Page 14 of Heart's Temptation
“I’m sorry, Gio. I wanted to bring her back, but she had rehearsals.”
“Rehearsals? For what?”
“Niki Swan, as she has gone by since leaving us, is a prima ballerina for Empire Ballet, and they have a performance in a little over five weeks. She has rehearsals and classes every day. I thought the asshole would be caught by now, but he is good at eluding me. Either he’s a worker or dancer there or someone who has intimate knowledge of the place.”
My mind was reeling. Niki had been a two-hour drive away this entire time, and we hadn’t known it. “We’ll take her home. Tell her to pack.”
“But Gio, didn’t you just hear what I said? She can’t just leave.”
“Yes, she can, and so can the entire damn cast. You forget, Marko, the Vitales have many legitimate businesses, and one of those is the I-Rock Theater. The company can rehearse in a space we have control over, and then we’ll know Niki has the personal security required.”
“Get her ready to leave. I’ll go and speak with the director. What’s his name?”
“Sergei. Maybe we should go with you.”
“Go where?”
We both whirled around and saw Niki standing at the open glass doors. You could tell she’d been crying, but she held herself like a queen looking ready to do battle. I almost wanted to smile at her bravery. But it was better she learned now that I’m not the lovesick boy she ran away from.
I stood and stalked toward her, watching her transform from the queen to my prey. Her breath hitched, and the pulse in her neck beat rapidly with my approach.
I leaned over her, close enough to box her in. “Home, sweetheart, and the company is coming with you.”
“But—”
“There are no buts,” I said darkly. “Now be an obedient little ballerina and get ready to leave.”
She gulped. “And if I don’t obey?”
“It’s your choice as to what condition you arrive home in, but home you will go even if I have to tie you up and put you in my trunk.”
Her face registered the shock she felt before she turned and fled in the direction of the stairs. Marko sidled up beside me.
“I’ll text you when it’s time to go. Make sure she’s ready, we'll go back in my car.”
“And mine?”
“Leave it here, I’ll send two of my guys back to collect it.”
Marko nodded, and I headed for the door.
“Be ready,” I warned before stepping into the elevator.
CHAPTER FOUR
Nicolette
I froze, my entire body tingling at the all-too-familiar sound of that deep, smoky tone laced with a certain combination of cynicism and rage that was Giovanni Vitale. I’d known he would come, eventually, when his sidekick stayed away too long. Yes, one could say I’d anticipated his arrival, but nothing prepared me for the effect he’d have on my body after all this time.
But his being here was not for me. He would have never come for me after what I did, but for Marko. The Vitale men protected what was theirs, and Gio had always felt like Marko, as his best friend, was his to protect.
I’d heard the story repeated so many times by one or the other of them. How Marko had seen a boy standing alone, surrounded by a group of bigger boys. How Gio had seemed unfazed, and despite that, Marko felt it unfair and stood at his back.
He wasn’t family, not in the traditional sense. No one who didn’t share the Vitale name or heritage could be, but he was family to Gio by choice, and I’d interfered in their relationship dynamic not once now, but twice.
After Marko vacated the bedroom, I threw on one of his t-shirts and slipped downstairs, unnoticed by the two men. They were on the deck having a heated debate, that I could hear due to the doors being open.
When Marko shared the conversation that took place between us several days ago, I could feel the anger and danger rolling off him. There was a moment of silence and I peeked through the blinds opposite my hiding place to see Giovanni sitting on the edge of a deck chair, his elbows on his thighs and his fingers steepled, a habit a few of the Vitale brothers had inherited from their father.