"Get your hands off me!" she cried. "I'm not your plaything anymore. Let go!!""Victoria, you have nowhere to go," Nic whispered to her."Then I'd rather be out on the streets than to be in your bed even one more night," Victoria spat at him, breathing quickly through her nose.That felt like a kick to his gut. She really hated him that much? He stared down into her face to see if there was any part of her hesitating. But nothing. She wanted him to leave her alone. Well, fuck, he wasn't about to beg her. His mind told him to let it go. Here he was standing out in the rain having a shouting match with her, something he NEVER would have done with Amber, or any other woman for that matter...yet, here he was. What a fool. He noticed her shivering and the rain had molded her clothes to her body. Fuck her, she could leave in the freezing cold rain and be alone. Why should he care? He released his grip from her and turned to walk back to his car.Victoria quickl

Paul could easily call another of his bodyguards, and blow this whole situation out of proportion. But he knew that Nic wasn't thinking rationally. And that he probably would break Renny's nose. Paul didn't know every detail about Nic and Victoria's strange relationship, but he did know that there were more feelings involved than either one was letting on. He stared at the back of Nic's body, which was tense. He had always liked Nic. Much more than Nic's father. Nic had a brutal honestly about him. Paul respected that. He wished his own son could be more like Nic. But Sonny was sneaky and unreliable. Two traits that neither Paul nor Nic possessed."Renny, let Mr. Andretti pass," Paul said. Nic moved forward, barely giving Renny a second to move out of the way. Paul followed behind. "I would like to give her a heads up, Nic. So she won't think I am betraying her."Nic stopped when they reached the top of the stairs. "Alright," he said as Paul moved ahead of him and ente

She grabbed her jacket and met Sonny downstairs. He gave her body a onceover."Damn, you look so good," he said, glancing at her ass again."Thanks, but Sonny, this dress is so tight. You sure you got this for me?" Victoria questioned, raising her eyebrow.Sonny laughed, "Trust me, I knew exactly what I was doing."When they pulled up to the party, there were several cars parked outside of a club. It was definitely not a small get together.Victoria stared at the long line of people waiting to get in. "Sonny, you said this was a small party!""Well, I guess he invited more people," Sonny said, grabbing her arm to escort her to the front of the line. The bouncer immediately let Sonny in, and the two glided through the main entrance. The club was packed. People on all sides. Victoria couldn't really hear anything over the loud music, but Sonny stopped and talked with several people. He was definitely charismatic in a room, Victoria thought. He

Veronica marched back into the club as quickly as she could. She had to get away from Nic. What the hell was wrong with her? She kept glancing behind her to make sure Nic hadn't followed her back in. She needed to find Sonny and go. She was done with Nic Andretti. Completely done.Veronica scanned the crowded club. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. She felt dizzy. Why was she letting this happen? Why did she put herself in this situation? She saw Sonny in the distance talking to a group of people and laughing. He had just used her, and much like Nic, didn't even care how it had hurt her. She realized right then, that she wasn't riding back with him. She had trusted a snake, been bitten, and she had no one to blame but herself. She just wanted both Nic and Sonny out of her life for good. And if they wouldn't stay away from her, she'd damn sure stay away from them. She found the front entrance she and Sonny had come through earlier and made a straight line to it. S

'Home, sweet home,' Veronica thought, as she stood outside her apartment door about to push her key into the lock. She had to conceal a smile. It felt incredible coming back to her own place. A piece of sanctuary that no one could kick her out of. Her own little slice of heaven, no matter how small or old it was.Through some connections at work, she was able to find a roommate and move out of Paul's. Her roommate, Stephanie, was this really cool Korean chick, who rarely stayed at the apartment. She was always on the go with her job or her friends. Which suited Veronica just fine. She felt like she really DID have a place of her own. She had painted her room a light lavender color and designed it how she wanted, with butterflies all over the place. She had cried a few tears of joy over that simple freedom.To decorate her own room. She never had one living with her folks. They could never afford anything more than a one bedroom, so she was designated to the couch for y