Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
He pulls away from his vehicle which is in the parking space in front of ours. He opens the door and stands back. “Get in, Emilia. I’m taking you home.”
“Vic can bring me—”
“Get in.”
His tone doesn’t leave room for arguing and I figure I better not. I give him another frown. He ignores it much like he did my last one. I look over at Vic and shrug my shoulders. “See you later, big guy.”
“Later,” he says, as Niko lets out a muffled rumbling noise.
I clutch my milkshake close as Niko helps me slide into the back seat of his limo. He gets in beside me and slams the door. I instantly scoot over, getting farther away from him. He apparently doesn’t understand my intention because he immediately moves closer. When I try to move again, his hand clamps down on my leg. Stay.”
I simultaneously melt and get upset. The contact of his hand against my bare leg heats my skin and seems to mark me. My body tingles and comes alive. Then, I remember what’s going on.
“I’m not a dog, Niko.”
“Trust me, I know.”
I bite my tongue to keep from saying more. In the past year, I’ve made great strides in controlling my panic attacks, but I can feel my anxiety rising. I don’t want to risk making Niko mad. If I did that, his anger might cause an episode. I’m already on edge just being this close to him. I miss having Vic here. He has become a lifesaver. About six months ago, he saw me during an attack. He held me and let me breathe into a paper bag. I was awkward with him the next day and he told me his little sister used to have the same issue and not to be embarrassed. When I told him they started after my mom got sick, he seemed to understand. Having him close makes things easier—and is probably the biggest reason that I’m dealing with them better.
“Have you been working somewhere else besides Florida?” I ask a few minutes later.
“No.”
He doesn’t even look at me when he answers. His hand moves off my leg, but his attention moves to his phone. He’s completely ignoring me. It should make me mad, but instead, it just hurts my feelings. If Zoe was here she would get pissed and let Niko have it with both barrels. Or, she’d demand the driver pull over and get out of the car. I wish I could do that. I can’t, though. I don’t truly know what holds me back. I don’t think Niko would physically hurt me. My father would kill him. Yet, I still don’t do anything. I just lamely mumble, “Oh,” beneath my breath.
“Oh?” he repeats.
“Yeah, oh.”
“Why did you ask?”
I sigh, wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “No reason. I just haven’t seen you—like at all.”
“Miss me?”
“Not hardly. We don’t know one another,” I point out. I’m not really lying. I didn’t miss him. I merely wondered where he was occasionally…
Maybe more often than I’d like.
“That will change,” he responds mysteriously.
“What do you mean?” I ask, wondering why I am suddenly scared as I focus on him.
Before he can answer me, his cell rings. He looks down and I can only assume he’s reading the caller ID. For a moment, he looks directly at me. “I need to take this.” I nod because there’s really nothing else to say. I’m starting to regret saying anything to him.
Silence has to be smarter… and safer.
CHAPTER 12
Emilia
My father has been locked in his office with Niko since we got home. I’m sitting outside in the library with Vic. I started to go up and change, but Niko requested I stay here. It was really an order since he left Vic with me to make sure I did it. He barely looked at me. I don’t think he likes me very much. I’m not sure why that bothers me, I just know it does.
“I don’t understand why I must wait here. It makes no sense to me,” I complain.
“When Niko Petrova tells you to do something, Emmie, always do it.”
“Thanks for the advice, but I’m thinking doing anything Niko tells me to do would be bad,” I grumble.
“He’ll protect you. He’s doing everything in his power to shield you from Dante Russo and others who are just as toxic as he is.”
“Dante? But he hasn’t bothered me in a year. He’s harmless. He has a girlfriend—”
“Like that matters with Dante. To him, it’s all about position and power,” Vic mutters. He gets a disgusted look on his face. I don’t have to ask if he likes Dante. It’s clear he doesn’t. Truthfully, I don’t either, but I have never considered him a threat—not really. He was more like a creepy nuisance. At least, that’s how I felt about him. Ever since my sixteenth birthday when Niko sent him away, Dante hasn’t truly bothered me once. He hasn’t even tried to get me alone. If anything, he’s tried to be a friend. It’s weird, but I’m just glad he’s changed. I haven’t thought about why he’s changed, but Vic’s crazy. I mean nothing to Niko, so Dante’s change couldn’t have anything to do with him.