Chapter 14
Nico had never touched drugs. His need for control simply wouldn’t allow it.
But the joy on River’s face when she saw that ring was a drug he could easily become addicted to. Especially if she ever looked at him like that.
Realistically, he probably didn’t have to worry about that. Not after everything she’d been through. Wouldn’t stop him from trying, though. Which made him, what? A masochist?
“So, what now?”
Nico glanced down at River to find her smiling up at him. “Wherever you’d like to shop.”
A frown line crossed her smooth brow. “Shop for what?”
Well, hell. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Clothes, handbags, accessories…anything you’d need to convince anyone you’re marrying into the mafia.”
“Oh. You mean my clothes aren’t good enough for you?”
His heart skipped a beat. Damn it! This is exactly what he’d been afraid of.
He’d hurt her feelings, and he didn’t even give a shit what she wore!
He was going to beat the fuck out of Van when he saw him next for even putting this stupid fucking idea in his head to begin with.
First, he was going to rip the bastard’s arm off. Then, he was going to—
River barked out a laugh that ended in a snort, then elbowed him in the ribs. “I’m just kidding. You should see your face! Seriously, though, I get it. If this ring is my new style bar, my current clothes are just not there.”
Nico let out a gusty sigh. Jesus. The emotional whiplash this woman gave him was going to kill him. Although he couldn’t say he didn’t enjoy this more playful side of her. “You nearly gave me a heart attack, fiorellino.”
“Sorry.” But she didn’t sound sorry at all, which made him smile. “So, where should I shop? What should I buy?”
That wiped the smile right off his face. “I actually have no idea.”
She glanced down at her athletic pants and hooded sweater jacket. “Well, we might have a problem then, because obviously, neither do I.” She shrugged. “Clothes have never been that important to me.”
“You’re beautiful in whatever you decide to wear,” he said. “But if we need to put on a show…”
She waved him off. “It’s fine. Really. I’m just not sure how to proceed. I mean, it’s not like I can Google ‘how to dress like a mafia wife’ and get any appreciable results.” Her gaze shifted over him. “You have good style. Where do you shop?”
He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had to go in search of his own clothes. “I don’t shop. The tailor just shows up at my house, but he only does menswear.”
“Well…are there, like, rich people consultants or something?”
It occurred to him then that he did know someone who could blend into any situation and always knew the right things to say.
Someone who had the kind of expensive taste any mafia wife would appreciate.
Someone who could lie like it was a paid job and pull off any con, no matter how crazy or Mission Impossible-like.
Someone he really didn’t want to call.
But at the end of the day, he didn’t see any way around it. He sighed. “I know someone who might be willing to help,” he admitted. “But I have to go home and lock up my watch first.”
She frowned at him. “Why?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he grumbled.
Nico’s expert on rich people was the most gorgeous woman River had ever seen in real life.
Describing her beauty was easy. Stormy gray eyes, a thick cascade of wavy red hair, skin that made porcelain look coarse. Tenley Taylor was objectively stunning.
But what really made Tenley stand out was her energy. She didn’t just walk into a room—she stormed it and claimed it as her own. She was smart, observant and cunning, with the confidence of a man twice her size.
A force of nature. That’s what she was. A five-foot-two hurricane in stilettos and a designer pencil skirt that could either be your best friend, or a living nightmare depending on what kind of mood she was in.
Fortunately for River, she seemed to be in a good mood today.
And while part of her was a little envious of the woman’s obvious attributes, the smile Tenley was giving her wiped all the negative feelings aside.
“So,” Tenley said, ignoring the couch to sit on the corner of Nico’s desk. “What’s the job?”
River raised her index finger. “That’d be me. I need a new wardrobe.”
Tenley shot a severe frown at Nico. “Why would you tell her that? She looks great.”
He raised his hands in supplication. “I agree! She’s gorgeous in whatever she’s wearing. But if we’re to convince the Russian mafia that she’s my fiancé, they’ll expect her to look the part.”
Tenley shifted her scrutiny back to River. “And you want this, right? You swear he’s not forcing you?”
The intensity of Tenley’s scrutiny was daunting.
River would bet her life savings (which, sadly, was about forty-two cents at the moment) that if she lied, Tenley would know.
“I mean, marriage to a stranger isn’t ideal, but it’s better than death, which is the most likely alternative in this scenario.
Nico is just trying to protect me, and I appreciate that. ”
Tenley’s frown got even frownier. “I’m not sure I like the idea of a forced mafia marriage.” She turned back to Nico. “And why did you agree to this instead of, like, pawning her off on one of your lieutenants?”
Nico had the strongest grip on his emotions—and his poker face—of any person on the planet.
Of that, River was sure. He was the coolest of the cool.
She’d seen him stare down Alexi (who looked like a nightmare from the deepest pits of hell) without so much as a flicker of unease. But the look he was giving Tenley?
Terrifying.
“She’s mine,” he said through obviously gritted teeth. “Anyone who even thinks of touching her—including any of my lieutenants—will die screaming.”
