Page 45 of Knot your Princess
His attitude changes instantly. He approaches me cautiously, coming to a stop in front of me and kneeling down.
“Sophia.”
“Nico. You’re alive?”
He nods. “Of course. I’m here, Sophia.”
Letting out an ugly sob, I fling myself into his arms, relief flooding me that he is okay, but guilt overwhelming me that I didn’t mourn him more when I thought he was dead. My heat is only partially to blame for that, the rest was conscious shoving aside.
He strokes my bare back, making a hushing noise when his hand freezes. He pushes me gently away with a frown. He takes in my naked body, and the frown turns into a full-blown rage.
“What have they done to you?” he growls fiercely.
“N-nothing.” I shake my head to try and get my point across that I’m unharmed, but he has zoned out.
He pulls me to my feet and rips his t-shirt over his head. He dresses me in it steadily but quickly. Inhaling his gorgeous scent, I notice the sticky bandages on his side that are letting blood through.
“You’re hurt,” I murmur, reaching out to touch him.
“A scratch.” His dismissive tone is just a front. He must be hurting.
Without another word, he reaches down for a blanket and wraps it around me before scooping me up into his arms. If my weight is causing him harm, he doesn’t show it. He whisks me out of the room and down the stairs quickly.
I catch sight of Cain and that fucking Atlas arsehole embroiled in a fight with several of Enzo’s men, but Enzo, and more importantly Trent, are not there, that I can see anyway. Finding it only slightly perturbing that I can tell the difference between the three brothers, I return my focus back to Nico.
“How did you find me? I thought Enzo was playing with my mum,” I mutter, my head lolling with a sudden exhaustion that has overcome me, along with a good old dose of the sweats.
“I found you, princess,” he mutters and takes me past the fighting to the outside, where a van is idling, being driven by Luca.
Nico bundles me into the van, making sure I’m comfortable and covered up with the blanket when Franco comes storming over.
“Enzo got away,” he spits out. “Quinn is going to…” When he spots me, he trails off.
“We got Sophia. That was the objective,” Nico says steadily, moving over to let Franco in.
He climbs in and moves to the back of the van, followed shortly by Cain and Atlas. I have no idea how or why they are working as a team now, but I don’t care. The heat that I thought was disappearing is returning, and it’s fogging up my brain.
“Go,” Nico orders Luca, who sets off with a screech of tyres.
Nico wraps his arm around me, and I sink into him, trying not to hurt his injuries.
“Is she okay?” Cain whispers.
“No. God knows what they inflicted on her while she was here.”
“I’m okay,” I whisper, but I don't think any of them heard me, and I don’t have the energy to repeat myself.
Torn away from Trent’s scented t-shirt, I feel desolate and empty, but at the same time, it’s not really real. It doesn’thurt, it just feels wrong. There is something else trying to push through. Closing my eyes, I clutch the collar of Nico’s t-shirt, pulling it up over my nose. I draw in a deep breath. The log-fire scent fills my nostrils, and I let out a small mewl of longing.
Nico.
He is the one that is affecting me with his proximity.
Opening my eyes, I look up at him. His face is rigid, his jaw tightly clenched. He is staring straight ahead.
“Nico,” I whisper, lowering the t-shirt from my face but keeping it in my grasp.
He turns his head to look down at me, his face softening. “You’re safe now, Sophia. I promise I will never let anyone hurt you ever again.” He kisses my forehead gently.
