Page 72 of Darkest Desire

“I know you well enough now, Sasha, to know when you’re lying to me.” He gently grabs my face. “Tell me.”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

I huff, wrenching my face away from his hand. “I’m just thinking of what Giovanni said. What he wanted. It makes me nervous that he wants me.”

“Trust me, if I had known, I never would have let him into this house. I never would have left you alone with him.”

“Strangely enough… I do trust you on that.”

Nico’s eyes widen a little at my admission. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”

“First time for anything. And… I don’t want to hate you.”

“So why do you continue to act like you do?”

I sigh. “I’m just conflicted over what you do. How you kill with so much ease. It still scares me. And yet, I also know that you will fight for me. It’s a hard thing to wrap my head around.”

He trails his fingers along my temple. “Get out of your head. I told you: we could have so much fun together if you just let yourself relax. I will keep you safe from Giovanni. That I can promise you.”

“I know.”

“Good. Now go to sleep. Your tossing and turning is getting on my nerves.” He turns the light off and settles back into bed.

I settle my hands over my stomach, feeling the nerves grow. When Denis shows up, it’s going to change everything.

Denis arrives the following day. It’s a lot sooner than I expected.

Nico stares at Denis in shock on his front doorstep. “What in the ever loving fuck are you doing here? And how did you find this place?”

His eyes dart to me behind Nico. “Your wife called me.”

Nico slowly turns around and stares me down until I can’t take it anymore and duck my chin to my chest. “Did she now?”

“She told me that you’re trying to make a deal with Giovanni Ricci,” Denis says, storming into the house like he owns the place. He’s always had that ability I hated so much.

“I was trying but it fell through. Don’t worry, Denis. I’m not making a deal with Giovanni.”

“But the fact that you tried without telling me is worrying. We’re partners now, Nico. Act like it.”

Nico stands up taller, towering over Denis. “You don’t get to come into my home and snap at me, old man.”

“Old man? I’m only a decade older than you are.”

I scoff. “Try two decades.”

Denis levels a glare in my direction. “When my niece called me, I knew I had to get here as soon as possible. We’re business partners but I feel like all you wanted was to steal one of my nieces out from under me and turn on me. Is that what you’re doing? You take Sasha from me and then you don’t even stay true to our deal?”

“It’s not true,” Nico says, shooting me a look as well. “I never had any plans to turn on you. I wanted to hear Giovanni out and the deal didn’t go through. There wasn’t anything to report. And I don’t have to tell you all of my business plans, Denis. I’m still the Mafia. I don’t have to play by your Bratva rules.”

“You fucker,” Denis says. “You’re trying to gain even more power and ice me out.”

“You’re paranoid. Just return to New York and we can forget this ever happened. I’ll forgive you.”

“You’ll forgive me? What if I don’t forgive you?”

“What’s there to forgive?” Nico asks. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Whatever Sasha told you was wrong. I know what she’s doing. Can’t you see it?”