Chapter-5 Warning

Nico

Gianna was playing with fire, and she was going to get burned.

“I will destroy you if you allow me to get closer, Gianna,” I warned and I meant every word.

But somehow my gorgeous wife didn’t seem to be in the mood to listen. There was a determined glint in her eyes when she stepped closer and kissed me. It was brief, just a soft brush of her lips, but it evoked something inside me that suddenly wanted more. More of that sweet, warm taste of her.

I wasn’t a man driven by desire—control was my strength. But even the most controlled man has his needs. And Gianna, with her innocence, stirred something darker within me. The way she looked up at me, shy and submissive, ignited thoughts I shouldn’t have. But this was Gianna. I reminded myself of that every time she was near.

She deserved better than just wild sex.

“Destroy me…” she whispered.

A soft flush spread across her cheeks, her pupils widening as she looked at me. The room felt too hot, my shirt too tight. Desire coiled within me, threatening to break free.

Gianna had no idea what she was asking for, unaware of the danger I could be if I gave in. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us. Locking eyes, I tugged at her ponytail, letting her golden hair fall. She watched in silence as I wrapped the silky strands around my hand, tilting her head back, exposing her delicate throat.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” I murmured, my lips brushing against her jaw. She shivered in response, her hands clutching at my shirt, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

“Then show me…” she breathed. I had to bite back the growl that threatened to escape as she awoke that dominant, masculine part of me with her soft, seductive voice and sweet submission.

I lifted her onto her new white marble desk with a swift motion, stepping between her legs. Her dress rode up, exposing her smooth skin, and my body reacted instantly. I gripped her thighs, pulling her closer as my mouth claimed hers.

The kiss started soft, my lips brushing hers, but it quickly turned fierce. My hands slid up her thighs, moving deliberately as I deepened the kiss. Her skin felt like silk under my touch, and the thought of leaving my mark there stirred something deep inside me.

Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as I kissed her harder, my free hand tracing the curve of her waist. I kissed her hard, my tongue pressing against hers, demanding all of her because I didn’t do gentle.

“Nico…” She gasped my name like a sacred prayer. “I love you…”

I paused.

Gianna's eyes met mine, filled with trust and something deeper—something I didn’t deserve. In that moment, another face flashed in my mind. Dark eyes turned to captivating green, and golden hair shifted to a cascade of dark tresses.

“Nico…” I heard her voice in my head, and suddenly, my reality and my desires weren’t catching up anymore.

“Nico…” Gianna murmured, pulling me back. “Nico?”

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

“I can’t,” I rasped, stepping back as if burned. The dazed look in her eyes pierced me, but I forced myself to look away. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

Without saying a word, I turned and left the room, leaving her breathless and stunned. And I swear the last glimpse of hurt I caught in her eyes before I walked out was going to haunt me all day.

____________________

“You look like shit,” Caelian remarked as we headed to the shipping container yard where the last delivery was supposed to happen.

It has been a long day of dull business meetings, especially the one where Domani gave me an estimate of the losses we incurred in the last three months just because some motherfucker had grown the balls to mess with me. Money wasn’t the problem. It was the audacity, the underlying message. But all I could think about was the kiss in the study and Gianna’s pain as I ran away like a coward.

How the fuck was I going to face her again?

“What is it?” Caelian probed again. “Worried about the estimate Domani gave?”

“No, just tired,” I lied, undoing my tie. “It’s been a long day.”

“I told you to stay home,” he grumbled. “Spend time with your wife.”

“Stop pretending like you don’t know what this marriage is about Caelian,” I grumbled, closing my eyes. “And that lunatic has successfully managed to mess up three shipments worth millions of dollars. I can’t see how I don’t need to poke my big head.”

“I get it but I just want you to relax and be…” he looked lost momentarily and then shrugged. “Happy, I guess. And Gianna can help with that. If you let her…”

I couldn’t answer. I’d been in love with someone for eighteen years, thought we’d end up together. Then another man walked into her life, and she chose him. The pain still burned. I’d tried moving on, but I couldn’t shake it. The anger, the regret, it all lingered.

“Let’s focus on work,” I finally said, as the car pulled up in front of the abandoned shipping container yard.

Caelian gave me a defeated look but stayed quiet as we got out. The air was thick with the smell of iron and salt. I pulled out my vintage Colt Python, my trusted weapon, as Caelian signaled his men to sweep the area. It was dead silent. Despite the all-clear from his guys, we couldn't take chances. The rusted gate creaked as they kicked it open, then scattered inside, vanishing from sight.

“I hate this place,” Caelian hissed. “The salt makes my skin itch.”

“Maybe bring some lotion next time,” I rolled my eyes. Caelian held up his middle finger in response, the F word not making out of his lips as a raspy voice came through the Bluetooth piece.

“All good, boss,” Giulio said. He was Caelian’s right-hand man.

“Let’s go,” I muttered, eager to get this shit done with. I just needed to inspect the damage and see if we could trace hints of any old enemy lingering back again and then just fucking go home. I needed a long, steaming shower.

The deeper we went, the worse the smell. The containers cast long, dark shadows. Giulio appeared from the corner, gesturing us toward the end of the yard.

“It’s over here,” he said, his voice grim.

The container loomed ahead, its faded blue paint chipped and peeling, the massive metal doors slightly ajar. That alone made my blood boil. Whoever had done this didn’t even bother to cover their tracks. I gestured to Caelian, who signaled for two of his men to secure the area again

The stench hit me—chemical, metallic, with a sickly sweetness that made my jaw clench. Inside was chaos. Crates lay in splinters, drugs spilt in tainted mounds, some of it streaked with what I assumed was motor oil. The contents were deliberately ruined, almost as if someone wanted to send a message.

“Motherfucker,” I muttered, stepping inside to inspect.

“They didn’t just destroy it,” Caelian said, lifting a torn bag. “They made a spectacle of it.”

“Whoever did this is going to regret it,” I growled, my grip tightening on my gun.

“They wanted us to find it like this,” Caelian said. “It’s taunting.”

 “Boss…” Giulio interrupted. I turned, irritated beyond my limits as he pointed to something on the floor. My blood ran cold.

A symbol, painted in red, glaring up at me like a warning.

“What the fuck is this?” Caelian muttered.

I stepped back, my instincts screaming. Something was wrong.

“Get everyone out,” I ordered, my heart pounding. I bent down, spotting a worn coin in the dirt, the same symbol engraved on it.

“What does this mean?” Caelian asked, his voice tight.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. But I knew one thing for sure: A storm was coming.