Chapter Thirty-Eight-Anna
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT-ANNA
I don’t recognize the security guards standing outside the Vipers’ Den. But I haven’t met all of my husband’s people yet.
They must know Maria, cause they greet her and let us in.
I’ve been married to Nico for months, but I’ve only ever been in the Den twice. I don’t know who he’s told about me, or what anyone knows about me.
Suddenly, I feel foolish. Maybe surprising him isn’t such a good idea.
“What are you waiting for?” Maria smiles.
“Come on,” she says, tugging my arm.
But I feel sluggish and insecure. A sinking feeling is dragging me down, and it starts in the pit of my stomach .
I look for Nico among the scattered people. But first, I see Angel. He sees me, too.
Angel looks at me and his eyes go wide. He looks shocked. Like oh shit surprised.
It is not the kind of expression you make when you are happy to see someone. And that’s weird.
He starts to head my way, but before my husband’s cousin can reach me, I see him.
I see Nico, and a heavy weight lands right on my chest.
He’s standing with his elbow on the bar, his body angled towards someone, and he is leaning down.
I guess he is trying to hear what the other person is saying over the thumping bass of the music.
It is always so loud in here.
Then he straightens his back, and I see who he is talking to. It’s a woman. She’s pretty and young.
Really pretty and young.
And she’s looking at my man like the sun rises and sets on him. I take her in and pain begins deep in my soul.
She’s super thin and fit, like she spends all day exercising and tanning. She’s a knockout in a skimpy little getup and my mouth goes dry.
She is just the type of woman I could just imagine belonged with a man like Nico. And my heart cracks .
“Anna,” Angel starts.
His hands are up like he’s going to come between me and my destination. But I shake my head as a new emotion fills me.
Rage.
I take a step towards my husband.
Dirty. Lying. Cheating. Bastard.
Fury is his name, but he gave that name to me, and it is just so damn perfect for how I feel.
He looks so damn good. And it makes me even madder. My dark avenging angel of a husband is smiling at this stranger, and I want to scratch her eyes out.
And his. Mostly his.
The bass is really pounding now, or maybe that’s my heart as I stride across the floor. I’ve never felt like this.
Possessive and furious.
It’s like some comic book version of myself has been conjured from the depths of the fifth level of Hell and this new alter ego is bent on wreaking vengeance on him.
This man who belongs to me.
Images of the first time I ever saw him flit through my brain. I think of how he looked. Like a warrior. Tattooed and tall, his muscles rippling as he commanded me to get on all fours.
Heat pools in my belly and I’m shocked to feel arousal mixed with hurt.
The way Nico came at me that night, he was, well, he was divine. And my soul sang for him.
My body opened up like a flower at the slightest touch from his hands, and when he claimed me with his thick, heavy cock, I felt a freedom I had only ever dreamed of.
It scared me. So much so, I ran. But when I came back, when I needed protection, he gave it. He gave me his name. Took me to his home. Made me his.
He said he loved me.
Seeing him smile at this other woman is like a knife to my heart. The truth is so clear.
Nico is no angel come to take me to heaven.
He’s a snake.
A serpent slithering in the grass, just lying in wait. Like the one who tricked Eve into biting that goddamn apple.
I’m close now.
There are only a few feet separating us, but this woman has his attention, and he doesn’t seem to know I am there.
“—it’s why I came to Boston. I promise I’ll keep you safe. You’re my—what is it?” Nico says when her eyes look past him, landing on me.
He turns, and his blue eyes startle. He straightens his shoulders and his gaze rakes over me from head to toe.
“Guess I took the viper by surprise. I didn’t think that was possible,” I whisper, and my voice trembles.
“Anna—”
He moves like he’s going to touch me. But bile fills my throat at the thought of his hands on me after he’s touched her and I flinch, stopping him in his tracks.
I want to shout at him. To tell him to fuck off and drop dead. But I can’t speak, so I pivot on my heels, turning my back on him.
I bump into some man, and the idiot thinks it’s an invitation. He puts his hands on me, and I push against his chest.
“Where you going, Baby?” the stranger says right against my face, and the stink of alcohol makes me gag.
“Get the fuck off my wife!”
I hear Nico’s voice boom right behind me right before the asshole is pulled off me. This man must not know my husband, because he’s smiling at him with a smart ass reply .
Nico doesn’t hesitate. He just reacts. With one punch, he sends the man flying across the room.
My stomach twists. It’s some sort of sicko reaction to violence, I guess, because even though I am mad at him, it turns me on to see Nico defend me.
I’m so fucked up.
Chaos erupts. People start shoving and fighting. I know Nico is the boss. He shouldn’t be doing this so publicly.
I watch for a moment and see him pummel that guy’s face, his blue eyes blazing with vengeance.
Someone is yelling. Then Nico’s guys are there. I watch Angel pull my husband off the man. Then I turn around.
They can handle it. I just need to get away.
“Anna!” I hear him call my name again, but I am too lost in my own hurt to slow down.
“Anna, are you okay?” Maria shouts as I push past her and Angel.
I ignore her, too. I can’t look at her. I’ve been such a goddamn fool. Hot, angry tears roll down my face, but I don’t bother wiping them. I jog down the stairs, to the hallway I’m so fucking familiar with.
I need to get to the alley. To the car. Back to the condo. To our son. And once I get there, I have to pack .
I’m not stupid enough to think I can get away from Nico with his baby, but I won’t sleep in his bed.
Not now.
Not anymore.
Never again.
A sob wracks my body, and I stomp my feet and let out a short scream before grabbing the handle to the door leading to the alley.
That’s when a body slams into me from behind, and the air whooshes out of my lungs.
“Where do you think you’re going, Wife?”