Page 109 of The Viper's Wife

“Where’s my money?”

Nico looks up at me, resigned. “It’s gone.”

He’s just like my family. Giving money,takingmoney when it serves him.

My voice is hard, unforgiving ice when I ask, “Where is it?”

Nico stands, and I take a big step back. He doesn’t move. “Val, you need money, I’ll give you money. I’ll always give you money.”

“I don’t need your fucking money. I already hadmyfucking money.”

He scrubs his hand over the top of his head with a hang-dog look. “I can’t risk you running, not when our marriage is the only thing keeping you alive right now.”

“Have I run? Have I even made an attempt to run? You jumped to the absolute worst possible conclusion and completely broke my trust. You say our marriage is the only thing keeping me alive, but you’re making it impossible to be married to you.”

His face hardens. “I can’t take any half measures when so much is at risk.”

“What risk? I’ve been with Alessia all day.”

“Anyone could be filling your head with the wrong ideas. Giovanni, my father, Salvatore, your family, even Alessia.”

The massive red painting on the wall behind him and his somber expression give him the look of a general in the middle of a bloody battlefield, but still I take a step toward him. “Nico, do you hear yourself? You sound crazy right now.”

“Crazy? Where’s your mom? Your dad? Do you know what your brother’s doing right now?”

I stare sullenly at him. My family has been blissfully far from my thoughts these past few days, and hearing them listed together all at once sours my gut. It’s like I’ve been on vacation, and now Nico’s reminding me of all the responsibilities I have waiting for me back home.

“Do you think it’s an accident they’re getting picked off?” he asks. The red painting seems to throb behind him. “Isolating you? Shooting at us? Someone wants you scared and alone. I can’t risk you making an impulsive decision, not now.”

“An impulsive decision, like what? Like trying to resolve all your problems with your cock? Like claiming you love someone as you steal their money? Maybe they’re not trying to scare me. Maybe they’re trying to scare you.”

He watches me for several seconds, his expression heavy and dark.

I’m cold. Cold from the shower. Cold as I look at him.

Is he good to you?

He’s not. He’s just a good lay, and I thought I could build a relationship from that. He’s probably not even listening to me and only thinking about how close we are to the bed.

“It doesn’t matter,” he says quietly. “If I get scared, I’ll keep you close. If you get scared, you’ll leave, and that puts you at risk. I’m not going to let that happen.”

The red pulses behind him like a heartbeat.

I hold all my anger like a razor blade on the flat of my tongue as I take one last step to him.

The hard line of his mouth softens. He cups my shoulders.

“These past few days have been amazing, haven’t they?” I ask gently.

His eyes are dark pools of black, only a sliver of amber remaining. “Yeah.”

“Do you know why that is?” I shove against his chest—hard. He doesn’t move, but we separate as I stumble back. “It’s because we were apart.”

He exhales, scrubbing his hands over his face. “No, that’s not true.” He waves a hand between us. “You and I? We are amazing together. You can’t deny the way I make you feel.”

“That’s just sex, Nico. We can’t build a relationship on sex.”

I want to rip the stupid smirk off his lips.