Chapter 18
Eighteen
Nikki
“You surprise me, love.” I tilt my head, gesturing for him to come closer with one finger.
Dante secures the office door and lifts me out of his chair, planting my ass on the edge of his desk.
He nudges my knees apart, standing between them.
“How is that?” he whispers against my neck, his breath tickling my skin before kissing a warm trail behind my ear.
“You continue to scare Harper, all the while playing the two of us.” I yank on Dante’s tie and bring his mouth to mine.
I don’t kiss him.
“You didn’t tell me everything while she was in here. What did you leave out?”
I wait for Dante to explain everything.
Already, from Harper, I know that my son had his ribs smashed in, from my brother or his men. Same difference.
Dante has failed to mention that my son was injured on the job. I had to bring it up. What else is he hiding from me?
His lips hover over mine. “Nothing of importance, kitten.”
He leans closer, and I scoot backward on the desk. “You can’t lie to me. I can just go ask Moreno. He will be truthful if you won’t.”
Dante’s eyes glower, and he pulls back, glancing up at the ceiling.
I know how to get under his skin.
“Moreno is my second in command. He answers to me.” His tongue darts out, grazing the corner of his lips. It’s something he does when he’s deep in thought and holding back from me.
I cross my legs, my feet pushing him farther away.
“Were you going to tell me that my son was assaulted on one of your missions?” I snarl at him. “It’s been months since the attack. You should have told me the truth!”
“Why? So, you would worry that Massimo is out there, threatening our family? I’m taking care of it.”
Wincing, I shake my head. “I know that look. You’re leaving something out.”
Dante is silent for a long moment.
It stretches onward.
Is he really not going to answer me?
I climb off the desk and saunter toward the office door.
He grabs my wrist, pulling me back into his arms. “Where do you think you’re going, kitten?”
“To get answers. If you’re not going to give them to me, your men will.” I tug out of his grasp, but his hands fall to my waist, his touch warm, sensual.
I’ve been married long enough to know what he’s trying to do—distract me.
Dante may be their superior, but they fear me almost as much as they fear him. There isn’t much they keep from me, and whatever he’s hiding will come out.
“Massimo threatened Harper and Zeke. When Luca was assaulted at the cabin, he made a vow to tear apart the family.”
I back away, stumbling into the door. By the look on Dante’s face, he’s said everything that he’s kept silent about for months.
“He must be stopped.” My eyes glisten just thinking about that little boy, Zeke.
“It’s already been set into motion. Relax, kitten. I have it handled. Harper and Zeke are safe under our roof. We have two of the strongest men here to protect the family.” He’s referring to Moreno and himself.
It makes sense why Moreno stayed behind. Quite often, he’s leading the charge, with the capo following his orders.
“You sent our son to stop Massimo. He’ll get himself killed!”
Luca should have remained here as well, protecting his family, not fighting for ours. I storm out of the office and run into Moreno, who has the phone to his ear.
“Is my son on that call?” I interrupt, not caring that he ranks well above me.
I don’t follow the mafia chain of command.
Moreno’s gaze tightens on me. He covers the mouthpiece. “It’s Halsey, giving me an update. Would you like me to relay a message to Luca for you?”
“Tell Halsey if anything happens to my boy, he’s dead.”
“Nikki,” Dante’s voice is enchanting, but it doesn’t work on me. “Come back to the office. Let’s talk.”
I sway my hips, wandering to the stairs, and Dante hurries out of the office and pounces on me, not even letting me make it up the steps. He pulls me around to face him, his arms tightly wrapped around my body, keeping me from moving.
“You’re a fucking wild child.”
I smirk, well aware of what ticks him off. “What are you going to do about it?”
He growls and kisses me before throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me up two flights of stairs.
I’m surprised we make it to the hallway, but we don’t make it into the bedroom.
His mouth is on my neck, his fingers tearing at my clothes, desperate, frenzied, and fueled with passion.