Chapter 24
MILENE’S POV
I wasn’t sure if Nicolas planned to make me go crazy by leaving me alone with my thoughts all day. I had nothing to do but think about the kiss earlier, torn between feeling guilty and a strange excitement, because that kiss was unlike anything I’d felt before. And each time I remembered it, my guilt grew. I knew I shouldn’t have liked it not just because Daniel was the one I was supposed to kiss, but also because Nicolas was the last person I should have kissed.
Whenever Micheal came back from a night out with his friends while I stayed home, I always felt jealous. I wanted to go out too, but doing that would have ruined my reputation and I would have been branded as a loose girl who had no morals even if Micheal had been there to protect my honor. I couldn’t be seen partying in a club. We had a few secret house parties, and though it was fun. Micheal stayed close to make sure no one bothered me. Not that anyone would have dared. All the guys around me were Made Men or close to it. My father was an Underboss, my uncle was the boss of the Outfit, my fiance was practically the underboss of Indianapolis, and my brother was a Made Man. No man ever looked at me twice, at least not the ones allowed near me. I could have thrown myself at them and they wouldn’t have cared because they feared losing their life.
I was okay with it and accepted the rules of our world. It wasn’t like I wanted to sleep around like Micheal, even though the few stories he told about his excitement when he lost his virginity made me curious,
I was surprised when Tate walked into my room holding a plate. I stood up. Why was he here? Was he going to help me?
Tate looked at my face and shook his head, like he could tell what I was thinking. “I’m bringing you dinner.”
He walked in but left the door slightly open. I wondered why. I doubted it was so I could escape. Was he worried about being alone with me?
“Here,” he said, giving her the plate with hot mac and cheese.
I glared at him. “Do you remember how you, Micheal, and I played together? How you and he pretended to protect me? Do you remember that?” For a moment, we just stared at each other, but he didn’t let me see any emotion on his face.
With a sigh, he walked past me and placed the plate on my nightstand.
“You should eat,” he said, sounding serious,
I turned to face him. “Why? So I stay healthy just for Nicolas to break me?”
Tate looked at my arm, grabbed it, and checked the wound closely. “Did Nicolas do this?”
“Who else likes cutting people!”
Tate smiled a little. “Pretty much every man in the mob, Milene” He touched the wound gently. “It’s not deep”
“Sorry my wound doesn’t meet your high standards. Maybe you should cut me next time.”
Tate shook his head. “Nicolas cuts deep. He hits hard. He kills brutally. He doesn’t do cuts like this.”
I pulled my arm away. “So what? Maybe he wants to save the bloodshed for later.”
Tate looked at my face with a small frown. “Maybe”
were a traitor who ran away, I didn’t want to believe them. But now I see they were
For some reason, his stare annoyed me. “When people said you were a right
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Tate bent down, and I saw something on his face that I hadn’t seen before. It reminded me that he was now an Enforcer. “I didn’t run. I’m loyal”
I sighed. He took a step closer, and I stepped back. “I am. My father sent someone to kill me, The man couldn’t do it, so he left me in Bratva territory to let them finish the job. Without Nicolas, I’d be dead. I’m alive because of my Capo, and because those four Russo brothers stood together when the world turned against them and me.”
I blinked, shocked. “Your father tried to kill you? Why didn’t you tell Daniel
He glared at me. “I’m not a snitch. The Cavallaros have stuck with my horrible father for too long. I don’t care if your grandpa thinks well of him. My father is a disgrace.”
“My grandpa is really sick. He might not live much longer.” “Good, Tate said with anger.
“Even if my grandpa can’t protect your father now, Nicolas won’t let the Camorra take him. He’ll handle it himself?
The smiled sadly. “Dante will give my father up. Believe me.” He stepped back. “I just wish you weren’t the one who would make it happen.”
Chapter 24
I touched Tate’s arm. “I know you can’t help me escape, but can I at least talk to Micheal? I miss him so much”
“That’s not his choice, Nicolas said quietly as he entered the room. Tate–hodded sharply and gave Nicolas a look I didn’t understand. Then he walked out without another word.
Trying to get my Enforcer to betray me?”
“Sadly, everyone I’ve met is loyal to you.” It was true, and it wasn’t because of fear. Despite Nicolas’s reputation, the people close to him seemed to like him. Nicolas left the door open and stayed a few steps away from me. Something about him felt different, and it made me uneasy.
“Let me talk to my brother,” I said. I couldn’t bring myself to say please.
Nicolas tilted his head, his eyes studying me. Since your fiancé would have been your husband by now if it weren’t for me, don’t you want to speak with hirmt. He asked
“Micheal I want to talk to Micheal
“If I allow you to speak with him, what will I get?” I said, “I’m not a prostitute.” “I won’t exchange a phone call for sex with you.”
Nicolas walked toward me, slow and steady like a predator. “You’ll give me a kiss for free!”
“Hell will freeze before that happens.”
now but I
“Isn’t your brother worth a kiss?” he teased, and I began to feel even more uncomfortable as he pushed me against the wall. I wasn’t sure why, knew to had to be careful.
“My brother wouldn’t want me to give away a kiss to a monster like you”
“You already gave your first kiss away, Angel. What does a few more matter?” His eyes lingered on my lips.
I frowned. “One kiss, and you’ll let me talk to my brother tomorrow?”
“One kiss,” he agreed, smiling darkly
before pulling back. “There. One kiss.”
I stood on my toes, grabbed his neck, and gave him a quick peck in his lips b
Nicolas shook his head. “That wasn’t a kiss.”
“You didn’t say what kind of kiss. I kissed you. Now keep your promise.”
Nicolas grabbed my face and stepped closer. “I showed you what I think a kiss is. I won’t settle for less.”
I glared at him, but trying to stare Nicolas down was pointless.
“Not brave enough?” he whispered.
I shivered from his deep voice I grabbed his shirt and pulled him down. Nicolas remained still as our lips locked, waiting for me to make the next move. He dared me. I pushed my tongue past his lips, even though my face was hot. I held his intense gaze, but the moment I thought I was in control, he deepened the kiss. He took over, forcing me to surrender with his mouth and tongue. I had trouble keeping up. His scent and heat made me feel things I didn’t understand
Nicolas’s hand moved to my waist and then up toward my chest. My body reacted instinctively, trained by Micheal to defend myself. I raised my knee. Nicolas reacted quickly, but my knee still grazed his groin. He growled, and I froze, afraid of the look in his eyes. He breathed heavily, staring at me intensely. But a part of me felt relieved because I wasn’t sure I would have had the strength to end the kar
“You shouldn’t touch someone without their permission. They might defend themselves,” I said, because I couldn’t stop myself.
“I don’t ask permission for anything” Nicolas snapped.
Despite my shaking hands, I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t move, raising an eyebrow. I looked at him, and he stepped back, finally giving me space. I looked at his hands, clenched into fists, then back at his face. His expression was hard, and I shivered, looking away and walking toward the window to get some space between us so I could gather my thoughts
He followed me, and his breath brushed my ear. “I should leave now. Tonight isn’t the best time to be around you. Goodnight, Angel” He brushed my hair away and kissed my neck
The door closed behind him, locking me inside my room again. I took a deep breath, leaning against the wall. Would Nicolas really let me talk to Micheal now! I should’ve asked, but I was too overwhelmed by his presence.
This game was getting risky in ways I didn’t expect. The only question now was who would lose control first.
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