Page 105 of Darkest Desire

“I can still scream.” I work up my voice to get out a tiny scream before Giovanni clamps his hand back over my mouth.

“If you bite me this time, I’ll stab this dagger right into your throat.” He pulls the dagger from his pocket and places it right under my chin. “So be quiet and silent.”

I glare at him but I do remain quiet when he removes his hand.

“I’ll be quick,” he says. “I just want a taste of you and then I’ll be gone. That’s all I ever wanted. Just a night.”

My body recoils in fear as he pushes my hospital gown up to my hips. All the memories I had when he did this to me before come rushing back. I let Nico have my body because I care for him. Even love him.

But I never wanted anyone else to have me, not even when I hated Nico so much. It was always him that I wanted.

Giovanni shoves his hand between my legs while he keeps the dagger to my throat. His hand is not Nico’s. It’s not warm and strong and sexy. I know for a fact that it’s Nico I love because he would never do this to me.Hasnever done this to me.

Giovanni smirks down at me like he’s won. He came all the way from Italy just to take me because he was denied me. The insanity in him is certifiable.

“I bet I’ll be better than Nico,” he says, removing his hand from between my legs and unzipping his pants.

“You’ll never be,” I hiss. “I love Nico. And I hate you.” Those words just feel right on my tongue. No more pretending I hate Nico. I’m all in on him.

The look of pure anger on Giovanni’s face is almost comical. “I’ll show you.” He takes out his penis and starts stroking it, growing more erect.

I try to move away but I’m stuck on the bed. My leg is still numb from the medicine they gave me. The fatigue in me is too much.

I shut my eyes and just hope that Nico returns to save me. He’s always done it before.

…and he doesn’t disappoint.

“Step away from her,” Nico growls. I open my eyes to see him standing in the doorway, his gun pointed right at Giovanni.

Slowly, Giovanni raises his hands and backs away from me. But in a flash, he throws the dagger at Nico, making Nico dodge out of the way and Giovanni takes off running out of the room.

Nico turns to me. “Are you ok?”

“Go get him.”

His hesitation means everything to me. Nico wants to stay to comfort me but he also wants to chase Giovanni. The Nico I first met wouldn’t have hesitated. He would have just gone after the bad guy.

Now, he’s concerned for me.

“Go,” I tell him. “Go.”

He nods and takes off running. Even though my heart is pounding from fright, I can’t help but smile. Nico came to protect me like he’s always done.

Nico

I run out of the room and make eye contact with Mikhail. Hecomes over to me. “There’s a man here. Giovanni Ricci. He tried to attack Sasha. Help me find him.” This is a true test of our alliance. Can we actually work together?

I’m expecting him to say he’d rather die than help me but Mikhail takes in a deep breath and nods. “Ok. I’ll help.”

I’m startled by it so much that it takes me a moment to move. “Ok then. Let’s go get him.”

We run in the direction Giovanni went. A security guard yells at us to slow down but we ignore him. Turning the corner, I see Giovanni fleeing down the hallway. I pick up my speed and reach him before he can get too far. I throw him to the ground.

“Here,” Mikhail says, grabbing Giovanni and dragging him into an empty room. I lock the door behind us.

“Why did you come here?” I growl.

Giovanni only smiles.