Page 101 of Niccolaio Andretti (The Five Syndicates)
“Jackass!”
“Shit!”
And because I want to make her laugh, I yell, “Asshat!”
I’m reward by her laughter, and Minka and I curse all morning long at the Hudson, until our throats are sore, our faces hurt from smiling, and she whispers, “I’m falling in fucking love with you.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Forgiveness has nothing to do
with absolving a criminal of his crime.
It has everything to do with relieving
oneself of the burden of being a
victim—letting go of the pain
and transforming oneself
from victim to survivor.
C. R. Strahan
It dawns on me that I can leave at any time I want. I no longer need to gold dig, I don’t need to find a Social Services approved place to live, I don’t have to study for my LSATs, and I’m not in danger if Niccolaio takes care of the only threatening person who knows about my involvement with him.
But as we head towards John’s brownstone to deal with him, I’m certain that, more than anything, I want to be by Niccolaio’s side. And earlier, when I told him that I’m falling for him, I meant it.
This thing we have is realer than I ever thought possible, and I can’t picture my life without Niccolaio. I don’t care if danger follows him wherever he goes. I don’t care if I’m put in danger by the hit his brother called on him.
I want to be with him in any way I can.
And that thought has me pulling him in for a kiss after he parks the car in front of his brownstone.
“What was that for?” There’s a cocky glint to his eyes, and I realize that I quite like it there.
“Felt like it.”
He smirks, “Because you’re falling in fucking love with me?”
I scowl, shoving his shoulder with my hand as hard as I can. His massive body doesn’t even budge an inch.
His smirk dies down, and he says, his voice genuine, “You know I feel the same way, right?”
I preen at his words, and I’m smiling even as John opens the door with Ashley—or Red Senior, as Niccolaio calls her—at his side after Niccolaio’s incessant knocking.
John scowls. “What do you want? You could have called.”
“Hey, asshole,” Niccolaio says, before greeting John with his fist.
John’s face snaps back, and I leap forward, covering Ashley’s mouth with my hand to mask her scream. Only after she stops screaming do I release my hand, and by that time, Niccolaio already has John’s hands and legs zip tied.
I zip tie Ashley, my face apologetic as I sit her on the couch beside John. At least the couch is comfy.
I hold up the ball and gag that Niccolaio picked up from Dex before we walked to John’s. Apparently, Dex is into some kinky stuff, and honestly, the thought reminds me that I’m down to try anything with Niccolaio at least once.
Except maybe the ball in gag.
