine
I opened the kit, pulling out the medicine for the wound. It wasn’t bad enough for stitches. That was unusual for me because the cuts I made almost always required stitches or led to something worse. I sprayed disinfectant on her arm. She flinched bur stayed quiet, biting her lip again
*Stop b
biting your lip. You’re making it worse.”
She gave me a angry look but obeyed. I put the glue on while having a strange sense of guilt for the injury I had caused. “So, will things continue to be like this?. “You hurt me, then fix me?” she asked angrily.
“I’m gluing, not stitching” I said flatly.
She stayed silent, her eyes watching me. Then her fingers brushed the scars on my arm. “I wonder who gave you these,” she said sofily.
I froze, my head snapping up. She stared at me, victorious again
you and Damien do this to each other? Was it some kind of ritual! Or should I ask him myself?”
I pushed her back against the sink, my hands gripping the counter angrily
“Never mention those scars again. And you won’t talk to Damien about this, not a single word, understood?” I growled.
She pressed her lips together, her fear showing but she didn’t speak. Blood trickled from her lip again.
I stepped back, grabbing a warm cloth to clean her chin. She tried to stop me, but I ordered, “Hold still.” She obeyed, letting me wipe away the blood. Her lip wasn’t badly injured. “Ji’ll heal on its own.”
Her voice cur through my thoughts. “How long are you keeping me here?”
Chapter 16
1 leaned in close. “Who said I’m letting you go?”
Then I led her back to the guest room, locking the door behind her.
Later, while preparing to train, kicking the punching bag, Kiara stormed into the room. Damien followed, trying to stop her, but she broke free and marched toward me, fury in her eyes.
She shoved me hard, her face wet with tears. I caught her wrists before she could slap me. A moment later, a strong grip wrapped around my forearm. “Let her go.” Damien said firmly.
I met his eyes, not liking the way he spoke to me. His grip on my arm got tighter, sending a clear message, he was warning me, maybe even threatening me. We had never fought each other before, and I would never let it happen, I’d rather die first. But for Kiara, Damien might risk it.
Liam stood up slowly, and even Luca set down his controller. The room grew tense. I let go of Kiara’s wrists, and Damien released my arm. He gave me a small nod, a silent way of saying thanks
“What are you doing to that woman?” Kiara asked angrily “That’s none of your business” I replied.
“It is my business if you’re hurting her, she said, her voice shaking even though she tried to sound tough.
“I’m the boss here. I’m in charge of this city. I decide what happens to the people in my territory,” I said flady.
I turned back to the punching bag, but Kiara stepped in front of it, blocking my path. I pushed by anger down and reminded myself that she was Damien’s wife, a Russo. I grabbed her waist and moved her aside like she weighed nothing, but she froze under my touch for only a second. Then, just as quickly, she stepped back in front of me.
“Kiara,” Damien said in a warning tone. She didn’t listen and glared at him instead.
“No! No one helped me when I needed it. I won’t stand by and let someone else go through the same thing”
“Get ou
out of my way,” I said quietly, though my anger was rising,
“Or what?” she snapped, her voice harsh but steady
I said, move, Kiara.”
She stepped closer, almost chest to chest with me, lifting her chin in defiance. “No, I won’t move, I don’t care about your grudge against the Outfit or what happened in your past. I won’t let an innocent woman suffer because of it.” She had no right to bring up my past. Damien never should luve told her about it
Damien moved closer, his focus on me, not her. He had a worried look in his eyes. It was new for him to show emotions like that, and I wasn’t used
To L
I tried to move around her, but she grabbed my wrist. My gaze dropped to her small fingers wrapped around my arm, then back to her face. Damien shifted slightly, his body tense. I gave him a small, mocking smile. Did he think he’d have to fight me? His face stayed cautious. I held his gaze and moved my wrist slightly, making sure he saw my tattoo and the scars beneath it. I needed him to understand: no matter how much Kiara annoyed me, I would never hurt her. He seemed to get it, relaxing slightly with a small nod.
Kiara’s grip tightened. “You stopped my uncle from humiluting me at my wedding. You killed him with Damient
I cut her off, tired of hearing her emotional words “Relax. I want Milene to come to me because she chooses to, not because I force her.” I pulled
ny wrist free. “Now let me gu
my
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