Page 30 of Deadly Don's Savage Vows

I unlatch each of the bolts and turn the key. Pulling the door open I struggle to look up and into Nico’s eyes.

“Come in.” I say, looking at the floor, tension in my body.

“Thanks.” He mutters, stepping inside. “These are for you.”

He hands me a bunch of flowers and a gift box. “Oh.” Is all I can say because my throat is still too tight to speak.

Chapter 12

Nico

When Bella opens her door and lets me into her apartment, I see how terrible she looks. She’s as white as a ghost, a gloss of perspiration on her skin and a look of pain in her eyes.

Guilt seeps through me for thinking she lied about being sick.

She looksreallysick. Sick enough that I am convinced I need to get her to a doctor.

She doesn’t take the flowers or the box from me, so I set them down on her open-plan kitchen counter. She walks with heavy steps, swaying.

“Bella, you look terrible. Are you ok? Can I maybe take you to a doctor?” I ask with concern.

She swallows hard, still avoiding looking at me. Her shoulders are hunched forward.

“Nico - we need to talk. And you should sit down for this.” She says slowly.

“Um - ok.” I say skeptically. “I came here to talk.”

I didn’t expect her to be so serious and down about it. She looks like she’s about to tell me someone died.

I can’t get over how pale she is. The color has left her cheeks and her eyes seem heavy with worry - or maybe it’s a terrible flu. I have no idea. All I know is that the glow of her skin and the shine in her gaze is missing.

Sinking down into her sofa I lean forward with my elbows resting on my knees. “What is it, Bella?” I demand.

I am the type of person who likes to get straight to the point - especially when the situation looks as bad as Bella does right now. If she’s sick, I need to take her somewhere where they can help her.

Bella sits opposite me, her back rigidly straight as though someone has shoved a steel rod right into her spine.

Her eyes are focused on me.

Her hands are folded in her lap.

She takes a slow breath and starts.

“Nico, I first want to say that I’m really sorry about how I acted last night. I know we are not in a relationship - so whoever youare sleeping with or - whatever - it has nothing to do with me. My outburst was uncalled for. It is my fault that I let myself get carried away with the idea that we are or could be more than a casual fling.”

She pauses, gathering her thoughts.

Her words are stinging and biting into my heart. She still thinks I am a player and messing around with other women. I can see this hurts her. But I don’t want to interrupt. She needs to say everything she needs to say - I will try to explain myself.

“I have two important things to tell you.” She closes her eyes for a second. “The first is that I saw my ex, Marcus, when I was out at a coffee shop down the road. As far as I know he didn’t see me - but I can’t be sure. The shock - when I saw his face - I - I—” she stammers, losing track of herself for a moment and I can see how terrified she is.

My immediate instinct is to protect her. This is why she looks so terrible. Its fear.

“He shouldn’t be in this city. In terms of territory agreements, he shouldn’t be here.”

I stand up, pulling my phone from my pocket. I have to make sure Bella is safe. If Marcus is around - it can’t be for business. If it’s business, it’s going to be terrible for me - if it’s not - it’s for Bella. Either way it’s bad and I have to deal with it right now.

The first person I call is my head of security. I tell him to put a team together to investigate what the hell is going on.

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