Page 19 of Nikki Sinatra: For Her Lover
Mick stared at her as if he knew there was more to that story too, but he didn’t pursue it. “I didn’t know you had an accident,” he said. “You and Teddy don’t tell me shit about shit. Which is generally okay. I have enough on my plate.”
“Then how did you know?”
“I didn’t. It was a fishing expedition. I was driving by and saw Teddy’s Corvette pull into this place. When you got out instead of Teddy, I knew something was up. So I pulled in too. And went inside.”
Then he looked at her. “I know who our informants are. Every single one of them. That guy isn’t one of them. Now tell me who the fuck he is and it better not be any bullshit friend story.”
He gave her that look that chilled her to the bone. But she looked right back at him and didn’t bat an eye. Because she knew he could smell fear. She was terrified of him, but she also wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with that terror. “He’s a friend of mine,” she said again.
She saw him look down at her large breasts and then back into her eyes. “What kind of friend?”
There was no way in hell she was telling that man the truth about her past. There was no way. He’d be the last one she told. “He’s a friend,” she said yet again.
She could see disappointment in his eyes. “It’s usually Teddy who’s fucks up,” he said. “Now it’s your turn? Is that it?”
What did he mean by her turn? “That’s not it at all, sir. No sir,” she said to him.
“I’m not blind, Nikki.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
When he didn’t say more, Nikki was dumbstruck. She didn’t know where he was going with that. What did he want her to say? No, sir, you aren’t blind? This was getting awkward as hell!
But Mick continued. “I know Teddy’s done some shit. Hell I’ve done more shit than probably any man alive.” There was a pause when Mick made that confession, as if he didn’tmean to make it, but also as if he was coming to grips with who he truly was himself.
Then he looked at Nikki. Nikki was already staring unblinkingly at him. “I understand you’re a very desirable woman. I’m certain there are too many men who view you as the gold standard. I am among them. But don’t get it twisted. If you break my child’s heart, I will break you. Do we understand each other, Nicole?”
Nikki’s heart was hammering. But her face remained sincere and unwavering as she spoke up. “That may be you. And that may be Teddy too for all I know, although I don’t believe so. But don’t you put that shit on me. That ain’t me.”
It was Mick’s turn to stare unblinkingly at Nikki. She stood up for herself against him, which very few men, let alone a woman, could do. She was one of a kind in his eyes. Just the best. She’d never know how much he loved and respected her.
“Is there anything else?”
To Nikki’s shock, Mick actually smiled. It was weak and barely noticeable, but she noticed it. “I understand Marco’s in town.”
“Yes sir.”
“Are those shipments back on track?”
“Yes sir. He made certain of it before he left Peru.”
Mick nodded.“Good.”
For several seconds, nothing was said between them.
“Is there anything else, sir?” Nikki asked him.
“No, Nikki, that’s it. You’re free to go.”
Had it been anybody else Nikki would have told him she was free to go the entire time. But she could never disrespect Mick for disrespect sake. He still gave her heart palpitations, and not in a good away, but there was something about him so decent and kind to her too, as if she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if she needed him he would move mountains to helpher. And not just her but every single member of their family. She loved him. And she believed he loved her. Just not in the way those rumors declared. She believed they had a bond.
She opened the door to get out. But just as she did she felt a hand on her back. A big, comforting hand. She turned and looked at Mick.
“The truth is,” he said to her and then looked her dead in the eyes with those steely green eyes, “I wouldn’t break you. I could never do that to you.”
Nikki smiled a big, genuine smile. “I know.”
Mick even smiled. Not nearly as grand as Nikki’s smile, but it was a real smile this time. “I’m a big Teddy Bear at heart.”
