Page 143 of My Sweetest Temptation

I paused, memories rushing back of overheard bits of his conversations with the guys, but I’d never dwelled on it. I’d swept it under the rug.

“Didn’t you say no one would hire you because Nico told them not to?” Liam reminded me.

Tears pricked my eyes. I thought about my parents and the men who killed them. Those men had the same ruthless glint in their eyes as Nico, the same aura of danger, like someone in the mafia or a cartel.

Oh, my God.

“There has to be an explanation,” I tried to convince myself, desperation creeping into my voice.

Nico had always been attentive, bringing me flowers and my favorite treats like he was trying to sweeten my world. He stocked the closet in his home with my things and kept my favorite body wash and shampoo in stock, always making sure I was taken care of. Sure, he had his dark side, a possessiveness that sometimes bordered on suffocating, but didn’t that just prove how much he cared? His mother had said he was different with me. I had to believe that, didn’t I? Yet now Liam’s words echoed in my mind like a relentless siren. What if he was right? How could I be so stupid?

“Winter, just think about it,” Liam pressed. “All the late nights, the secretive phone calls. His life could destroy you.”

“Stop it!” I shouted. My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “You’re wrong about him.”

“I wish I were. I wish I could just let it go, but I can’t. I care about you too much to ignore the signs. You’ve become one of my best friends.”

I turned away, my heart pounding violently against my ribcage as if it were trying to escape the chaos swirling in my mind. The walls of my reality felt like they were closing in on me.

“Liam… I can’t... why are you trying to break my heart?” My voice cracked, his concern feeling like a double-edged sword.

“I’m trying to protect it,” he replied, his tone gentle yet persistent. “I’m asking you to ask the questions.”

Could it be true? That the man I had started to fall for could he be hiding a monstrous secret? What if he was the one who had been sent to hunt me down, just like whoever had come for my parents? The thought twisted my stomach, a visceral knot of fear and confusion.

“I... I need time to process all of this,” I finally whispered. “I think you should leave, Liam.”

“Just promise me you’ll keep your eyes open,” he said, his expression softening, but the urgency in his eyes remained. “I’ll never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

I nodded slowly, my heart torn between my feelings for Nico and the gnawing suspicion that now loomed over me like a dark cloud. The door clicked shut behind Liam.

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?

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