Page 95 of My Sweetest Obsession

He was so deliciously mouthwatering with the way his open black peacoat draped down to his knees. Leave it to Nico to make a peacoat work to his advantage. His abdominal muscles rippled beneath his shirt, which was casually half-unbuttoned, revealing his ink and a gleaming silver necklace that caught the light.

The nurse and Nico talked to each other, but I couldn’t quite hear because my eyes were locked on him.

I hated that he still made me weak in the knees, how just the sight of his smile sent tingles racing through me, especially between my legs. But I also resented him for the pain he had caused, for the scars that still lingered, both physical and emotional.

“Gigi.” Nico’s voice snapped me out of my trance.

“Huh?”

He grinned that familiar melt-your-panties smile. “You ready to go?”

“Yes.” I exhaled sharply, trying to regain my composure.

I buttoned my coat and eased myself into the wheelchair, careful not to aggravate the still tender wounds on my back. He bent down, adjusting the footrests and unlocking the brakes with a practiced ease.

“Do you have everything you need?” he asked as he began to push me out of the room.

“Um, yeah.”

He wheeled me down the hall, past the muted colors of the hospital walls, until we reached the elevator that would take us to the ground floor. Once outside, he locked the brakes and extended his hand toward me.

I dodged his gesture, choosing to walk past him instead. His chuckle was like a burst of light chasing away the shadows and flooding me with happiness.

Damn him.

Miguel offered me a welcoming smile as he opened the back door of a black sedan with tinted windows waiting by the curb.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Of course. Glad to see you again,” he replied as I climbed into the car, sinking into the soft leather seats. The door clicked shut, sealing off the city noise.

Nico slid in beside me, and the intoxicating scent of his spicy cologne filled the confined space.

“Seatbelt,” he grumbled, a hint of authority lacing his tone.

I shot him a sideways glare. “I’m not a child,” I retorted, begrudgingly fastening the strap across my chest.

Miguel settled into the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb, merging onto the street. I sighed, a wave of relief washing over me as I realized I was finally free.

Three months. It felt surreal. Before I was taken, leaves had swirled from the branches, painting the ground in autumn hues. And now? Snow blanketed the city as if the world had moved forward without me.

I stared out the window, watching as the scenery blurred, the city streets and snow-covered trees melding into a watercolor of grays and whites. I could feel Nico’s gaze on me, silently begging me to acknowledge him. Still, I avoided him and kept my eyes out the window, refusing to confront the emotions dancing within that only he could evoke.

NICO

She hated me.

She loved me, but she hated that she did.

Gigi continued to gaze pensively out the window as we approached the wrought-iron gate of my home. Through the reflection of the glass, I caught a glimpse of her expression, locking eyes with her until she finally diverted her gaze. Regardless of how much she despised me, our souls were linked. We were bound together, whether she wanted that connection or not.

“Oh, my god,” Gigi whispered as she stared at the house. “It’s like nothing ever happened.”

The damage wasn’t as devastating as it had been on the day it occurred. The men I hired worked tirelessly, restoring the front entrance in a single day. Inside, however, it took longer to piece everything back together, including the gaping hole in the basement and the bullet holes that marred the walls and windows.

“Wait, what are we doing here?” she asked sharply as if she just now realized we were at my home.Our home.

Miguel turned off the ignition and stepped out, giving us privacy.