Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
DALILA
I have never met such a gentle and caring man before.
My brothers, growing up with them, they took care of me — but they were rough, controlling, bossy, bullies even.
I know they loved me, and I know they would always take care of me, but this is so different from that.
Nevio is tender.
He is attentive, doing sweet thoughtful things.
I have never met such a gentleman before and I never, in my life, in a million years would have said that Nevio would be a man like that.
It’s like he has these two sides to him, and I am the only one in the entire world who gets to see this side of him.
An image flashes through my mind.
His eyes, how they looked when he stood at the top of the slope, just before he threw the dead man’s body over the edge, and just before he shot and killed the third man.
That cold, empty, deadly stare.
That is the Nevio everyone else knows.
When I look into his eyes, I don’t see any of that. I know he would never be that person towards me.
For me, yes.
But not towards me.
Nevio has gone into town to collect a few things. I am sitting in the living room, playing on my phone, watching series - not doing anything.
The weather is still freezing today and while it isn’t snowing, it’s still a good time to be snuggled indoors.
I smile, picturing myself snuggled against him.
No, what am I doing? I can’t be falling for him. Can I?
I giggle at myself.
I think I am falling for him.
It might be a really stupid thing to do, but how can I help it?
I don’t even see his birthmark when I look at him anymore. I see his deep blue eyes, his grin, the dimples that form on his cheek. The dark shadow of stubble across his jaw. The shape of his jaw and his neck, where it curves towards his broad shoulders.
I giggle again. Dammit. I am falling for him.
He makes me feel so - loved.
Like he loves me for me. Not for what he wants me to be. Just for me.
I haven’t ever felt that before.
“Ehem.”
I jump at the sudden sound and spin in my chair, turning towards it.
“Who are you?” I stammer. I thought I was alone this entire time. How long was this guy standing there? Who the fuck is he?
I am tense and slowly moving, ready to leap to my feet.
“Calm down, pretty little thing.”
He drops onto the sofa next to me.
What the fuck.
“I’m Nevio’s brother.” He says, throwing me a charming smile.
He holds out his hand towards me. “Damion.” He says.
I take his hand and instead of shaking mine; he runs his thumb over the back of my hand.
“Mm. So soft.”
I yank my hand back, feeling instant ick.
Oh, he’s gorgeous. He has Nevio’s eyes, and a similar shape to his jaw. His mouth is different, but he has the same dimples.
I stare at him, though, feeling grossed out because his entire attitude is kind of slimy and forward.
I shift away from him, further to the other side of the sofa.
He notices and cocks his head to the side.
“Where are you going, little bird?” He snarls and leans over, grabbing my thigh and pulling me across the sofa towards him.
He locks me in place as he shifts his body over mine. HIs eyes lock with mine and I sneer at him. “Get the fuck off me right now.” I hiss.
“I don’t see why he gets you. You should have been mine. He’s so fucking ugly I don’t even know how you look at him.”
His fingers are digging into me, and his words infuriate me. No one should ever call Nevio ugly in front of me.
I let my leg up to my chest and kick out hard, catching him in the ribs.
He huffs as the air is slammed from his lungs.
I spin and try to crawl away, but he grabs me and drags me back to him.
Now he is lying on top of me on the couch and I’m getting loud.
“Get the fuck off me.” I scream.
“I just want a little taste.” He laughs as his hand wraps around my face and pulls me towards him. His lips are inches from mine.
Out of nowhere, he gets lifted off me and begins flying across the room.
Nevio is standing over the couch, looking down at me. My eyes are wide and bright with tears.
“Are you ok?”
I nod.
He turns towards his brother, who has picked himself up off the floor.
His voice is low and terrifying as he marches towards him with sinister intent.
“Who the fuck do you think you are coming into my house and laying your hands on my wife?” He thunders as he shoves his brother backwards.
Damion staggers and only just stays on his feet by gripping the edge of a bookcase.
“Grow the fuck up, Nevio. You don’t deserve a girl like that. Look at your fucking face. Look at her. She’s fucking gorgeous — and you — you look like something that should have died the moment it was born.”
Nevio swings his arm, and his fist connects with his brother’s jaw.
He doesn’t stop there, though. His brother is caught off guard, and one hit might have been enough to shake him, but Nevio is blind with rage. He keeps hitting.
His fists slamming against his brother’s face over and over again.
I stand up and run towards them, screaming at Nevio to stop.
He pauses when he hears me, his fist hovering above Damion’s face. Blood covering Damion’s skin and Nevio’s knuckles.
“You’ll kill him. Please, Nevio, stop.” I beg.
Damion laughs, a wet low sound, coated with blood.
“She’s wants me, man. She’ll trade me for your ugly fucking skin any day.”
Nevio pulls his arm back again, ready to punch, but I grab his elbow.
“He’s not worth it.” I whisper.
Nevio looks towards me with pain in his eyes.
I can tell that his brother’s taunts are something he has had to endure his entire life. The cold cruelty of his brother’s words stabbing into him.
I reach out and touch his cheek.
Nevio’s eyes soften as they gaze into mine.
He stands up, leaving his brother laying on the floor, coughing.
“You can let yourself out, asshole.” Nevio says, without turning to look at him.
All the commotion has drawn the attention of the guards from outside.
Two of them are standing at the doorway.
“You can make sure he leaves — as soon as he can stand.” Nevio says.
The guards nod and walk towards Damion.
Nevio pulls me into his arms and I grab his hand, looking at his knuckles, already turning a bright shade of blue.
“Let’s get some ice.” I say, pulling him towards the kitchen.
We both step past Damion without glancing in his direction.
What an asshole his brother is.
I shudder to think what would have happened if Nevio hadn’t arrived home when he did.
I push Nevio against the kitchen counter, taking control of the situation, wanting to take care of him the way he has taken care of me more than once.
Gently holding his hand in mine, I press a bag of frozen vegetables against his knuckles. He doesn’t even wince, and when I look up at him to see if he’s ok he has a slight grin on his face.
“What’s so funny?” I ask curiously.
“Nothing.”
“Then what are you smiling at?”
“You.” His smile grows wider and drops the frozen veggies as he pulls me into his arms to kiss me.