Page 68 of Niccolaio Andretti (The Five Syndicates)
“No,” I answer honestly, because I can’t believe it.
Tablets are a luxurious expense Mina’s group home can’t afford. I’ve thought of saving up to buy her one before, so we could video chat, but that idea was vetoed immediately by Erica. Apparently, it would be cruel for only one child to have one and not the rest.
While I agreed with Erica that
it would be cruel, I hated that it meant I couldn’t talk to Mina on a daily basis. Yet, Mina has a tablet right now, and I know the group home wouldn’t approve of it, which brings me to my earlier question.
“How?” I ask Niccolaio again.
Mina happily interjects, “He got us all tablets! Everyone!”
“All of them?!” My eyes widen, and the stare I give Niccolaio is equal parts disbelief and confusion.
I should be grateful.
Actually, I am grateful.
But I’m also confused.
Why would he do this for me and Mina?
He shrugs casually, as if he’s playing it off. “It’s not a big deal. Asher’s company donated them.”
“It is a big deal. This wouldn’t have happened without you,” I insist. Remembering our situation, I put the video chat on mute and say, “What about the hit on you? Don’t the people after you know that you’re connected to Asher Black? Isn’t it risky for Asher to suddenly donate a bunch of tablets to a random group home?”
“It would be,” Niccolaio agrees, and I tense. “That’s why he donated tablets to every group home in the city.”
My jaw drops. “What?! Every single one?! That must have cost him a fortune! Why would he do that?”
Niccolaio shrugs and doesn’t answer me. And even though I want to know, I don’t press him. I’m too happy to care. So, when the urge to hug Niccolaio grips me by the throat, I don’t fight it. I lean forward and wrap my arms tightly around his broad torso, soaking myself in the seductive scent of sandalwood, musk and Niccolaio.
“I don’t know how you got Asher to do this, but thank you,” I whisper into his ear.
Even though I should let go, I keep myself pressed against Niccolaio. After a few awkward seconds, he wraps his arms around my body, returning the hug. It occurs to me that this is the first hug I’ve ever received from anyone other than Mina and Mrs. Rosario.
I don’t care that it’s in front of Jax, who is staring at us from the other side of the room with a brand new nectarine lodge into his mouth.
I don’t care that it’s in front of Mina, who is surprisingly quiet on the other end of the video chat.
I don’t care that it’s with someone I keep telling myself I’m supposed to hate.
All I care about right now is how ecstatic I am, the fact that someone would do something for me without expecting anything in return and the incredible way his arms feel wrapped around my body.
Like bliss.
“Pssttt!” Mina’s youthful voice comes from the tablet in a loud whisper. Her voice is clear when she whisper shouts, “Is he your boyfriend?”
I jump back from Niccolaio’s body, untangling myself from him when I realize the tablet is facing us and Mina can see everything. I unmute the video chat, trying to will away the redness on my cheeks.
Niccolaio sends me a knowing look and gets up, stretching his body even though he was only sitting for a few minutes. I appreciate it when he gives me and Mina privacy, entering the bathroom and turning on the shower.
When he shuts the door behind him, I finally answer Mina’s question, “No, he’s not my boyfriend. And he heard that, Mina!”
Mina shrugs innocently. “I whispered,” she says, as if it excuses mortifying me. She gives me a no nonsense look. “He’s sooo cute. You should date him.”
I groan. “I don’t choose to date guys just because they look nice, Mina.”
“Then, how else do you choose guys to date?”
