Page 35 of Havoc

“Your brother’s a good-looking dude and rich. Maybe she’ll like being‘his’.” Ciro shot me a look then chuckled when he saw the scowl on my face. “I’m just saying, before you go playing white knight you better make sure you don’t end up unintentionally kidnapping her yourself.”

“I’ll look into it.”

Ciro groaned. “You’re going to drag me into this aren’t you?” He winced at the determined look on my face. “This isyourfamily drama. I’m out.” He said it firmly and punctuated it by getting up, dumping his plate in the sink, and walking into his bedroom.

I couldn’t help laughing. Ciro would help me if I asked him to. I’d be keeping a close eye on my brother’s activities. I had every intention of rescuing Havoc. She seemed like a nice woman and didn’t deserve to be stuck with a man like Nico. I ignored the inner voice that accused me of doing this because I wanted her for myself.

Chapter 22

Nico

It was early afternoon before I returned to my bedroom and the woman locked within. She was laying on the bed, asleep, and I went over to stare down at her. Her face was soft in sleep. I brushed a lock of hair that escaped her braid off her cheek.

I hadn’t felt this feeling of possessiveness and warmth since I’d lost Maria. I wasn’t looking for it and felt content just having women temporarily. It never crossed my mind that I would find another that I’d want to keep by my side. Now that it was happening I couldn’t find it within myself to regret it.

Her eyes fluttered open and then jumped to my face. I held up a bag so she could see it then tossed it onto the bed. “I had some more of your things brought here for you.”

Havoc’s eyes flashed at me. “You had your guys paw through my stuff?” She sounded so insulted I couldn’t help the twitching of my lips as a smile fought to break free.

I turned my back on her and walked into my closet to change. “You’re welcome to use the shower again,” I called to her. I changed into jeans and came back into the room, pulling my t-shirt on over my head.

She was sitting on the bed, arms crossed over her chest, frowning at me. “Seriously, how long are you planning on keeping me here?”

I arched a brow at her. “Indefinitely.”

She sucked in a breath and sat quietly watching me. “I don’t understand you,” she admitted. “Why would you bother with someone like me? I’m no one. You’re…” She motioned around the room. “You could have anyone you wanted.”

“Exactly,” I replied, giving her a pointed look. Her eyes dropped from mine, telling me she understood that she was what I wanted. “We have more in common than you think,” I told her in amusement. Her assessment of me hadn’t been bitter or self-depreciating. She just seemed confused and defeated. I didn’t want that. I liked her fire. Fighting with her earlier had made me harder than I could remember being. It’d taken everything in me not to take it out on Luca when he interrupted us. “You’ll like it here.”

Her face screwed up in a scowl. “I’m not staying, Nico. I’ll always try to escape.”

I met her glare with a bland look. I wasn’t worried about her escaping. I wanted her to try, so I could see every dark and depraved thing she was capable of. To see if she matched me, like I thought she would.

Besides, there wasn’t anywhere she could go in this city where I wouldn’t find her. Shit, there wasn’t anywhere she could go in the country. If need be, I’d track her to the ends of the earth.

“I have unfinished business,” her voice was like iron encased in silk. I knew that feeling. The need to avenge those she loved.

That business was mine. She’d just have to take comfort in knowing I destroyed our enemies for the both of us. “I’ll take care of it.”

Her eyes narrowed on me and fury washed over her face. “No, you won’t.I’llbe the one to‘take care of it,’” she growled at me. “You’re not taking this away from me, Nico.”

I cocked my head and studied her face. At least the spark had come back into her eyes. They were currently conveying that she’d go through me if she had to in order to complete her mission. The Beast inside her was showing itself to me and mine couldn’t help but respond.

I lunged at her and had her sprawled beneath my body on the bed before she could do much more than squeak out a sound of surprise. I wrapped her braid around my fist and tugged her head so that her face was close to mine. “That’s going to be hard to do from my bed, Guerriera.”

She jerked her face to the side then gasped when she pulled her own hair hard with the move. “I won’t be here long,” she replied once she had her breath back. There was a fierce determination lighting her eyes.

I believed her. Not that she would be able to outrun me, but she would try. That’s what I wanted. The chase. I clenched my jaw and forced her head back against the comforter. Seeing her there, under my control, her curves pressing against me was short circuiting my self-control. Leaning down, I kissed her, thrusting my tongue past her lips and invading her mouth.

Hissing when she bit down hard, I pulled back, but she’d latched on like a shark. I tightened my grip on her hair until she let loose with a pained moan. Bringing my hand up, I encircled her throat in a tight grip and kissed her again.

It was a battle—of wills, lips, and tongues, but finally she relented and kissed me back without teeth. The taste of blood was coppery in my mouth. I didn’t know if it was mine or hers and it didn’t matter.

I removed my hand from her throat now that she wasn’t fighting me, and pulled her leg up so that it hooked around my hip as I ground into her. She was like whiskey, creating a fire in my blood.

Havoc’s hand came up and I thought she was going to run it through my hair. Instead, she placed it against my jaw and shoved, forcing my mouth from hers.

“Get off me.”