Page 36 of Sugar Baby
Enzo growls, but he doesn’t back down. I’m rather impressed with this fellow. He has grit. I think it’s time to learn more about him, where he fits into all of this, and where he expects to fit in with Sophia.
“Stay away from her,” Enzo snarls and storms past him.
Trent steps into him, brushing past him while he covertly replaces a key in Enzo’s pocket.
I nod in his direction with a raised eyebrow and a small smile. Gritanddetermination. He is a wily one, and I like him.
“Nice to meet you,” he says and backs out of the room, leaving me alone to ponder my chances with Sophia after she has been with him.
I check my watch, knowing that a phone call is due from Quinn. Part of my plan is to help Quinn extend his lands; there is no deception in that. I was happy to play the long game, but Sophia’s heat has caused a shift inside me.
I want her.
I need her.
And nothing is going to stop me from claiming her.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Nico
Thebeep-beepnoise wakes me up. Opening my eyes, I grunt and try to sit up, but it’s impossible. It feels like there is a boulder on my chest.
Closing my eyes, I remember.
I was shot twice.
“Sophia!” My eyes fly open again, and I haul my body up, groaning with the pain that slices through me. I’m in the hospital, connected up to half a dozen different wires, which is pissing me off. I need to know if Sophia is okay.
I rip the IV out and yank the oxygen off before grappling with the heart rate pads. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I get to my feet unsteadily. Nausea sweeps over me, but I stagger to the door and poke my head out. Gasping for breath, I make it two steps before I fall, unconscious before I hit the floor.
* * *
The next time I wake up, I’m not alone.
Quinn is hovering over me, glaring down at me like an avenging god. “Did I die?” I ask sarcastically.
“Not yet,” he growls. “What the fuck? You were meant to keep her safe, not get yourself shot and her abducted.”
“Abducted?” I groan in horror. “How long ago? Is she still missing?" I struggle to sit up, but he pushes me back down by my forehead. It’s undignified for a strong alpha such as myself to be treated like a rag doll.
“Yes, two days ago and yes.”
It takes me a minute to process the order of that.
“Two days? I’ve been in here for two days already? Let me get out of here. I can find her. It was Enzo…”
“We know.”
“Then why is she still missing?”
“He told Cesca that he had our daughter. He did not tell her where. We're still looking.”
“Cain?”
“He is still alive, if that’s what you’re asking,” Quinn replies drolly. “What the fuck happened, Nico?”
“You know your daughter. She is a pain in the ass. She got it in her head that she wanted the pearls, and Francesca told her it was fine. Obviously, Cesca didn’t know about the heist. I couldn’t interfere without blowing my cover, so I went along with it, knowing I had the insider knowledge to get Sophia to safety before anything major went down. Which I did, by the way. But then fucking Enzo ran us off the road, and fucking shot me. I’m so going to kick his ass when I find him.”
