Then he stands and pulls me into his arms, pasting us together as he kisses me deeply. I moan as waves of pleasure keep shooting through me.
This. This is what I want, this overwhelming need for someone. The feeling that I don’t want to let them go. The closeness that only Nico can give me.
I’m.
Fucked.
CHAPTER 19
DECLAN
Now that I know I’m in too deep with Nico, I have to clear the air with my brother-in-law. Nico said he wouldn’t say anything to Carter, butIneed to hear him say it.
Kai and I have never gotten along. Before he was married to my brother, I’d jump into any fights between our family and his, throwing more than my fair share of punches. After they got married, I tried to take his head off when he got in my face about killing someone that wanted to kill my brother.
One thing I’m proud of myself for is I never tried to break up their marriage or anything like that. I don’t like Kai, but I love Carter and wouldn’t hurt him like that. But I’ve never extended the olive branch after seeing how happy he made my brother. I hated because of who he was, then I hated him for taking my brother’s time when I barely got any.
But if he’s going to keep a secret for me, I have to say something.
And every minute of it will feel like razor blades sliding down my throat.
I text Nico and ask where they are and he tells me they’re at the construction site since Kai is still working on the casino plans. He asks why, but instead of answering, I shove my phone back in my pocket. What I have to say to Kai is my business. All Nico will do is try to interfere. I need to talk to my brother-in-law alone.
I look around at the construction company after I pull up. Regardless of the shit Charlie spewed before he was killed, Kai made a good business decision opening this company. He has something legitimate to fall back on in the event we lose our illegal holdings and it’s doing so well he’s thinking of expanding. Expanding his company means possibly expanding our territory.
Sighing, I jog up the stairs and pull the door open. Percy, Kai’s administrative assistant, looks up at me nervously, his wide green eyes flicking back and forth. “Um…hi. Who are you?—”
I point to Kai’s office. “My brother-in-law. He busy?”
Percy rises a few inches from his chair, but Kai comes striding out, probably hearing my voice. “Declan. What a surprise.” Kai’s voice is dry, his eyes guarded.
Huh, he really has changed. A year ago, Kai would have stormed over to me, probably pulling a gun out for no other reason than me being a Whitlock. Now, he looks like he wants to talk but doesn’t know how to take me.
Nico comes up behind him, flexing in his dark blue suit. I smile at him and see Kai’s eyes blow wide.
Flicking my gaze to Kai, I thumb toward the door and ask, “Can we talk? Alone?” I glance at Nico, seeing his face blank, but I can’t think about him right now. This is between me and Kai.
“You’re asking?” Kai looks incredulous.
Sighing, I say, “Yeah, I am.”
He looks at Nico, who nods, then Kai says, “Okay, yeah. We can go outside. I need some fresh air, anyway.”
Nico winks at me and I feel my face heat, but I turn on my heels and leave the building. Kai is only a few steps behind me, shutting the door after he exits.
I wait for him at the bottom of the stairs, then we walk slowly toward the gates of the construction company.
He makes no move to start the conversation, and I need to stop being a bitch, so I say, “You can’t tell Carter about me and Nico.”
“Didn’t plan on it. Is there are reason you’re keeping it from him? Nico not good enough for you?”
“What?” I ask, looking at him sharply. “That’s not?—”
Kai stops walking, and I do the same, turning to face him. “If you’re keeping a secret from your brother because you think Nico is beneath you, that shit won’t fly. I’ll fucking pop the top off this news right fucking now. Nico is?—”
“I know he’s good enough for me. I’m not good enough for him!” I shout. “You know all the rumors about me Kai. Most of them are true. Who talks shit about Nico because he likes to shoot first instead of talking like a civilized fucking person? No one, that’s who. He deserves someone better than me, but I can’t fucking let him go.” I shove my hands through my hair. “I’m not keeping him a secret because he’s not good enough for me. It’s because he’s mine and I don’t want anyone interfering with that. Do you understand?”
The question wasn’t asked with malice—I want to know if he knows where I’m coming from. He and Carter had to live their marriage out loud, in front of everyone to keep up the charade that our families were integrated until they fell in love. I don’t want that. Not when I’m just coming to terms that I feel more than lust for Nico. I want time to explore this…deeper connection we have.
