CHAPTER XXXVII
T he image of Nico’s murderous expression still haunted me, which was why I waited a few minutes to send Miguel a text message from Nico’s phone to give me a head start.
Deep down, I knew Nico would break free and come after me.
A part of me was excited for what was to come.
This was the first time I’d felt exhilarated and empowered since I was taken.
I flagged down a taxi. When it came to a stop, I slid into the back seat and greeted the older driver with a smile.
“Where you headed, sweetheart?” he asked.
I gave him the address, pulled out my phone, and called Tabi.
“Date already over?” Tabi answered, her voice lively on the other end. I could practically picture her mischievous grin.
“Well, you tell me. I just handcuffed a mafia king to the bed.” I fastened my seatbelt with a snap, my hands trembling slightly as flashes of his shocked expression and the spark of fury in his eyes replayed in my mind.
The driver shot a glance at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes widening.
“Are you out of your mind?” Tabi exclaimed, laughter bursting through her words.
“Yeah, I think I might be.” I chuckled.
“Gigi, he’s going to kill you!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, but you should have seen his face. It was worth it.”
There was a brief pause on her end. “You finally sound happy since you’ve been back,” she remarked, her tone softer.
I smiled. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“So, where are you going?” Tabi questioned.
“My place,” I said.
Tabi fell silent.
“What?” I asked. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Yeah, about that. You can’t go back to your apartment.”
“Why not?” I asked, my pulse quickening.
“Because you don’t have it anymore?” She sounded cautious.
“What do you mean I don’t have it anymore?” Confusion mingled with a creeping sense of dread.
“He paid off the rent for the rest of your lease and packed everything up. It’s all in storage.” Tabi spoke quickly as the driver stopped at a red light.
“He what ?”
“He just wants to take care of you and keep you safe. You know how he is?—”
“You mean controlling?” I interrupted, my heart racing. “This isn’t taking care of me, Tabi. This is him trying to control my life.”
“I know Nico can be... intense, but maybe he thinks he’s doing what’s best for you.”
“Says who, Tabi? Since when is it okay for Nico to dictate my choices? Has he forgotten that my choices were taken from me when I was captured?” I whispered so the driver couldn’t hear.
“I get it, Gigi. I really do. But Nico loves you. He just wants to protect you. He thinks that living together will keep you safe,” Tabi added, her voice gentle yet firm.
“I’m not made of glass. I can take care of myself,” I shot back.
“I know you can. But with everything that’s happened lately, it’s understandable that he’s worried.”
I let out a defeated sigh. “Tabi, I don’t want to feel like I’m being suffocated.”
“Then talk to him,” Tabi urged.
My head fell back against the seat, and I stared out the window at the blurred city lights, trying to block out the urge to scream and cry.
Tabi’s voice cut through the quiet. “He blames himself for what happened to you, Gigi. He’ll never forgive himself for that. I know it sounds crazy, but at the end of the day, he has your best intentions at heart.”
I hated to admit it, but I knew he did. I just didn’t like it.
The car jerked to a sudden stop, the tires screeching. I instinctively gripped the back of the front seat.
“Oh, shit!” the driver yelled.
“What the hell was that?” I shouted. My eyes darted ahead, and my stomach dropped when I saw two black cars, their windows heavily tinted, blocking our way.
“Gigi! What’s happening?” Tabi yelled through the phone.
I stole a look in the rearview mirror. My heart plummeted as I saw Nico erupt from his car, storming toward us with a fierce intensity that sent a chill down my spine. There was a determined fury in his stride, one that suggested he was ready to murder me.
NICO
I stormed toward the car, my anger fueling every step, and wrenched open the back door. “Out. Now .”
She reached for the door handle, but I firmly stopped it from closing by gripping the edge of the window. “Get the fuck out of the car, Gigi.”
“Excuse me, sir—” the cab driver started, but I silenced him with a deadly stare.
Turning back to my little angel, I snarled, “If you don’t get your ass out of this car, I’m going to drag you out.”
She paused, probably not wanting me to throw her in the trunk like the first time. I was surprised when she willingly stepped out of the car, slamming the door with more force than necessary.
She lifted her chin as if she were challenging me. I stepped closer, our noses almost touching, and hissed, “I suggest you don’t make a scene.”
She glared at me but said nothing as if she was waiting to see what I would say next.
“Get in the car,” I ordered, pointing toward my ride.
She pressed her hands firmly against my chest, the unexpected push forcing me backward just enough that I stumbled back a step.
I watched her sashay her ass to my car, every movement oozing attitude.
“Pay the driver!” she shot back and slammed the passenger door.
I worked my jaw and turned to my men. “If she tries anything, restrain her.” They nodded.
I strolled around to the driver's side of the cab, tapping my knuckles on the window. Pulling out a crisp hundred-dollar bill from my wallet, I held it out for him. “This is for your troubles,” I said.
He took it, his hands shaking slightly, but I paused just a moment, keeping the bill anchored between us. “And to keep your mouth shut.”
His eyes widened, and he stammered, “Yes, sir,” as he finally accepted the money.
I waited until his car disappeared, and walked down the road before I made my way back. Just as I reached my vehicle, Miguel stepped into my path.
“Yelling at her isn’t going to win you any favors,” he remarked.
I couldn’t control it. The woman made me feel insane. Her defiance and attitude triggered a storm of emotions inside me, stirring up fierce and chaotic feelings like a violent tornado. Gigi consumed me and ignited a desire to obliterate everything in my path.
“Mind your business, Miguel. I’ll see you back at the house,” I replied.
