Page 17 of Taming Nikki

“I am not a mafia princess that will be sold off to some asshole who can’t find a wife the normal way. Call it off or I’ll end our deal.”

“No.”

Her eyes widened. She hadn’t expected that answer. She took a step back, probably to head home and follow through on her threat, and I flicked my gaze to the guys behind her, who all threw out their hands to block her. She felt them, even if she hadn’t looked directly at them, and her spine stiffened.

I stood, moving in front of her. Her chin lifted and fire burned in her eyes. Apparently, she didn’t care about making a scene in public. The club was crowded and the people who stood closest to us had all stopped dancing to watch what was going on.

Her hand twitched, and I lunged at her. I seized her wrists, pinning them behind her back. The position thrust her chest forward against me. I felt her shallow breathing and panic crossed her face for the first time since I met her, but she stifled it quickly and struggled against my hold.

“Let me go.”

I yanked her closer until she was flush against me, then tightened my grip on her wrists until she whimpered. I was hurting her, and I didn’t give a shit. She needed to learn that she wasn’t the one in charge here. It was her choice if she learned it the easy way or the hard way.

“Try telling me what to do one more time.” I loomed over her, forcing her to almost bend backwards to look me in the eye. “The deal is already signed. You belong to me. Accept it.”

Reaching under her skirt, I grabbed the gun she had strapped to her thigh and yanked it and the holster off her. I handed it to Mikey, who stood behind me. I didn’t trust her not to try and shoot me if I let her go. I also promised her father I would at least give the illusion that we were following proper decorum, so I couldn’t keep her here with me indefinitely.

I could feel her heart racing in the pulse point on her wrist. I released her quickly, yanking her back a step, so she stumbled before I turned away. “Go home, Nicole. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

I was next to the entrance of the hallway to my office when the crowd gasped. Nicole’s knife buried itself into the wall beside me. I spun around, baring my teeth at her, but she was already subdued by my guys. She lifted her chin, unblinking.

“I’m not going to let you get away with this.”

I sucked in a breath and rolled my shoulders before I motioned for the guys to take her outside. No doubt her ride was waiting for her.

“I already did, Princess. See you tomorrow.”

* * *

News spreads fast in the Cosa Nostra and I got a call from Nikki’s father thirty minutes later.

“I told you she wouldn’t go along with it. I’m willing to go back to the original deal.”

I pulled out a cigarette, rolling it between my fingers. I quit years ago, but ever since Nicole smoked in my office, I’ve craved them. I hoped I’d lose the urge if I just held one, but I found myself lighting it anyway. It soothed the irritation leftover from Nicole’s little visit.

“Do I strike you as the type of guy to back out on a deal?”

He paused. “No. But I never thought she’d try to kill you, either.”

I held back a chuckle. I would bet good money that Nicole wasn’t that bad of a shot. She tried to warn me off, not kill me. I was curious if she’s ever killed a person in her life. She’s intense, angry, and often violent, but if she’d killed before, she probably wouldn’t have hesitated in the club.

“Let her have her tantrum. She’ll learn to accept it eventually. How did she find out?”

He growled. “She manipulated her brother. She’s good at that. She can twist things in her favor against heavy odds. You’ve got your work cut out for you.” I could hear the smile in his voice. He might not be happy with how Nicole acted, but he was proud, at least a little. She was just like him. I’ve heard about the shit Vincenzo Morelli talked his way through. He doesn’t need fire power to maintain his status.

“Are we still meeting tomorrow?”

I blew out smoke, feeling myself relax. “Yes. I’ll be there.”

“Good. Bring the boy. If there’s one thing that makes Nikki docile, it’s spending time with the kids. It’s how I got her to the party in the first place.”

I didn’t see the problem with bringing Frankie along. He needed to be working more and having him spend time with Nicole could only work in our favor. I hung up, relaxing in my chair as I contemplated my next move.

I pulled out my phone and texted Frankie.

Leo:You’re coming with me tomorrow afternoon to the Morelli’s. Don’t be fucking late.

Frankie:Will Nicole be there?

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