Nico wraps his arms around my waist and possessively places his large palms on my back, tugging me close, as I wrap my arms around his shoulders.
“Are you having a good time?” he asks.
We sway to a sultry Michael Bublé song.
“I am.” I was nervous at first, but with Nico at my side, it got easier as the night went on.
“Good. I have a few more of these things to attend, and I was hoping you would be my date for them.”
My skin prickles with desire as his fingers mindlessly swirl designs down the length of my back.
“I think I can manage that.” I reach onto my toes to kiss him when we are shoved to the side, and I lose my footing. Nico grabs me around the waist, catching me before I fall.
“You should really watch where you and your whore are dancing,” a man I’ve never met sneers.
He’s about as tall as Nico, with dark hair, light-blue eyes, and a dark tattoo of a tiger on his neck. If I didn’t know any better, you would think he was related to Nico.
“I suggest you keep your mouth shut about my woman.” Nico pushes me behind his back in a protective stance.
“Your woman?” The man laughs, the sound eerie and high-pitched like a cartoon villain’s. The man leers at me and winks, making me cringe. “I’d love to see how long this lasts.”
“What the fuck are you doing here, Damien?” Nico growls.
“I was invited, remember? I’m just paying my respects.” Damien smiles cockily, and if not for the sinister look in his eyes, he might be good-looking.
I shiver for a different reason. He has circles under his eyes, his suit is rumpled, and his tie is askew. He looks slightly unhinged.
“Bullshit. You came to start something. Just remember, if you do, you’ll pay for it. My lawyer and I have everything we need, D. Everything,” Nico emphasizes the last word.
The man swallows, his throat bobbing in barely concealed fear. “You’ve got nothing.”
Nico grins at him menacingly. “I know about your illegal contract negotiation tactics, and I’m sure there is plenty more you’re hiding. But don’t worry, I’m digging.”
Damien snarls, “I will fucking end you.”
“Let me fix this for you.” Nico reaches out, and Damien flinches. Nico misses nothing as he grins wickedly and adjusts Damien’s tie, before tugging it and pulling it tight, cutting off Damien’s air supply. “You’re fucking done, D, and now it’s time for you to go. Don’t make me call security. You’re just embarrassing yourself now.”
An angry Damien turns redder than a tomato as he growls out, “Fuck you, Romero,” and pushes Nico away.
Damien glares at Nico, but when he notices people staring, he stomps out of the loft without another word. There are a few eyes on us as Nico turns around and cups my cheeks, checking for any injuries.
I grab his wrists to reassure him. “I’m fine, Nico. I promise.”
Sliding my hands under his jacket and over his shirt, I press my palms into his chest. His heart is racing, and anger rolls off him in waves. Whoever that man was, Nico was not happy to see him.
“Mind telling me who that was?”
Nico leads me back onto the dance floor to finish our dance before he speaks. “That was my ex-agent and ex-best friend.”
“Your best friend?”
“Ex. I overheard him saying some things about Talia that I won’t repeat. After I fired him, I learned he had been stealing from his own company. A company I invested in. I hate it took me so long to see his true colors.”
“I’m sorry.” My heart breaks for the man who gives everything to the ones he loves.
“I’m not. I’m glad I found out the truth. Damien can’t be trusted, and I don’t want him around my family. And I certainly don’t want him around you.” He brushes his fingers over my cheek and down my jawline, tilting my chin up, then lays a chaste kiss on my lips. The silver flecks in his irises glow as he says, “You’re precious to me, Savannah.”
“I’m precious to you?”
