Page 38 of Taming Nikki

Amara’s eyes lit up. “What are you getting this time?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Gemma peeked from behind me, her head tilted. “Where you gonna get it?”

Nicole pursed her lips, failing to hide her grin. “My chest.”

Gemma’s eyebrows flew up and all three kids turned their heads slowly to gauge my reaction. I shot Nicole a look.

“Trying to get your tattoo artist killed?”

She smirked and leaned back on one hand, her long legs crossed. It was distracting, and she knew it. “What’s wrong? Not man enough to let your ‘fiancée’ get a tattoo?”

The air quotes made me angry. She wasn’t any closer to accepting the wedding. If anything, she was upping her game by getting a tattoo in an area like that. She’d have to be topless. Even if they covered her, they’d be working all around her tits, and that pissed me off.

“Go ahead and get it. Just know that whoever touches you dies tomorrow.”

She scowled. “Go fuck yourself, Vitale.”

“Nicole!” Viola screeched from the other room. Nicole snorted and slid off the counter. She dropped her mug louder than she needed to into the sink, flipping me off as she strode past. I followed her to her room, leaning on the doorframe again.

“Still going?”

She pulled on a pair of knee-high boots while refusing to look at me. “Yup. Try and kill my friend and I’ll kill you. I’m done playing games, Vitale.”

“Who said I’m playing games?”

She stood and grabbed her purse, so I shifted to block her exit.

“Move.”

“Make me.”

There was a fire in her eyes. I was getting close to her limit, but I wasn’t going to let her get a tattoo on her tits. I raised an eyebrow at her in a challenge. I did not expect her to spin around and open one of her windows. Nicole’s room was on the second floor. She’d get hurt if she jumped.

I moved without thinking, snatching her away from the window she was trying to climb out of, and shoved her against the wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

She lifted her chin, fierce determination in her eyes. “Rule number one, Vitale. Never trap yourself in a situation without more than one exit.”

I frowned and leaned to look out the window, but all I could see was the drop. She looked bored. “Want me to show you?”

“And watch you kill yourself to prove a point? I’m good.”

She snorted. “A one story drop wouldn’t kill someone. Not unless I dove head first. And I’ve got somewhere to be tomorrow. I don’t have time to deal with a hospital visit.”

I glanced between her and the window before stepping back.

“Fine. Show me.”

She pushed away from the wall and hoisted herself up onto the frame of the window. Swinging herself to the left, she disappeared. I stepped up behind her and watched her shimmy down the lattice I hadn’t noticed during my first look. It was basically a ladder down. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“You could’ve just told me.”

She jumped the last few feet and brushed herself off. “Yeah, but then you’d still be trying to stop me from leaving. See ya later, Vitale!” She gave me a mock salute before she sauntered off.

I stood frozen for a second, realizing she was right. When I ran to catch her outside, she flipped me off outside the window of her cousin’s car as they pulled out of the gate.

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