Chapter 16 | Nick
Nick
My heart leapt into my throat when I saw Alexis collapse, and I rushed toward her. Gently smacking her cheek, I tried to wake her.
“Alexis? Alexis! Come on, princess. Fuck!”
I lifted her in my arms, positioning her against my cold body as I continued down the route.
Her head and legs hung limp, and fear coursed through my veins.
Her lips were slightly blue, and I wondered why she hadn’t said anything.
If she’d been that cold, we certainly could’ve stopped and tried to warm her up.
Furious with myself for missing the signs of her obvious distress, I walked as quickly as I could. Several minutes later, I heard a horn beeping incessantly in the distance, and I knew it must be Joaquin.
I rushed toward the sound, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw the plowed road appear at the exit of the snowy woods. Jogging toward the SUV, I opened the back door as Joaquin stepped out from behind the wheel.
“What happened?”
“She fainted,” I said, gently placing Alexis in the back seat and crawling in to rest her head on my lap. “Get us to the cabin as soon as you can.”
Joaquin drove quickly as I continued to tap Alexis’s cheek. She remained unconscious, but the pulse beat regularly in her neck, so I considered that a good sign. Once we arrived at the cottage that Michael owned, I carried her inside and lay her on the couch.
“Run some warm water in the tub,” I said, and Joaquin pointed to Enzo, who’d accompanied him on the trip to look for us. Enzo rushed toward the upstairs bathroom to start the water.
“I’m going to take her to the upstairs bedroom and get this stuff off her so I can put her in the tub.”
Joaquin’s eyebrows lifted, as if he suspected my reaction was more than just pure concern, and I shook my head. “Not the time to make this about anything else but getting her warm,” I said, a warning in my voice.
“Understood,” he said with a slight nod. “I’ll clean out the fireplace and refresh the logs.”
“Thanks.”
I carried Alexis upstairs and placed her on the bed. Working quickly, I removed the layers of clothes, garbage bags and the gun I’d given her. Once she was left in her underwear and t-shirt, I called to Enzo.
“Is the bath ready?”
“Yes!”
“Head downstairs. I’ll take care of her.”
I heard Enzo’s footsteps echo on the stairs and carried Alexis to the bathroom. Once inside, I closed the door and lowered her into the warm water. Her t-shirt soaked through immediately, and my arm got tangled in it as I tried to maneuver her.
“Fuck this,” I muttered before yanking off her shirt.
I gently pushed her body into the water, making sure it covered her up to her neck. Her eyelids fluttered and I lightly slapped her cheek again.
“Alexis? Hey, wake up, princess. Come on. You’re warm now.”
Her eyes slowly opened and she turned her head, her eyes unfocused as she blinked. She licked her lips and swallowed, her throat bobbing as she looked around the unfamiliar space.
“We’re at one of Michael’s cabins,” I said, encircling her wrist beneath the water to console her. “You’re safe. We made it.”
She moved her mouth, trying to speak as she licked the roof. Finally, she locked those green eyes on mine and whispered something I couldn’t understand.
“What, sweetheart? It’s okay. I’m here. You don’t have to talk.”
She licked her parched lips again, and I thanked the lord they were now back to the pink color I’d dreamed about every night since I met her.
“Nick?” she whispered softly.
“Yes?”
Clearing her throat, she rasped, “If you wanted to see my boobs, you could’ve just asked me.”
Joyful laughter leapt from my throat as I leaned closer, pressing my forehead to hers. “God, woman, you scared me to death. Why didn’t you tell me you were freezing inside the layers? We could’ve stopped.”
“And done what? Sat in the snow? No, thanks.”
Lifting my head, I tenderly cupped her cheek as I stared into those limitless eyes. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. I can’t lose you. Jesus, I think I had seven heart attacks over the past twenty minutes.”
“Only seven?” her lips formed a cute pout.
Chuckling, I sat beside the tub, content to just be with her as she warmed up. Her skin eventually regained its color, even turning a nice rosy pink from the warmth, and I smiled.
“Okay, I’m going to let you have some privacy. I’ll go find some dry clothes for you and put them on the bed. The bedroom’s outside to the right. There’s a towel on the back of the door.”
Her lips curled into a smile that was part innocence and part lascivious. “You haven’t looked once. I’m both proud and disappointed.”
Unable to deny us both, I slowly lowered my hand from her cheek, grazing my palm over the valley between her breasts. I cupped her breast in my palm, testing the weight against my skin before gently running my thumb over her nipple beneath the water.
Alexis gasped, and I told myself to stop before I fucked her right here in the damn bathtub. I was overjoyed she was okay, and wanted nothing more than to hold her...and claim her...but now certainly wasn’t the time.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whispered before removing my hand and letting her go. I kissed her forehead and stood. “Relax and take as long as you need. It’s dark outside, so we’ll stay here tonight and head home tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
She looked like a sultry mermaid, floating in the water as wet tendrils of dark hair framed her face. I took a mental snapshot, knowing I’d never be able to forget this moment; how close I’d come to losing her, and how she’d made me laugh when she recovered to let me know she was okay.
I exited the bathroom, closing the door behind me and leaning back against it. Heaving a sigh of relief, I rested my hand over my heart, grateful she was okay.
Joaquin approached, curiosity in his gaze as he held out some clothes.
“Bianca gave these to us for Alexis to wear when we found you all.”
“Perfect,” I said, taking them so I could set them on the bed for her. “Thanks for coming to find us. It’s been rough. John Armetta is a fucking asshole, and I can’t wait to murder him.”
“Too late. Michael got him on tape admitting he didn’t give a shit about his men. Left him in the warehouse on Atlantic and Hoyt, and he was...taken care of.”
“No shit. And what about his loyalists? Rossi’s loyalists?”
Joaquin pursed his lips. “Most of them pledged their loyalty to Michael after that. The ones who are left have hits out on them. I don’t think Michael wanted it to come to that, but he can’t leave them alive.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck, admitting this was a good reminder why Alexis wanted out of my world. Sometimes death was the only justice in the mafia, and that was a truth that would never change.
“You gonna tell Bianca you’re in love with her daughter?”
My eyes narrowed as I shot him a glare.
“Got it,” he said, showing his palms. “That topic is off limits.”
“Off limits as fuck,” I said, my tone deadly serious. “Not a fucking word, Joaquin. We clear?”
“Clear as rain, Nick.” He backed away and headed down the stairs. “Enzo and I are cooking dinner. We’ll have some ready for you both when you come down.”
I allowed my glare to linger, letting him know I meant business before walking to the bedroom and placing the clothes on the bed for Alexis.
Sighing, I realized that my feelings for Alexis were going to be a huge fucking problem. If Joaquin had seen them that easily, then any of my enemies could.
And that was something I couldn’t allow, because it would make the world extremely dangerous for the woman I cared about very deeply in every crevice of my soul.
My shoulders slumped as I trailed down the stairs; my body inwardly recoiling at what I knew I had to do.
Tomorrow, we’d return home, back to reality and to our futures.
And when we were home safely, I’d have to do the right thing and let her go...