Page 96 of My Sweetest Obsession

“You’re staying with me,” I told her simply.

She turned her gaze to me. “The fuck I am.”

“Watch it!” I snapped.

“Fuck you, Nico.” She crossed her arms across her chest. “There’s no way in hell I’m staying here.”

“You don’t get to make that decision.”

“Where the hell do you get off?” she shot back. “You don’t get to dictate my life anymore.”

I sighed. “Don’t make me carry you out of this car.”

She let out a mechanical laugh. “You are unfreaking believable. After everything that’s happened, you actually believe Iwantto be here with you?”

“You got in the car, didn’t you?” I smirked.

She didn’t respond, and I knew it was because she knew a part of her soul still called to me, just like my soul called out to her.

“If it makes you feel better, Tabi and Tristan have been staying here,” I said.

She turned to me, surprise flickering across her features. “Really?”

I nodded, watching for her reaction. “And your father and aunt decided to stay at one of my properties downtown.”

He was going to kill me when he found out I hadn’t told him his daughter was being released today. I knew he had several conference calls back home, so it was a perfect cover to distract him. But I needed this time with her. To remind her how much I loved her, how deeply I regretted every moment that led us here. I wanted to show her that I was willing to do whatever it took to earn her trust and be the man she deserved.

She nodded slowly, a half-smile breaking through the tension. I had known that Tabi and Tristan being here would make her reconsider.

I took that as a win.

Miguel opened her door just as I opened mine. As I rounded the car, I held my hand out for her, but she dismissed me andtried shutting the door. I quickly caught it from closing. “Don’t piss me off,” I warned her.

“Then let me the fuck go,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Would you stop saying fuck? It’s so unbecoming of my queen.”

She scoffed. “I will never be your queen.”

I leaned down and grabbed her chin. She tried to swat my hand away but failed. “You will be my queen, Gigi, even if I have to lock you up and make you submit to me. Now stop acting like a brat and get your ass out of the car.”

She yanked her chin out of my grasp and grabbed her bag.

“Move,” she snapped.

I stepped back and held my hand out again, but she smacked it away. I clenched my jaw and breathed through my nose, holding back from strangling her.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, I placed my hand on the small of her back. She didn’t flinch or push me away, another small win.

Lo opened the front door as we approached it, a hesitant smile creeping onto his face. “Hey,” he said softly. “It’s good to see you.”

“Thanks,” Gigi muttered.

I sensed she hadn’t fully forgiven the guys yet, but her tone held no animosity.

Lo shot me a sympathetic look, but I brushed it off, confident that her coldness against them wouldn’t last long.

“You’re here!” Tabi squealed, enveloping Gigi in an exuberant hug.