Page 63 of Nico

A guy with pale blond hair that looked like an MMA fighter approached our crowd and grinned. “I’ve got to give it to you. The party hasn’t even started, and I am fucking loving it.”

“Who in the hell are you?” I demanded.

“Sasha Nikolaev,” he made a bow. “At your service.”

Weirdo!

“Listen buddy,” I muttered, annoyed at this clusterfuck. “This is not a drama club so get going. Nothing for you to see here.”

A woman with dark brown hair chuckled and tugged him away. “You asked for that one, Sasha.”

“I like her,” the guy winked at me as he went along with the woman.

Inhaling a deep breath, I faced Nico and John.

Nico didn’t even look frazzled, his expensive Brioni tuxedo looking as pristine as ever. John, on the other hand, looked like he’d gotten run over by a train. His eye was slowly starting to swell, his shirt crooked, and his hair disheveled.

“What’s going on, Bianca?” John questioned, his lip slightly swollen. “You couldn’t even call and tell me you are getting married. Tothisguy! I have to hear it from Angie.”

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. Truth was that it never even occurred to me to call John and tell him about what was happening. He was William’s best friend and took it upon himself to look after us after William passed away, but he had enough of his own issues.

“It hadn’t crossed my mind,” I exhaled. “Everything happened so fast.”

“And how did Angie know?” he accused.

“I didn’t tell her,” I muttered. “Someone else told her.”

“Listen, John,” Nico interrupted, a threatening look in his gaze. “This is neither the time nor place for your little visit.”

I cringed at Nico’s directness. I had to agree, it wasn’t the best time to visit, and it wasn’t the best move on John’s part to muscle his way through the security guards. But Nico muscled his way too, forcing this wedding on me.

“That’s not fair,” I told Nico. “You haveyourfriends here, and I haven’t said a word.” I glanced at Cassio, Luciano, and the rest of the crew. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Cassio retorted.

“Bianca, he-”

“He nothing, Nico.” I cut him off. “If John wants to stay, he’s staying.”

The tension was thick between Nico and me, a battle of wills tugging back and forth. I knew if he decided to throw him out, I could do nothing to stop him… short of screaming and crying. It still wouldn’t help. But I refused to let him punch his way into getting what he wanted. I refused to be his doormat, no matter how good he kissed.

The storm in his eyes reflected the storm in my heart and soul. Maybe I had finally lost my sanity. Maybe all my marbles got fried by the mind-blowing orgasm he gave me. The way he set my body on fire but still made me feel comfortable with myself didn’t make any sense. He was dangerous, yet instinctively I trusted him with my body. I knew nobody else could take me to those amazing heights.

This man in front of me could end me with the snap of his fingers and nobody would even think to question my disappearance. Yet, something about him also fueled the strength in me.

To fight. To stand my ground. To stand up to him and the world.

“Is that whatyouwant?” Nico surprised me with my question as he nodded in John’s direction. What was he implying?

I glanced around us. “Do you all mind giving us some privacy please?” Everyone dispersed, but John remained in his spot. “You too, John.” He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “Please.”

“Fine, fine,” he muttered and left us alone.

“What’s the problem here?” I asked Nico in a low voice, ensuring nobody else could hear us.

“I want to know ifyouwanthim.”

I shook my head. “As a friend, yes.” I let the words sink in. Taking a step forward, my hands reached out, gripping his suit jacket in between my fingers and tugging him lower. He was too tall. He bent his head, and I lifted my eyes to meet his.