Page 67 of Naughty Santa Daddy

Just about to lecture myself for sleeping with the enemy, I place my foot back on the pedal, then slam it to the floor, craving more distance between me and Massimo. I don’t get very far before I start to notice lights in the distance, coming from the middle of the road, shining into the woods. “What the—”

After a beat, I finally realize what I’m seeing. My back pushes against the seat as my arms straighten in front of me, pushing against the steering wheel. “It’s a truck!”Blocking my way!

Immediately, both of my feet join forces with my arms and slam down on the brakes. Whoever is in the truck waiting for me isn’t Massimo. There’s no way he could’ve got ahead of me.

The sound of locked brakes and burning tires pelts my ears as I try to understand what is happening.Is it someone working for him? Like the stranger?Or am I getting this all wrong and it’s someone even more dangerous to me?

“Not sticking around to find out,” I promise myself as I start backing up the stopped SUV to do a one-eighty. My body bounces in the seat as I drive forward—right into and through a ditch due to being a blind bat without nature’s sonars.

The fancy SUV crawls out of the ditch like a champ, giving me relief as I push harder on the gas to race away from the truck. Praying it doesn’t follow me, I feel my heart betraying me as it wishes Massimo were here to help.

Terror and confusion finally win, and I have tears bursting from my eyes. “Stupid, stupid girl! He’s not going to help me! He’s going to hurt—” The terror only grows when I see another set of headlights speeding in my direction, head-on. The way they sit low to the ground, I know there’s a powerful red Corvette behind them.

With no desire for survival, only for Massimo, my heart begs me to race to him. Luckily, my brain takes over and searches for an escape.

I peer into the rearview mirror only to learn the truck is rushing to catch up.Trapped.

Gasping for air, I scan my surroundings for a miracle. An open field to my right seems like the only one I have, so I shift my hands to demand the SUV take another dip through the ditch. “Show me what you got, bitch.”

Tears drip into my mouth as a grin appears. This SUV is driving across the bumpy field as if she’s waited her whole life for such freedom. “So, you have balls. Thank you, ma’am.”

Back to glancing in the rearview mirror to spy on my fate, I witness Massimo jumping into the passenger seat of the truck before it begins to chase me, easily handling the terrain.

“See, heart? He’s not our hero. He’s the opposite.”

Chapter 5

Nikki Landis

Nikki Landis

Massimo

What the fuck is she thinking? That I’m the fucking enemy? How dare she run from me?

But youAREthe enemy.

I don’t listen to the internal truth that shouts to be heard. I’m the predator. She’s the prey. We each have a role to play, and I’ll be damned before I let her control this situation.

She doesn’t understand,my mind argues.She’s scared.

“I don’t care,” I mumble with a growl, ignoring the light chuckle beside me.

Big John is driving the truck, and I’m jostling around in the cabin like a fucking ping pong ball on a table. My head almost hits the roof as we hit a bump, and I glare at the Texan. He doesn’t respond, and I turn back to the windshield, watching Hadley’s desperate race for freedom.

She thinks she can outrun me.Silly girl.I never give up. I’m known for my relentless ability to hunt down anyone who stands in my way. I’ve built an empire through brutality, and I don’t intend for one tenacious, beautiful, headstrong woman to ruin everything.

You can keep her. Make sure she’s safe.

The thought startles me, and I almost cringe. I don’t do weakness.

Charity.

Love.

I made that mistake once, and I swore to never allow anyone into my heart again. My enemies are never far. They linger in the shadows, ready to swoop in and steal the empire I built. The family was falling apart before I took the throne. It would have collapsed without my interference. I am the reason everything has flourished. It’s my life’s work.

I don’t allow anyone into my intimate circle. Emilio is the closest. Big John, maybe. But I keep those connections small because I won’t lose my son the way I lost his mother. And I sure as fuck won’t allow myself the luxury of feelings, especially with Hadley.

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