Page 89 of Desperate Crimes
Chapter Twenty-Three-Leanna
Nico.
My Nico.
Dressed in black from head to toe.
Those unholy, glowing blue eyes locked on me like I’m a target.
He is exactly as I imagined.
A storm wrapped in tailored linen and purpose.
He moves like violence waiting to happen.
Like sin carved into flesh.
And he’s furious.
Just like his name.
“Uh-oh,” Clementine mutters under her breath. “That’s not a casual boyfriend look.”
The whole table watches as he stalks toward me.
Like he owns the place.
Like he owns me.
I stand. Or maybe I just rise because I have no choice.
He stops in front of me, breathing hard, jaw clenched.
“Hi Junior!” Aella says cheerfully.
Like it’s any other Monday night.
Traitor.
“Aella. Ladies. Hope you’re all having a nice evening.”
He greets them, but his gaze is locked on mine.
“Yup.”
“Thanks, Junior.”
“Um, you know what? I think Sammy is here. Yep. And looks like Connor is on his way too, Clementine,” Aella says, filling the air with nonsense.
The girls clear their throats.
Sammy walks in and joins us.
“You good, Lee-Lee?” My cousin looks at me, but I don’t do anything more than nod.
“Junior, you got this?” Sammy asks Nico.
He is my cousin, yes. But also, he’s Nico’s best friend since whenever.
