Page 50 of Violent Delights

Fear twists in my stomach. He knows something. “Of course.”

Cassio leans in close, his eyes locked on mine. “Don’t fuck with me, cousin,” he says in a dangerous tone. “If you’re spreading your legs for filth, I’ll know. I’ll kill all the Montesanos.”

His words are a sword straight to my heart. Cassio knows. I have no doubt about it. The question is—why hasn’t he told Ignacio? Unless he already has.

“Get some beauty rest. You’ll need it for tomorrow.”

I don’t reply because he’ll hear the fear in my voice. Instead, I turn and rush into my bedroom, then lock the door from inside. I lean against it, needing support. My eyes close as I try to make sense of what the hell just happened.

It’s then I hear the tap at my window before I see the shadow. I move to the curtains slowly, unsure of who the hell is out there in the rain. My heart thuds against my ribs as I tug the curtain aside.

And there he is. Soaked, reckless, beautiful. I pull the window open and he climbs through without a word.

“Are you insane?” I whisper.

His jaw is tight. “I had to see you.” He’s dripping wet, shirt clinging to him, hair slicked back with rain.

I close the window, then grab a towel from the bathroom and throw it at him. He catches it but doesn’t thank me. Just starts drying off, his eyes never leaving mine.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Marco cornered me.”

Fear coils in my stomach. “What did he say?”

“Asked questions. Too many.” He shakes his head as he stands before me, and I know something is wrong. So very fucking wrong.

I press a hand to my mouth. “You need to leave. Tonight. Before he tells my father and Ignacio.”

But Nico shakes his head.

“I’m not leaving.”

“Youhaveto,” I insist urgently, taking steps toward him. I need to be close. I want to feel him. “You’re in danger?—”

“So are you,” he throws back. “I called reinforcements yesterday. They’re already on a flight. I didn’t think I’d need them, but my cousins are arriving soon. I thought if they were close, and we were overpowered, we can use their strength.”

We stare at each other.

Then his voice softens. “Lia… I came here with a plan. A mission. It was always to save you, to take you as mine, and spend my life with you.”

My heart stutters.

He steps closer, his hands finding my hips and pulling me against his warmth. “I need you to know something. If I die tomorrow, tonight, whenever the reaper comes for me, it will be you who has my heart and you I think of in my final moments.”

He cups my face, eyes blazing. “I love you.”

I close my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I love you too, Nico. I just don’t want to lose you,” I whisper. “I need you alive.”

The storm outside howls louder, but we stay still.

He leans in and presses his forehead to mine. “I am yours, Lia.”

I breathe him in. The spicy fragrance of his cologne. The feel of his body is rigid, but there is a softness to his touch.

He’s closer now. Unsteady. Barely breathing.

“You and me… we may not get forever,” he says. “We barely getnow. But if you help me—if you trust me—I’ll get us both out of this.”

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