Chapter 15
15
HANNAH
T he gallery was starting to clear out, but I didn’t want the night to end. Nikko had surprised me in more ways than one, and for the first time, I was seeing past the cocky exterior to the thoughtful artist underneath. His tattoos weren’t just designs—they were stories inked into skin, personal journeys given shape and form.
As we wandered toward the exit, I slowed my steps, trying to prolong the evening just a little longer.
“You really do see things differently,” I mused, glancing over at him.
He shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe I know what to look for.”
There was a convenience store next door. It had a seating area inside.
“Want to get something to eat?” he asked.
“At a convenience store?” I asked skeptically.
Nikko grinned. “Trust me. They have the best street tacos in this part of town.”
I raised an eyebrow but didn’t protest when he steered me toward the weathered convenience store. Stepping inside was like entering an alternate universe. The narrow aisles were crammed with everything from automotive supplies to pinatas, while a small kitchen in the back churned out the most tantalizing scents. There was already a long line of other people craving a late-night snack.
We got in line. An older woman was rapidly assembling tacos and practically tossing them into Styrofoam containers.
We got our order and sat at one of the tiny tables. Nikko slid the container toward me. The aroma of the tacos was incredible—a blend of spices, cilantro, and something richer that made my mouth water.
“Go on,” Nikko urged when I hesitated. “They’re good, I promise.”
Feeling a little silly eating gas station tacos while dressed for a gallery opening, I picked one up and took a bite. The flavors exploded across my tongue, and I had to suppress a moan. “Oh my god, these are amazing.”
“Told you,” he said with a wink.
We finished our tacos. I wanted to linger, but with the steady stream of customers, I had a feeling they wanted our table.
The night was supposed to end differently—maybe with a lingering look, a daring kiss, or at the very least, me shutting my hotel room door and gloating to Tara about how the revenge plan was unfolding perfectly . But life, as it often does, had other plans.
Nikko had been quieter than usual. Softer. More… normal. It left me both intrigued and a little on edge. I couldn’t tell if he was playing me or if I was getting to see the real Nikko. Maybe this was just another side of him.
He accused me of keeping people at arm’s length, but he did the same. That was what the rough and tough exterior was about.
“Want to go for a ride?” he asked.
“A ride?”
“See the city,” he said.
I should go back to the hotel. I should be following Tara’s advice. Be unavailable. That was what she told me to do.
But I didn’t want to do that.
“Sure,” I said.
We drove aimlessly for a while with the windows down and the city buzzing around us. It was the kind of Miami night where everything felt alive. Neon lights blurred past, music spilled from bars, and the ocean air carried a salty tang that reminded me how far I was from home.
Nikko took us down to the bay, parking the car near a spot that overlooked the water where the city lights couldn’t quite reach. He opened the door and got out. I followed suit.
I watched as he stared at the water and inhaled deeply. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, leaning on the hood of his car, his eyes not leaving the water.
I joined him, feeling the cool metal under my butt. “It’s peaceful.”
He chuckled softly. “Not what you expected?”
“No,” I admitted. “I was expecting more chaos. Not this tranquility. It’s so loud just a block away.”
Nikko glanced at me, a hint of mischief in his smile. “Miami has many faces,” he said. “Just like us.”
I looked away from him, focusing on the reflective dance of the city lights on the water. It was strangely hypnotic.
“Tell me something true,” he said abruptly.
“Something true?” I repeated, caught off guard.
“Yeah,” he continued, turning to face me more directly. “Something personal. Just something real.”
“Is this to create a new tattoo?” I asked.
He shrugged. “No, but I could if you wanted me to.”
“Ha! As if I would give you another chance. You’d probably put a self-portrait on me.”
He was quiet for a second. “That’s fine. You don’t have to tell me anything. You will one day.”
Busted .
It was my way of deflecting.
“We should head back,” he said.
I felt like I disappointed him. If this were a normal date, I would of course tell him something. But this wasn’t normal. I didn’t want to reveal too much. It made me feel vulnerable. In the end, we both knew this wasn’t an actual thing. I would go back home and that would be that. There would be no reason for me to ever come back to Miami.
He moved off the hood and went back to the driver’s seat. I got in the car and settled in. I wasn’t surprised he drove a sports car.
Of course, he did.
The guy liked fast cars and bikes. It was part of him. I did feel like I had the upper hand here. I knew a little about him and he knew nothing about me.
Just as I was starting to relax, he muttered a sharp, “Shit,” and stomped on the brake.
The car jerked to a stop hard enough to have the seatbelt digging into my shoulder. I grabbed for the dashboard. “What?”
“I’ll be right back,” he said, already halfway out of the car.
“Wait, what—where are you going?” I demanded, but he was gone.
I looked out the window and realized we were at the shop. Nikko was cursing. I didn’t understand what was happening.
That was when I saw it—the shattered glass glittering on the sidewalk. My stomach twisted as I realized the shop’s front door was smashed in.
