Page 24 of Innocent Bratva Twins

My blood boils hotter, and I clench my jaw.

I should go over there and help her. Except she doesn’t look like she needs to be rescued. She’s smiling and happy.She doesn’t know his reputation.

Okay, Nico, but she’s not going to run off and jump into bed with some stranger she’s just met.

You don’t know that.

I down a glass of whiskey that I had intended to sip. Ordering another one, I convince myself that I have to protect her in case it’s another incident like the one we had in the office last week. The shit that Drake pulled still makes me furious. I would hate for anything like that to happen to Serafina again, so, forthatreason, I make my way through the crowd towards them.

To protect her.

“You’re the prettiest girl in the room.” I walk up and hear Lucas throwing lines at her. “Maybe we can get out of here a little early and go for a drink somewhere more private?”

“Thanks, but I just got here. I won’t be leaving anytime soon.” She smiles sweetly, her nose scrunching as she grins at him, and it’s so fucking cute it makes me even more determined to protect her from this asshole.

“Fine, then. I’ll wait, and we can go for a drink later. It's Saturday night, after all.”

He steps closer to her, his hand brushing over her waist, and in that moment, realization slams into me.

I don’t want to protect her—not exactly. She’s doing a perfectly fine job of turning this idiot down. I just don’t want anyone else near her.

I’m possessive. Dangerously possessive, as though she belongs to me.

“Sera, you look gorgeous,” I say, purposefully positioning myself next to her so that he’s forced to step back.

He smiles at me. “Nico. Hey. What’s up? This is—oh, do you know her?” he asks, knitting his brows.

“Serafina is my assistant.”

“Lucky you,” he smirks, and it grates against my nerves.

“Indeed. I suggest you find another target tonight.”

Lucas pulls his mouth tight in annoyance. “Right. I see,” he says, dry and disappointed.

I turn towards the most beautiful girl in the room. I want to get her far away from this guy, make a clear point to him that she’s off-limits. “Would you like to dance?” I ask, holding my hand towards her.

“That sounds like fun,” she grins, placing her hand in mine. Without even glancing towards Lucas, she lets me lead her towards the dancefloor.

My heart races as I realize that, yes, I have gotten rid of the guy, but now—shit—I have tocontrolmyself while she is pressed right up against me.

On the dancefloor, I pull her into my arms, and the music pulses through us as we move together.

This was the biggest fucking mistake ever.

Holy fuck. She can move. It’s like she’s trying to seduce me with her body at this point, each sway of her hips, each flick of her long, loose hair—my breath is caught tight in my chest, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

She spins and turns her back to me, laughing as she wiggles her hips, and her ass rubs over my cock. This is not going to end well.

I spin her away from me and as I pull her back again, the music changes. It becomes slower, more intimate.

Shit.

Fuck.

Okay.

She steps close to me and rests her hand against my chest, those bright green eyes of hers turned up towards me, a playful smile on her lips.