Page 20 of Darkest Desire
Nico touches one of his knuckles, staring down at it as if contemplating what I just asked. “I won’t hit you if that’s what you’re wondering. I may be stern on occasion but ultimately, I like to have fun.”
“What does ‘fun’ entail?”
His eyes flash with something I don’t like. “You’ll just have to see when we get to Italy.”
I huff. Of course he’s not going to tell me. A man like him likes the mystery. He likes the game.
“Where exactly in Italy are we going?”
“Rome. I have a home there. It’s not the nicest part of Italy but it is the most powerful.”
“What is the nicest part?”
He leans back in his seat, spreading his legs wide. I avert my gaze with a blush. I hate how he uses his physical power over me. “The nicest part would have to be Sicily. The beaches. The mountains. It’s all breathtaking.”
“Why don’t we go there then?”
“Because I can’t get as much work done there. In Rome, I can.”
Work. I know exactly what kind of work he does.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, startling me.
“Like what?”
“Like you hate me but you’re intrigued.”
“I am not intrigued,” I snap. “There’s nothing about you that is intriguing. I hate everything about you. What you stand for. What you do. It’s barbaric.”
“And yet, your father was a man just like me.”
“My father wasnothinglike you. He had compassion. He didn’t just shoot people for the fun of it.”
He tilts his head to the side, gazing down at me in a way that makes me feel like a fly caught in a spider’s web. “And you know this… how? Were you there? When your father conducted his business?”
“No,” I admit.
“So how can you know he didn’t just shoot people for the fun of it? He could have kept that from you. I did meet your father once. I remember the power he exuded. He was a man not to be messed with. I respected that about him. Shame he was taken down. By his own brother no less.”
“My mom looked into it. My dad wasn’t killed by Denis.”
Nico narrows his eyes. “Are you so sure about that? Who stood to gain the most from your father’s death but Denis?”
“You’re getting in my head,” I mutter, looking out the window so I don’t have to look at him. We’re not even off the ground yet. This really is going to be a long flight.
“Answer my question, Sasha.” His tone means business.
“I don’t have to do anything you tell me to do. I came with you willingly to save my sister the pain of losing her husband. That’s it. I may be your wife but that doesn’t mean we have a relationship. I am not going to let you boss me around.”
“You know, it’s cute. How you think you have any power in this marriage.”
“So you wanted a wife to boss around? Then you chose the wrong woman.”
He leans forward, getting too close for comfort in my opinion. “I chose the exact right woman. I like to have fun, Sasha. Andyou’re fun. You’re not someone who is going to bend to my will easily. I like that. You’re a challenge.”
“You married me because I’m a challenge?”
“Why, is that a problem? Isn’t it better I marry you for that reason than I want to hurt you?”
