• 24
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Four days since some idiot decided he wanted to die young.
Four days since he ran at Daria with a knife like he was hunting loose change instead of a girl. It's clear to say, he made the biggest mistake of his fucking life.
Finding him wasn't hard.
People like him never disappear.
Desperate men always come crawling back to the same shadows, hunting the same innocent ones.
He wasn't special.
Just a mugger willing to stab an innocent girl for a hundred bucks. He thought we looked rich. He thought she looked easy.
Very big mistake.
I didn't kill him.
No, death was far too merciful.
I made sure he would never hold a knife in his hand again. He begged, cried, snot running down his face.
Lucky for him, I was in a good mood.
He kept his life.
His hands didn't survive.
Now he'll spend the rest of his pathetic existence remembering what he tried to do. He will never threaten another woman again.
And Daria?
Daria will never have to worry about him, or anyone else, again. Not if I can help it.
Only then did I finally feel like I could breathe.
Which is perfect timing...
because today was Papa Costa's birthday event.
A gathering of kings, politicians, greeks, paparazzi.
A fucking parade of hypocrites.
Angelo parked beside the entrance, and the second Enzo climbed into the car, he was already smirking.
"So," he said, buckling his seatbelt, "are we cutting off anyone's hands today?"
I stared at him.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?"
He laughed. "Relax. You handle the violence. I handle the jokes. Balance."
"Just be quiet."
"Make me."
This guy. I glared out the window. "Keep pushing and I'll let Papa adopt you into the Greeks."
Enzo gasped. "You're definitely evil."
"Get out of my face," I said.
"So, so mean, big brother. " he muttered, but he was smiling.
He acts like a child to piss me off.
When we arrived, cameras exploded like fireworks.
The Greeks were already lined at the entrance.
And right in the middle?
Eirene Vlahos. She was tall and undeniably gorgeous.
Draped in silver.
She spotted me and latched onto my arm instantly.
"Nico," she purred. "You look great tonight."
Enzo leaned forward, grinning. "Hi, beautiful."
She ignored him.
He only smirked harder.
I leaned close to him and murmured, "Remember the plan."
He nodded once and slipped away.
Flash after flash went off.
"Nico!
Look here!
Beautiful couple!
Turn this way!
A match made in heaven!"
She smiled like she believed it.
I stood there like a statue wishing all their cameras would break. But tonight I wasn't a violent man. Only in the shadows.
Inside, the party was loud, rich, glittering.
Papa Costa was smiling, drinking, shaking hands, playing king. I wasn't in the mood. Eirene slid her hand along my suit sleeve.
"So, Nico," she said sweetly. "Are you ready to get engaged to me?"
I didn't bother pretending.
"No."
She blinked surprised. "No?"
"You're not getting engaged to me."
She recoiled slightly. "But... we were promised to each other."
"No," I corrected. "You were promised to a Costa man. Not me."
Her lips parted in confusion.
I leaned in, voice low. "Marrying me would be a mistake. I'd treat you terribly. Probably lock you inside every day. You wouldn't see anyone. I wouldn't even speak to you."
Her breath caught, offense, fear, anger. I almost chuckled.
"And my brother," I added, "would actually treat you like a human being."
I straightened.
Raised my chin.
"Enzo."
He appeared instantly, like he'd been waiting for the cue.
He flashed a wicked grin. "Don't worry, beautiful. My brother is a very, very terrible man."
She glanced between us, rattled. Enzo extended his arm. "Come. Dance."
After a second, she took it.
She walked away, tight smile on her lips.
I watched them for a moment and almost smiled.
Then I pulled out my phone.
One girl. The only one I actually cared about. I checked to see if Daria texted me.
Nothing.
But I kept the phone in my hand anyway.
Because after what happened in that parking lot...
I wasn't ready to let her go. Not even for a damn second.
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