Page 4 of Nico

Lurking right around his shirt collar, there was a hint of ink. Either that or my imagination played tricks on me. I found myself leaning into him, drawn to him, realizing too late what I was doing. I continued staring at him, unable to move.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered under my breath. It had been a long time since I came face-to-face with someone who made my pulse flutter. And this guy…. geez, he was making me go all cross-wired. He was ruthlessness all dressed up in his expensive dark suit, towering over me and threatening to swallow me whole. Yet, my body kept inching closer to him.

As if he was my gravity.

With startling realization, I felt his fingers curl around my upper arm, and my eyes locked on his big hand around my arm, clear of ink, but right at his cufflink, I swore again there was a tattoo playing peekaboo with me.

Taking a step back, I put some much needed distance between us, his closeness rattling me to my core.

“No problem,” he said, his voice deep and velvety. I kept finding my gaze traveling to his face, undoubtedly carved from hard granite, that somehow spoke of an assassin; a man that could just as easily kill you as kiss you. And I’d bet my life he could kiss well.

Why am I thinking about kissing?I scolded myself.

As he allowed the distance between us, my body actually missed him; the need for him was so strong that I had to fight the urge to reach out to him again. I wanted to lean into him, feel his heat.

What was it about this man that caused this reaction to stir? Yes, he was handsome, strong, and more than a little scary, and the warning ringing inside my head should have been enough to send me running. Maybe it was also the sense of protection and safety that I picked up on that had me halting in my tracks.

“Mr. Morrelli,” the waiter greeted him, his voice distant through the fog of my thoughts, and it felt like an ice shower. I’d recognize that last name anywhere, heavy dread pooled in my stomach like acid. He called him Mr. Morrelli.

No, it cannot be!

Destiny wouldn’t be so cruel to throw a Morrelli criminal my way, on my first outing. Actually, the last name was quite common. It was my first time out and about in the city since William’s death. I was being paranoid.Right?

My body kicked into a hyperactive awareness mode and self-preservation. Regardless of who this man was or wasn’t, if he was in any way connected to the Morrelli crime family, he was dangerous.

Instinctively, I stumbled two extra steps backwards, putting as much space as possible between the two of us; my eyes never wavered from him, treating him like a potential threat.

My brain warned and sirens blasted off. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. My father had always told me to trust my instincts. Well, my instincts screamed at me, telling me to watch out. This man was trouble I didn’t need.

But my body, why did it want to submit?To him!

Shifting my eyes up his face again, I noted his dark hair and hint of the same color scruff. I curled my fingers by my side, to stop them from reaching out. They actually itched to feel the scruff on his face, his skin under my fingertips. My skin instantly flushed.

I met his eyes, as if searching his knowledge in them and forgot everyone around me as I drowned in the gaze of his dark steel eyes, dangers lurking in them.

He couldn’t bethevery criminal I feared. But in my experience, usually what you see isnotwhat you get. Look at my mother! My biological father!

“Go away,” Angie’s voice got me out of my stupor as I glanced away from the man and in search of my friend who was glaring at the waiter. “She’s with me,” she added in a shrill voice.

I shook my head, the need to warn her not to talk to this guy like that on the tip of my tongue. This man was dangerous.

“Hello, Mr. Nico Morrelli,” she purred before I could warn her. My head whipped around, and I followed her gaze to the man behind me.

Nico Morrelli?

Oh my God! Surely it couldn’t be! I mean, what were the odds?

My eyes darted between the two.Do not panic! Do not jump to conclusions.

Fuck that, there were no conclusions to draw.Nico Morrelli!

ChapterTwo

BIANCA

“Angie, maybe we should go somewhere else,” I suggested to Angie, barely finding my voice and glancing down at my outfit again. I sure as hell couldn’t tell her I didn’t want to be around this guy. The same city was too close. My inadequate clothing was a good reason to go somewhere else, away fromhim.

With a pointed look at Angie, I pleaded with her to go along. Yet she seemed to be oblivious to my hints. Of course she was dressed in a business skirt suit, but she still managed to pull off provocative. Maybe it was the vibrant red skirt that made it flirtier than a business professional.