Page 17 of Heart's Temptation

He wasn’t fooling me with his act of dispassion. I knew Gio well enough to know it was taking everything he had to remain indifferent toward the only woman he’d ever loved. I knew he thought by acknowledging her existence as little as possible, he was punishing her, and taking a peek in the rearview told me his strategy was working.

Niki leaned against the back seat of the spacious sedan. I’d wrapped her in a blanket before buckling her in, like in the old days, when such an action had made her feel comforted and safe. She’d always said it was a feeble replacement for her men, but would do in a pinch.

I had no idea where things would go from here as I felt caught between a storm and a hurricane with these two and while the lines had been drawn for battle a long time ago, I wasn’t the same person I’d been before. Despite being the gentler of the two of us, I was still a Dom.

Had Niki not been a relic of my heart opening to first love, I’d be alongside Gio, wearing the mask of indifference.

After finding the marks on Niki’s body left by her abusive father. I’d all but chained myself to Gio’s side to keep him from doing something I knew he’d regret. After school, we’d left Niki in the care of Gio’s mother, who in turn had the Vitale doctor they paid to have on hand for their soldiers come and take a look at her.

I never pushed for more answers or information than Niki wanted to give because she Niki was a girl who had been given a life of hard knocks, and more than anything I’d felt the need to shower her with love and affection. Besides, that was the beauty of the dynamic between the three of us. I pushed when it came to personal care and Gio pushed everything else.

Now here she was, very much like that time so long ago, her eyes looking, but not seeing. What I wouldn’t give to know what was going on in that head of hers right now. I’d dreamed of finding her and what I would do, what we would do, with her when we did.

And then she’d just called me up one day and fallen back into our laps. Into our lives.

Our current situation was far from the image I’d imagined all these years, though. I should have told Gio up front where I was going, or at least told him why I was staying in New York. Him finding us the way he did would set back the reunion I fully planned on us having. Someone had to keep that dream alive and it had always been me.

I tore my eyes from the rearview and pulled out my phone as Gio got on the highway. “I’m ready. What do you need me to do?”

“I’ve arranged accommodations for the dancers and the crew, and for the use of the space. You’ll need to create a schedule for the security team and have Vincenzo’s restaurants closest to the hotel and the performance hall create a credit system for all the dancers and staff. Make sure to let him know he may need to increase his staff during certain hours to accommodate the food orders. You’ll have to speak with Sergei first, as it may be easier to bring in lunches during their breaks and they will have dietary considerations that Vinnie will need to know in advance. Work on that schedule to ensure we can meet all their needs. The last thing I want is some vain glorious prima anything bitching about what she or he is missing.”

His gaze strayed to the backseat via the mirror, but if Niki was offended, it was impossible to tell as her expression remained the same. I made a to-do list on my phone and got busy making the arrangements.

None of what Gio had said included Niki. What were his plans regarding her? Everyone else would be arriving later that day and we’d have everything sorted by then. For now, it was just us and her and a whole lot of silence.

“When we arrive, I need you to go to the clubs, and check in with Almando. See if there is anyone new who's been sniffing around, and I want video footage if they have.”

“Is there a problem I should know about?”

His eyes strayed once more to the backseat. “I’ll fill you in later, when I know more. For the moment, I’m just gathering intel.”

Between club business and making sure the company had what they needed, the rest of my day would be taken up. Was this his way of getting time alone with Nicolette? I wanted to ask but with her in the backseat, that probably wasn’t a good idea.

We pulled up to our building an hour later. Niki raised herself out of her stupor and asked sharply, “Where are we?”

“Cool it, princess,” Gio said, before I could answer. “You're at our place where we can keep an eye on you.”

She didn't respond, only worried her bottom lip.

“Maybe I should?—”

Gio’s eyes became dark, glimmering with barely concealed rage.

“What you should do, Marko, is listen to your boss and go and do what I asked.”

I glared back, not appreciating him pulling the boss vs friend card to put me in my place, despite it being his right to do so. I didn’t appreciate being talked down to, by him or anyone, and I let him see how pissed off he made me. He returned my irritation with a glare of his own. Considering what I’d done would have gotten me beaten and demoted at the very least anywhere else, I guessed I should have counted myself lucky.

So, I did what I always did, let it go and changed the tone of my voice when I answered him. “Call me if you run into any issues that need to be dealt with, otherwise, I’ll see you at the club tonight.”

His dismissal of me for the rest of the day and evening only proved I was right about what he wanted: Niki to himself.

I turned in my seat and reached out, cupping Nicolette's chin until her eyes found mine. “You’ll be safe with Gio. Be good.”

I let her go and exited the car. My driver was waiting for me, and I got in and left, not looking back.

CHAPTER SIX

Giovanni