Page 44 of Taming Nikki

ChapterTwenty

LEO

Nicole sat silently fumingfor a grand total of five minutes before she started popping off again. I had planned on bringing her home, but I lost my patience and swung a U-turn at the next light.

“Where the hell are you going?”

“Home.”

She frowned at me. “Home is the other direction.”

I didn’t answer her. I was done with the attitude. She’d done enough for one day, and I wasn’t going to let her get away with it by sending her back to where no one knew how to control her. I needed a break, and she needed to come to terms with her situation away from her enablers.

She kept asking where we were going until I pulled up in front of my place. I didn’t have a mansion like her papa. I went in a different direction. My family owned an entire neighborhood. We didn’t need to worry about neighbors since everyone around here was related. My place sat in the middle, a simple two-story house with a small backyard and a garage in the back.

“Where are we?”

“I already told you. Home.”

I shut the engine off and opened my door, but she only crossed her arms and refused to move. “I don’t live here. You can either take me home or I’m calling for a ride.”

“Your family won’t come anywhere near here. I own this neighborhood. You can sit in the car all afternoon if you want, but I’m going inside.”

I knew she’d follow eventually. It was hot, and I wasn’t leaving the keys with her. She could sweat out her shitty attitude and come inside when she was ready.

I was pouring myself a drink when she stalked inside, a deep scowl on her face. She stood by the side door where she came in, her eyes drifting around the room as she took in the space. I was curious about what she was thinking. It sure as hell wasn’t her papa’s palace. The side door opened directly into the kitchen on the right and the living room on the left. It was one big space with the guest bath off the kitchen under the stairs. I’d never really decorated it. Who had time for that shit? There were only the basics. Big TV, comfortable couch, upgraded appliances. Nothing like what she was used to, I’m sure. If it had been her sisters, I’d be ready for the immediate complaining. With Nikki, I had no idea what was running through her head.

“Why am I here, Vitale?”

I tossed back the whiskey like a shot. I’d need a liter to deal with her shit right now. “Because I’m sick of chasing you. If I brought you home, I’m sure you’d be gone the minute I was out of view.”

She snorted and crossed her arms. She didn’t deny it, though. “And how long exactly am I going to be imprisoned here? Pretty sure Papa will take issue with me spending the night.”

I poured another drink and raised my eyebrows. “You think he gives a shit? It’s not like you’re a virgin.”

She didn’t reply, a deep frown etched into her face. She seemed bothered by the insinuation that her father didn’t care if she was here, which was surprising given her lifestyle. He only asked to not make it obvious if we slept together to keep up appearances. She stayed by the door even after I moved into the kitchen to pull out food from the fridge. I skipped lunch because I was busy dealing with her shit and I had been told I was a real asshole when I didn’t eat.

My phone ringing seemed to knock her back into reality. While I prepped, holding the phone with my shoulder to my ear, she hoisted herself onto the island and started kicking her feet like a kid. She didn’t start speaking until after I hung up, which was more polite than I thought she’d be.

“You cook?”

“If I want to eat, yes.”

She gave me a bland look. Obviously, she was as tired of me as I was of her.

“How long am I going to be trapped here? I’ve got shit to do.”

I had my back to her while I washed vegetables in the sink. “So do I, and yet I keep having to stop to deal with you. You’ll stay here until I can trust you to not cause trouble.”

I didn’t have to look at her to know she was making a face. “You aren’t holding me hostage, Leo. The minute you leave, I’m outta here. Only reason I haven’t left yet is because I don’t trust you not to shoot me.”

I chuckled. “That would be a waste.”

She slid off the counter and headed toward the door. I didn’t even pause what I was doing. “If you walk out that door, I’m tying you to the bed. I’m done chasing you.”

She froze with her hand on the doorknob. “You’re some kind of sick pervert, aren’t you?”

I fought a grin. She was such a brat. She hesitated, sizing me up to see if I was telling the truth. Finally, she growled, dropping her hand, and crossed her arms again.

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