“Yes, sir.”
Taking a deep breath, I marched toward my angel, who was fuming. I curled my fingers around her soft chin and turned her face toward me. “You will pay for the little stunt you pulled back there.”
She yanked her face from my hold and stared straight ahead. Knowing this wasn’t going to go anywhere, I slammed her door.
I threw myself into the driver’s seat and skidded off without bothering with my seatbelt. I was too worked up, and having something restraining me wasn’t going to hold back the beast inside that was full-on raging.
For ten minutes, there was nothing but silence. I turned to glance at her occasionally, silently pleading for her to say something, anything at all. But she remained quiet, simply gazing out the damn window.
I wanted to tell her how I admired the way she commanded every situation and how she held power over me.
But the truth was that she had taken a big risk by leaving without me or the guards.
The idea of someone snatching her away again sent a chill through my bones.
I couldn't bear losing her again. Didn’t she understand that?
“I think you’re making a big deal out of nothing,” she said nonchalantly, breaking the silence.
I didn’t know what to say. Deep down somewhere in my black soul, I might agree with her, but that day was not today.
There was a pause for another beat until she spoke again.
“I want to go home.”
“I am taking you home,” I replied, turning right at the light.
“No, Nico. Not your home.”
I looked at her. “What are you talking about?”
“My apartment.”
I sighed and rubbed my hand down my face. It was going to be another fight, and I was too fucking tired to deal with that shit. “Not happening.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“Tough shit,” I snapped. “Your home is with me. End of discussion.”
“Fine. I’ll just order an Uber home.”
I started to laugh even though I was pissed. “No, you won’t.”
“You’re such an asshole.” She chuckled softy but it came out sounding angry.
“That’s nothing new,” I muttered. “Just spit out whatever you want to say to me.”
She was quiet for a minute. “I know what you did.”
“You have to be more specific, baby.”
“You broke the lease to my apartment.”
I briefly glanced at her before turning back to the road. “Yes, I did.” There was no point in lying to her.
“You are unbelievable!” she yelled. “You had no right, Nico.”
“The fuck I didn’t!” I yelled back. “Did you honestly think I would allow you to go back to living alone after what happened to you?”
“Allowed? I’m not your fucking property!”
“You belong to me!” I smacked the steering wheel. “I will take care of you. I will protect you. I will fuck you. And I will lock you up in the room if you as so much as to try to leave me.”
“You know, you keep saying you’ll protect me, but where was it when I fucking needed it!”
“I know!” I shouted. “I know, okay!” I breathed heavily, trying to calm my pulse. “You don’t have to remind me that I fucked up. I know I did, but I’m trying to make up for it.”
“I don’t want you to make up for it.”
“Then what?” I roared, smacking the steering wheel again. “What do you want from me? Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”
She took a shaky breath. “I just want to forget it ever happened and move on.”
I kept glancing at her, trying to decipher her emotions. Then I saw the tears.
I got off the exit to our home and drove down the road until I found an empty parking lot. I pulled over and turned the ignition off. I looked in the rearview mirror and noticed Miguel had followed along but parked at a distance.
“Come here,” I demanded.
She looked at me hesitantly, like she wasn’t sure what I was going to do to her. “Baby, I’m hanging by a thread here.”
She crawled over the console and straddled me, keeping her hands to the sides.
I gripped her waist and tried not to let it wake up my dick, but he had other things in mind.
“Do you love me?” I peered up at her.
“Yes.”
“Do you want me?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s all that matters right now.” I squeezed her hips. “I will do whatever I can to help you get past what happened to you. But you have to stop fighting me on it.”
She tilted her head and just stared at me.
“Don’t you think I groveled enough?” I smirked at her, earning a grin.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Are you done punishing me?” I asked.
“I haven’t punished you, not really,” she said with a shrug.
“Not making me come twice is punishment,” I growled. “It’s fucking torture, and I’ve got blue balls now.”
She laughed, and it was the best sound I’d heard in a long time.
“I love you,” I whispered, running my hands up and down her back.
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “And I love you.” Hearing her say those words back to me made my heart settle down.
“I would rip this dress off and fuck you if I could.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” she said in a sultry voice.
A groan erupted from me, and I squeezed her closer. “Don’t fucking tease me.”
“Why not?” She gave me a wicked smile and started to grind her hips on my throbbing dick.
I laid my head back and helped her with the movements. “Are you going to make me come in my pants again?”
She leaned forward and took my lower lip and sucked it. “Yes.”
“Fuck that. You’re coming on my cock.” I lifted her ass up, making her squeal. “Unbutton my pants and take it out.”
“I thought I was in control,” she purred.
“Not right now you’re not.”
She did as I asked, unfastening my belt and zipper. She then wrapped her small hands around my dick and pulled it out. Without a second thought, I grabbed her hips and pushed her down on my cock.
“Fuck,” I hissed.
Firmly gripping her waist, I guided her up and down on my cock.
“I bet you’re glad I’m not wearing any underwear,” she said breathlessly.
I snarled. “Don’t.” Thrust. “Ever.” Thrust. “Do.” Thrust. “That.” Thrust. “Again.” Three more thrusts and I exploded in her. I held onto her and shoved my dick further in, filling her with my cum.
She collapsed on my chest, and I buried my face in her hair, taking in her rosy scent that I had missed so much.
“Let’s go home.” I nipped her neck.
She pulled back and smiled with a lazy, sexy look. “Okay.”
She lifted herself off my lap and plopped in the passenger seat. I tucked myself back into my pants, ignoring the stickiness, and drove my girl home to where she belonged.
With me.