River gulped. Son of bitch. That was intense. Possessive in a way that should’ve have had her inner feminist wanting to let loose the dogs of war. But also…
It was hot. So fucking hot she considered excusing herself for a quick wardrobe change.
Starting with her panties.
Tenley didn’t seem scared or turned on, though.
She just slow blinked at Nico for a few seconds until her face split into the widest grin River had ever seen.
Then, she chuckled and said, “Okay, mafia boy, I see how it is.” She clapped his shoulder in a very dude-bro way and added, “I’ll take your girl shopping. ”
He frowned at her. “I have no idea what you think you see, but—”
“You think she’s gorgeous,” Tenley sing-songed in a shockingly good impression of Sandra Bullock’s character in Miss Congeniality. “You want to hug her. You want to love her. You want to smooch her...” she trailed off, making kissy noises that had River biting her lip to stifle a snort-laugh.
“You know no one likes you, right?” Nico deadpanned.
Tenley grinned at River. “Notice how he didn’t deny it?”
She had indeed noticed that. He’d admitted to being fascinated by her, but she’d kind of assumed his fascination stemmed more from curiosity than lust. And she’d assumed the sexual interest he had expressed was more generalized.
As in, he was a hot-blooded guy who could and would have sex whenever asked.
But was he truly attracted to her? Her? The whole thing made her feel very…confused. And warm. Was it especially warm in here? Good grief, she was starting to sweat. She’d been kidding about the wardrobe change, but it might not be such a bad idea after all.
Nico pinched the bridge of his nose like he was tired of the room and everyone in it. “So, your answer was yes? You’ll take her?”
Tenley rolled her eyes. “Of course I will. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. I have it all under control.”
“And somehow that makes me feel worse,” he muttered.
“You’re absolutely no fun, Fortunado. When did you turn into such an old lady?”
“Since I met you.”
River’s gaze bounced between them like she was watching a tennis match.
She was pleased to note she no longer harbored any jealousy.
Tenley was gorgeous, smart, hilarious, and obviously well-versed in pop culture, but the one thing she wasn’t was romantically interested in Nico.
They bickered like siblings and, oddly enough, that made River like her even more.
Tenley ignored his smart-ass comment and offered River a wide grin so infectious she smiled back.
“Don’t you worry, either. We’ll find clothes you love that are as comfortable as your favorite leggings, but fancy enough to make the Russian mafia think you’re spending every penny of Nico’s money, which is exactly what a real fiancée would do. ”
Comfortable and fancy? Seemed unrealistic. But River didn’t voice her skepticism out of respect for Tenley. “I really do appreciate your help.”
“Hey, I’m always up for a shopping trip.”
From the doorway, Van cleared his throat. “Boss, how many men do you want me to send with them?”
Nico snorted. “When she’s around?” he asked, gesturing to Tenley. “None. They’ll be fine.”
“Aw,” Tenley said, reaching out to pinch Nico’s cheek. “You trust me to protect the woman you lurv.”
He swatted her hand away. “To protect her? Yes. But if you steal anything from her, I’ll destroy you.”
She looked genuinely offended. “Gross. I don’t steal from women.”
He shot her a pointed stare.
Another eye roll. “Fine. That’s a lie. I have stolen from a woman before. But only the bitch who was trying to steal my husband. She deserved it.”
Seemed reasonable to River. Must’ve made sense to Nico too, because he gave her a nod. “Fine.” Then he turned to Van. “You have the tracking app on her phone, right?”
“Yeah,” Van said, eyeing Tenley like she was a tornado bearing down on his house. “If they go off-grid, I can find them. Both of them.”
“How very stalker-y of you, Van. I’m flattered,” Tenley said with a smirk and a fluttering of lashes.
For the first time since she’d met him, Van looked a little uncomfortable.
Clearly, Tenley had knowledge to offer on topics other than fashion, because if a tiny woman like her was good enough to protect her against the Russian mafia and she made Van nervous?
Well…that was a woman River needed to spend way more time with.
Tenley threw an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s ditch these stiffs and do some damage.”
“Be careful,” Nico said.
“I’m always careful,” Tenley said.
“Fiorellino.”
She turned back to find Nico staring intently at her.
“Have fun.”
His mouth didn’t smile. It looked as stern as ever. But his eyes? Those were smiling in a way that made her feel like she was seeing a part of him he hid from the rest of the world but trusted her with.
“I will,” she answered shyly.
“Aren’t you going to ask for my credit card?” he asked Tenley when they were more than halfway to the door.
Tenley whipped a black card out of her cleavage and held it up for his inspection. “You already gave it to me.”
His eyes narrowed. “No, I didn’t.”
She shrugged. “Bygones.”
As they were making their way out the front door, River heard Nico ask Van what was wrong. Van replied, “She stole my watch. Again.” Nico’s reply was a deep, world-weary sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his soul.
The unrepentant twinkle in Tenley’s eyes told River she had indeed managed to steal Van’s watch and Nico’s credit card without them having a clue she’d done it.
“I think you’re awesome,” River blurted.
Tenley winked at her. “Yeah. I get that a lot.”