Page 70 of Vicious Little Princess

“Given everything going on, yeah.”

He very reluctantly lifted his leg off me, then loosened his hold on me too, enough for me to reach my phone, but not enough to actually let me go. It had me laughing as I snatched my phone off the nightstand.

I was tensing in the next moment as I sank back into his embrace and saw the name flashing on the call display.

Levi Knight.

Talk about awkward timing.

“Take it,” Nico said, when I hesitated.

I went to push from his hold to do so away from him, but he tightened his grip on me. “No. Here.”

“Ramping up the awkwardness,” I muttered.

“It’ll be fine.”

I swiped it open. “Levi.”

“Put it on speakerphone,” Nico spoke, loud enough that I was sure Levi heard.

I did as he’d asked, but before I could get another word out, Levi’s voice sounded through the room.

“Are you two a package deal now? Or does Rina have no choice in the matter where that’s concerned, mafia prince?”

“You know her better than to believe she’d ever let that be the case,” Nico responded, strangely civilly despite the opposite coming from Levi.

“I’m fine, Levi,” I assured him, knowing he was just concerned.

“If that stops being the case, just say the word.”

Nowthatgot Nico going, and he rumbled, “And you’ll do what exactly?”

“What will I do? I’ll lay it out in excruciatingly painful detail and—”

There was a commotion in the background, and then we heard a female voice.

“Levi, stop. You’re seriously laying down a threat against Nico Marchetti?”

“I don’t like him with her. He’s a dangerous—”

“We’re all dangerous. Besides, she’s told you that she’s fine. Several times. Play nice.”

“I can’t just—”

“Lovely, come on. Just take a breath.”

“Screw the breath, your hands on me are doing the job, Wildflower.”

I grinned at Nico and whispered, “Told you he’s completely and utterly in love with his girlfriend.”

Nico actually cracked a smile. “She has the ability to reel him in too, it seems.”

“That’s an overexaggeration,” Levi said, coming back on the line again. “So watch yourself.”

I blew out a breath. “Levi, why did you call? Is something wrong?”

“Right,” he said, clearing his throat. “I actually dialed you because your phone is secure, but the message is for yourhusband,too.”

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