~NICO~The minute I walk into the courtyard, the noise hits me like a punch.Screams, whistles and laughter.All for them.Vincenzo and Riccardo.My brothers.I watch as girls practically claw at each other just to get a closer look. Some are whispering my name too, but most of the attention isn’t on me anymore…..it’s on them.Vincenzo stands like a damn statue…. sharp jaw, cold eyes, not a single emotion slipping through. One glare from him, and half the girls take a step back like they’ve just remembered he’s dangerous.Typical Vincenzo, the kind of guy who doesn’t need to say a word to make people afraid of him.Riccardo’s different. He's silent, steady, and way too calm. He’s got that quiet intensity that makes people want to know what’s going on in his head. He doesn’t even have to look at them, and they still melt.It’s annoying.No, scratch that. It’s infuriating.Because standing a few feet away, I catch Elena staring at them like she’s forgotten how
~ELENA~Screams echo across the courtyard, high-pitched and chaotic. For a second, I think someone’s gotten hurt or maybe there is a fight happening out there.“What the hell??” I murmur, my pulse racing as I dash out with Gianna and Valentina, until I hear the words that freeze me in place.“They’re here! Oh my God, there are two more of him!”And then I see them.My breath catches in my throat.Standing right in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by what looks like half the female population of Aurelia University, are Vincenzo and Riccardo.For a second, I think I’m hallucinating. But no, that sharp, cold stare that could slice steel… that’s Vincenzo. And the one with the smirk that looks like sin carved into perfection…. definitely Riccardo.My jaw drops.What the hell are they doing here?They stand like they own the damn place, sunlight catching on their dark hair, the same sculpted features that match Nico’s but with entirely different energies.
~NICO~I follow Elena out of the class.When we step out, heads turn immediately, guys staring at her legs, girls eyeing me like I belong to them. Elena notices both. I see the way her shoulders tense, the way she presses her books tighter against her chest.Perfect.I sling my jacket over my shoulder and walk just a step ahead of her, letting the crowd swallow us up. A group of girls waves, one of them, Sofia, if I recall rightly is making a beeline straight for me. She’s all glossy hair, red lipstick, and too much perfume.“Nico,” she purrs, sliding her hand onto my arm. “You’re coming to the masquerade ball party tomorrow night, right?”I don’t pull away. I let her touch linger, my gaze deliberately sliding past Sofia….landing on Elena.She’s frozen a few feet away, lips parted, her eyes flashing with something sharp and hot.Jealousy.I smirk, slow and deliberate, before leaning closer to Sofia, close enough to make it look dangerous but not enough to
~NICO~The moment we walk into the school building, I can feel it.Eyes everywhere.It’s like the whole hallway stops to look at her….the way her skirt sways, the way her hair catches the light, the easy confidence in her steps.She doesn’t even seem to notice. Or maybe she does, and she likes it.Her friends walks toward her when they saw her.Elena walks a few steps ahead of me, laughing softly at something her friend says, completely unaware of the way the guys’ gazes follow her.Or maybe she is aware. Maybe this is all part of her plan.A group of seniors near the lockers glance her way, one of them saying something under his breath that makes the others snicker. My teeth clench instantly.I shoot them a look…. sharp enough to cut. The laughter dies in their throats.Good.Elena finally glances back at me, and when she catches my expression, her brows lift slightly. “What?” she mouths silently, all innocence.I don’t answer. I just shake my head, trying
~NICO~I’m halfway down the stairs when I see her.Elena.She’s standing by the dining table, sunlight spilling through the window and catching the curve of her hair, the shimmer of her skin. For a second, I think I’m imagining her….because no one should look like that this early in the morning.She turns slightly, and I catch a better look at her outfit. Tight. Short. Soft fabric hugging every curve in a way that makes my pulse stumble.What the hell is she wearing?She's wearing a black leather skirt that clings to her thighs. A cream silk top that dips low enough to show the swell of her breasts.My fingers curl against the railing as my eyes travel down, then back up, helplessly. I know I should look away….should say something, anything, but all I can do is stare.Her lips curve when she notices me, that small, satisfied smile that makes me think she planned this.“Let’s go to school together,” she says lightly, voice full of sweet innocence that doesn’
~ELENA~“You already let me touch you,” he murmurs, “but now you’re going to let me take you, while they watch.”My breath catches, but there’s no part of me that wants to say no.My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat.Three of them.All of them look at me like I’m something they’re about to devour.Nico kisses me, slow and deep, nothing like the rough, punishing way he kissed me before. This one is deliberate, coaxing, like he’s savoring me.When he finally breaks the kiss, he pulls me closer until my chest is flush against his.“On the bed,” he says.Vincenzo guides me forward, his hands firm on my hips as if reminding me I’m not choosing Nico over him…. I’m choosing all of them.I crawl onto the bed, my knees sinking into the soft mattress, and Nico follows, shedding the rest of his clothes until he’s gloriously, shamelessly naked.He pushes me gently onto my back, and I can feel the heat of Vincenzo standing at the edge of the bed, watc