Page 23 of Taming Nikki

“No fucking way. You drive like an animal on crack. I am not getting into a car with you behind the wheel.”

Frankie burst out laughing. “Now I kind of want her to drive.”

I shook my head. “I’m driving. Let’s go.”

Nicole scowled at me. She didn’t seem overly inclined to get into the car until Piero started whining. “Seriously, kill each other later. I’m hungry!”

She rolled her eyes and dropped into the back beside Frankie. Apparently, sitting next to me was not an option.

She’d been on the offensive since I showed up. I needed to shift the balance a little, or she’d continue to walk all over me. I’d never come up against a woman so obstinate and angry as Nicole. It made me wonder what her family did to piss her off that much.

Piero gave directions because Nicole wouldn’t even acknowledge me. Her new game was to pretend I didn’t exist. She stared at her phone, which she demanded back the minute I sat down and got out of the car before I even came to a full stop. Piero shook his head.

“You know, she’s like that with everyone, but she really seems to hate you.”

Frankie snorted. “Not everyone. She said she likes me.”

He had a big grin on his face until he locked eyes with me. He shrank away from my furious gaze and took off, disappearing into the restaurant behind Nicole. I was going to end up breaking my promise to Aunt Carlotta because Frankie wasn’t going to come home unscathed if he kept it up.

I followed Piero inside and shifted my gaze over the room. The restaurant was technically in a neutral zone, or at least on the edge, but that didn’t mean shit. People liked to start shit with me because I was younger than most dons and they thought I'd be a pushover.

Nicole leaned against the wall next to the hostess stand, eyes still locked on her phone. She was frowning, her fingers flying until a booming voice called over the crowded restaurant.

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in.”

I stiffened, worried there was a threat, but Nicole’s head jerked up. She shoved her phone into her pocket and launched herself at the man who approached. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. I crossed my arms and watched in fascination as her entire demeanor changed. Gone was the angry, sullen look, and in its place was a bright and mischievous grin. Once he released her, she feigned a punch, swinging it toward his face. He caught her hand easily and spun her around like it was a dance. She was laughing and relaxed and nothing like I’d ever seen from her before.

When her gaze landed back on me, however, her face fell and she narrowed her eyes again. A smirk crossed my face. With a scowl, she spun around and gave me her back. Brat.

The man she greeted so eagerly eyed me suspiciously. He dropped an arm around her shoulder and jerked his chin until she stepped away from the group where he could speak to her privately. Piero led us to a booth in the back and dropped into his seat with a scowl on his face.

“I swear, he likes her more than his own sons.”

Frankie chuckled. “She’s better looking than you.”

That made Piero pause, pursing his lips. “Yeah, alright. I’ll give you that. Plus, she used to work here when she was younger, before she got into–”

She approached right before he gave away the answer I’ve been looking for. I raised an eyebrow, but he coughed and scrubbed the back of his neck, looking at the ceiling.

“Piero, keep your fucking mouth shut.” She sat across from me, her eyes narrowed on her cousin. Her uncle approached, his look more thoughtful than suspicious now.

“So, you’re here to tame the untamable. You got a death wish?”

My mask fell into place to cover the unease coursing through me. This man might look like a restaurant owner, but there wasn’t a member of the Morelli men that wasn’t at one point on the streets with a gun in his hand. I didn’t trust him.

“I like a challenge.”

He snorted and glanced at Nicole, who was threatening Piero quietly, holding him close by his ear. Piero was grimacing, but he never fought back.

“Boy, I don’t think you know what you’ve gotten yourself into. Nikki isn’t a mafia princess. She’s a wild animal. She doesn’t belong in a cage.”

“Nino. Enough. Don’t engage with the enemy.” Her voice was terse, a scowl now aimed at me. I raised an eyebrow at her.

“We haven’t picked a date yet. Should we choose one now?”

Before she could reach for the silverware in the middle of the table, Frankie scooped it up and put it as far from her as possible. He shot me a grin. He learned a lot today, apparently. She narrowed her eyes at him.

“I don’t like you anymore.”

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