Markos didn’t let go immediately. His eyes locked onto Nikos. “You sure you’re okay?”
Nikos nodded once. “Yeah.”
“If you need help?—”
“I’ll ask,” Nikos cut in, soft but firm.
Markos studied him for a second longer, then released his grip. “Be careful.”
Nikos didn’t answer.
He stood and murmured to his bodyguard. The man gave a crisp nod and stepped away to summon the car.
As Nikos strode out of the lounge, the lights ofThe Rocksglittered around him and a hundred faceless strangers laughed and danced in slow motion. The music swelled, but it felt distant—muted beneath the roaring in his ears.
He didn’t know why he’d left Kiki tonight.
But she was under his skin. In his blood. And that—terrified him.
He was damn well going to findout why.
Jim climbed the stoop of the brownstone, cradling a brown paper grocery bag in his right arm. He pressed the code to unlock the front door, stepped inside the dim foyer, and paused to make sure the heavy door closed behind him.
A quick check of the mailbox showed Harvey must have already collected their mail. He turned and looked up as a movement in the stairwell caught his attention. A moment later, Kiki appeared. He smiled at her when she paused on the bottom step.
She looked even smaller than usual, her slender frame swallowed by an oversized black hoodie that hung nearly to her knees. Her hands were tucked deep inside the front pockets as she murmured a quiet, “Hey,” in his direction, her voice barely cutting through the muffled sound of car tires against the pavement outside.
Jim frowned, concern settling in as he took a step closer. “Everything alright?” he asked, keeping his tone easy and light, even as a knot of worry twisted in his stomach.
“Yeah, just need to head out for a bit,” Kiki replied, avoiding his gaze, her eyes darting to the door as if the world outside held a secret calling.
There was always a flicker of apprehension about her when night fell, a trait he’d come to recognize. “Is there anything I can do?” he pressed, his tone softening. “You know how you get about going out after dark.”
She nodded, her hood casting shadows across her face. “It’s good. I just… need to pick up some feminine products. Ran out.”
The confession tumbled out in a rush, almost as if she had to say it all at once. Jim grimaced, trying to ignore the flicker of embarrassment hefelt. He could only imagine the level of discomfort she must have to make her venture into the world after sunset.
“Oh, uh… well, if you want company, Harvey and I are going to watch a movie later,” he offered, trying to keep his tone casual, as if it were no big deal.
Kiki’s lips twitched faintly, an almost smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks for the invite, but it’s been a long day. I have some things I need to catch up on.”
She turned, effectively shutting down the conversation with her typical reticence. “If you change your mind, just come over,” Jim called after her, hoping his voice sounded more relaxed than he felt.
“Thanks,” she said, her words tossed over her shoulder just before she slipped out the door.
He watched her disappear, the shadows of the street swallowing her. With a deep breath, he turned to the staircase, his feet heavy as he made his way upstairs, his thoughts a whirlwind.
Kiki had always been a bit of an enigma, always hiding behind those oversized hoodies she loved so much, but underneath that quirky exterior resided a heart of gold. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper in her story, some tragedy that pulled at her.
Before he could unlock his and Harvey’s apartment door, it swung open with a dramatic flair.
“You are not going to believe what happened!” Harvey’s voice burst into the space, his face lit up by an enormous grin.
Jim couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me guess, you were spying through the peephole on Kiki and Nikos’s date?” he teased playfully.
“Of course! They were molten. Absolutely scorching. If that’s a sign, it went pretty damn well!” Harvey bounced on his heels as he spoke, his body vibrating with excitement. “She was wrapped around Nikos, and they disappeared inside herapartment.”
Jim’s brows rose high as he processed the revelation. He couldn’t deny the surge of protectiveness that bloomed within him. He had been a little concerned when Harvey told him about the deal he had made with Aeto.