The unease started small, but it grew quickly, spreading through me like wildfire. Nikko had disappeared inside without a second thought.
“What if someone’s still in there?” I whispered to myself, panic rising. I glanced around. The street was nearly deserted at this hour, and the idea of waiting alone in his car suddenly felt less safe than braving the unknown.
Without thinking, I shoved the car door open and hurried across the street, my strappy heels threatening to take me to pavement. But I persevered.
The broken glass crunched underfoot as I stepped cautiously into the shop. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder that this was stupid. I wasn’t exactly action-hero material. This was how people died.
“Nikko?” I called softly, my voice barely above a whisper .
In the back of my mind, I realized I should yell. I should make my presence known and scare off the burglar. Or would that make me a target?
The shop was eerily still. My nerves were on edge, every shadow and flicker of movement sending adrenaline coursing through me.
“Nikko,” I whispered again.
I crept in a little further.
Then I saw him. He stood up from behind the counter, scaring the bejeezus out of me.
“Dammit! What the hell?!”
He was staring into the open register like it had personally betrayed him. He turned and punched the wall, causing me to jump back.
“Fuck,” he growled, his voice low and raw.
I didn’t have to guess what happened. It was pretty clear the register had been wiped out.
“You should call the police,” I said. “I’ll go get my phone.”
His head snapped up, his eyes locking on mine. For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then his jaw tightened. I could see the barely contained fury simmering beneath the surface.
“No cops,” he said firmly.
“What? Why not?”
“Because I fucking said so, that’s why,” he bit out.
The anger in his tone stopped me in my tracks. For a split second, fear prickled at the edges of my mind. But then something shifted in his expression. His face softened as he ran a hand through his hair, visibly trying to calm himself. “Shit. I’m sorry, Hannah. I didn’t mean… I’m sorry.”
The tension that had been mounting was still there, but his apology meant everything in this moment, and I knew he wasn’t angry with me. He was angry at the situation and I couldn’t blame him. His shop, which I was pretty sure was part of him, had been torn to shreds. Something about the anarchy told me this wasn’t just about the missing cash in the register. Someone wanted to pull this place apart from the inside out .
I lifted my chin. “What do you need? If we’re not calling the cops, what do we do?”
His laugh was bitter, humorless. “We don’t do anything. This isn’t your mess, Hannah.”
“Nikko—”
“Don’t,” he cut me off, his voice gentler this time but still resolute. “You shouldn’t even be here.” Before I could argue, he pulled out his phone. “I’ll order you an Uber. I can’t get you back to your hotel.”
I hated how efficient he was about it, like he’d already decided that I couldn’t be part of whatever came next.
“I’m not in a hurry,” I said. “I don’t mind waiting.”
“You need to go,” he said. “Ride will be here in six minutes.”
I looked around the shop. I didn’t see anything damaged. Whoever broke in, obviously knew exactly what they wanted. They went right for the money. I had a feeling the equipment was valuable. Clearly, the thief didn’t want to mess with trying to sell it.
“Are you okay?” I asked him.
“I’m fine.”
Sure he was.
Did he have enemies? Was he rolling through a list of possible suspects in his mind? That was concerning. Flirting with the bad boy thing was one thing. Actually hanging around someone that was bad and had enemies was a very different matter altogether.
The Uber arrived quicker than I wanted. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that leaving him here alone was a mistake. As the car waited out front, I reached out impulsively and grabbed his hand.
“Be careful,” I said.
For a moment, he just looked at me, his usual swagger replaced with something quieter, something real. It was like he was seeing me for the first time—not as the polished corporate girl playing her games, but as… well, I wasn’t sure what.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Hannah,” he said, his voice low and rough. Then, a flicker of his usual smirk. “You’re not getting out of date number three because of this. I’m going to deal with this. ”
“I don’t want to get out of it.” I shocked myself with my sincere confession. But it was true.
His expression softened, and for a second, the world felt smaller—just the two of us.
“Come on, I’ll walk you out,” he said. “Need to make sure this is the actual Uber. Can’t be sending you off with a stranger.”
“Thanks.”
He opened the back door for me. I was very reluctant to leave him. It felt wrong. He was standing alone in a crime scene. The bad guy could still be around.
He gave me a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ll be fine,” he said. “They’re not coming back. They got what they wanted.”
It was like he was reading my mind. “Okay.”
“I’ll be in touch,” he said with a wink.
I got in the car. Nikko shut the door and tapped the roof of the car.
As the Uber pulled away, I turned in my seat to watch him. He stood there for a moment, his hands shoved in his pockets, before disappearing back into the shop.
My stomach churned. This wasn’t part of the plan. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Tonight was supposed to be about furthering my revenge plan. Instead, he showed me a softer side of him.
And that threw me. My emotions were a tangled mess. My mission had never seemed less clear. One thing was certain—I didn’t care about the plan anymore.