Promise fulfilled! I’ll keep it up if you keep sending in your comments. I look forward to them as much as you look forward to the chapters. Tell me what you think. Xoxo💋
Chapter 142⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾Sylvia had done an excellent job patching me up last night.The memory of her fingers on my skin, the way she’d looked at me with such focused concern, that electrifying chair experience, it all made me smile without even realizing it as I walked down the stairs. Her gentle touch was definitely more effective than any doctor’s care. I found Vincenzo in the kitchen, already dressed and nursing a cup of coffee. He looked up as I entered, his eyes immediately going to my bandaged hand.“How’s it feeling?”“Like I got stabbed by a psychopath with commitment issues,” I said, pouring myself coffee. “But I’ll live.”“Lucky bastard. Still going out this morning?”I nodded, settling into the chair across from him. “Marcus Delacroix.”“The Crusty Room. Tribeca.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Laura seemed confident he could get us what we need.”“Laura seemed like she’d say anything to keep breathing.”“True. But her information checked out about the other location.
Chapter 141⟿❂⟾Sylvia⟿❂⟾I saw the exact moment his pupils dilated until his eyes were almost black, the way his breath caught in his throat like I’d just offered him salvation.“But you don’t have to if you don’t want—” he started again, but his voice cracked.“But I’m going to,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the thundering of my own heartbeat. “I’m going to put my mouth on you and make you forget everything else.”Still crouched on the floor, the towel forgotten, I let my eyes drift over his naked body slowly, taking in every detail. Water still clung to his chest, rolling down the defined ridges of his abs. His cock stood thick and hard before me, already weeping at the tip.“Sylvia…” he breathed. Just my name. A plea or a request.I reached out and wrapped my fingers around his shaft, and he jerked like I’d electrocuted him. His skin was burning hot, velvet over steel, and I could feel him pulse against my palm.“You’re so hard,” I murmured, stroking him slowly from
Chapter 140 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ I felt like a boy mum dragging her stubborn son to get cleaned after a rough day playing outside. “Watch the stairs,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Don’t lean too far to the side…” Nikolai looked at me with those dark eyes, and I could see the wariness there. The careful way he held himself, like he was afraid one wrong move might send me running. Again. “You don’t have to be so—” “I know I don’t have to.” I cut him off, then softened my tone. “But I want to. Please.” He nodded slowly, and I led him upstairs, hyperaware of every step, every breath. The house felt different with him hurt like this. More fragile somehow. In the bathroom, I flicked on the lights and gestured toward the counter. “Sit.” He perched on the edge of the marble countertop, and I could see the exhaustion in the way his shoulders sagged. Blood had soaked through his makeshift bandage, staining his shirt a dark rust color. “Let me see,” I said, moving closer. He li
Chapter 139⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾We moved fast, kicking in the door and flooding the room with our glorious presence.“Surprise,” I said pleasantly.There were four of them, just as Vincenzo had said. Three men and a woman, all armed, all turning toward us with expressions of shock and fear.“Drop your toys,” Vincenzo commanded.For a moment, nobody moved. Then the woman—blonde, pretty, cold-eyed, matching the description from earlier—smiled.“Nikolai Gianni,” she said. “We’ve been expecting you.”“Have you now?”“My employer is very interested in meeting you.”“Your employer can make an appointment.”“I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”“It never is.” I kept my gun trained on her. “You’re the one who hired those idiots at Leandro’s.”“I hire a lot of people. Not all of them are particularly bright.”“But you all work for Giancarlo.”Her smile widened. “Very good. Yes, we work for Mr. Giancarlo.”“And what does Mr. Giancarlo want with me?”“Not you. The girl.”“Sylvia’s not available.”“She
Chapter 138 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ I stood up, wiping my hands on my jeans. The blood from my arm was starting to make me feel cold. Man, I fucking hate the sight of my own blood. “Where were you supposed to bring us?” “There’s an address.” He gestured weakly toward his jacket pocket. “In my wallet.” Vincenzo retrieved it, pulling out a piece of paper. “Looks like an address upstate. About two hours from here.” “Perfect.” I looked down at the wounded man. “You know what? I’m feeling generous today. Your friends are going to live, and so are you. But you’re going to give them a message for me.” “What message?” “Tell your boss that if he wants Sylvia, he’s going to have to come through me. And tell him that I’m not nearly as nice as I was today.” “That’s… that’s your idea of nice?” “Trust me, you don’t want to see me on a bad day.” I turned to Vincenzo. “We need to get out of here. Those sirens are getting closer.” “What about Leandro?” I looked at the old man, who was still slu
Chapter 137 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ The lead man’s smile widened, and I felt that familiar surge of adrenaline I’d been craving for days. Finally. Something to sink my teeth into. “You know what?” I said, my hand steady on my gun. “That's a very nasty smile you have there, buddy.” Vincenzo snorted beside me. “About fucking time. I was starting to think I’d died and gone to heaven.” “Gentlemen,” Leandro tried again, his voice taking on that mystical bullshit tone he used when he was nervous. “Perhaps we can—” “Shut up, Leandro.” I kept my eyes on the lead man. “So, what exactly do you think I have that belongs to your boss?” “You know what we want,” he said, taking a step closer. “The girl. And the jewelry.” Interesting. So they knew about both. But which one was the priority? “The girl’s not here,” I said truthfully. “Then you’ll take us to her.” “Will I?” I tilted my head. “And if I refuse?” The man by the door shifted, and I caught the glint of metal under his jacket. The one