Kai!That was the guy’s name. “Sweet. I’ll just—”
But he was gone. Through the front door and slamming it behind him with a sharp snap.
Fuck, the guy’s a prick. It’s a good job he’s cute because if he weren’t, I’d probably end up shooting him.
Chapter Fifteen
Maxim
“So, you know who I am?”
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “My father runs the Irish mob; of course I’ve heard of you.”
“And yet, I haven’t heard of you.” I’m not surprised Rory Quinn kept his daughter hidden and away from this life. If I ever have a daughter, I think I’d probably do the same. Well, maybe not quite the same. This pretty little princess in front of me is nobetter than a spoilt little girl. Throwing a hissy fit because of a ruined dress? Fuck me.
I can’t take my eyes off her. Her dress was hiding a glorious set of curves, and not only that, she’s in a strapless black lace sheer corset that leaves very little to the imagination. Her dusky rose nipples are hard beneath the fabric, and I want to sink my teeth into them.
The door slams open, and I’m not surprised to see Niki striding in. He’s probably been watching our whole interaction on the cameras. He’s always had a thing for watching. I pretend that I don’t know about the camera he’s placed in mine and Angel’s room, and I often wonder if he’ll ever do anything about it or if watching us is as far as his interest goes.
He stops behind Echo, and I can just about make out his hands moving in the light. When I found out what had happened to Niki, I was the first to learn sign language. He’s my brother, my family, and there was no way I was leaving him to face the world alone. He’s a brute and a pain in my ass most of the time, but when I thought I’d lost him… Christ. It didn’t even bear thinking about.
“I want her. You have your Angel. She’s mine,”he says furiously, his eyes dark with obsession.
“She’s not a possession, Niki. You can’t own her.”
“Max.” He snaps, baring his teeth.
“Nikita.” I warn, using his full name. He hates it when I do that because it reminds him that I’m in fucking charge.
He folds his arms over his chest and stares at me.
“Can someone explain to me what’s going on?” Echo says, her brows drawn down in a cute little frown.
Ah. She can only hear one side of the conversation. I forget sometimes. It’s been so long that communicating with Niki is just normal for me, for us, that I often forget people aren’t always as understanding.
“Niki can’t talk.”
“But you’re not signing, so either he can read your lips, which would be very impressive in this rather low lighting, or he can hear you perfectly well.”
My, my, she’s smarter than she seems. “Correct.”
“Niki?” She calls out. “Would you please stand in front of me?”
Well, that was incredibly polite. How surprising. The little hellcatdoeshave manners. I wonder if she’d be quite as polite if she knew exactly what kind of things Niki likes to get up to.
Niki looks at me over her shoulder, a question glaring in his gaze. I shrug my shoulders, and he pauses for a moment before stepping around her and into her field of vision.
His nostrils flare as he takes in the sight of her, and I have to agree. She’s fucking stunning.
“Now you may continue your conversation,” she says like a queen passing a command and not a prisoner in her underwear. I’m almost impressed.
“You know how to sign?”Niki says, a look of disbelief on his face.
“Yes,” she replies. “I’m a little rusty, but I think I can remember enough.”
“That’s it,” Niki says as he turns to me. “I’m keeping her.”
The little spitfire scoffs. “Yeah, no. That’s not happening.”