Page 158 of Nemesync
Zanae
Niko is a bad liar.
He loved my playlist even if he would say something like, “Sounds like something Ben would listen to,” or “this is ass, Little Z.” But most of the time we sang along.
No, I sang along, and Niko did the ad-libs for most of the songs. We just laughed at everything weird we saw. Oh, and Niko almost killed a man on a bike because he threw a kiss at me.
It was just fun, I guess.
Seated at a corner table in the back side of the café, Nikolai leaned back, relaxing on his chair, with that little grin he always has on him when he’s going to say something stupid. “Am I crazy or did the barista write your name with an extra heart on the ticket?”
“No, he didn’t. Stop being another version of scary, jealous and possessive Elijah.”
Niko shrugged nonchalantly and added, “Not my fault if I’m a good best friend.” He then took a look at the menu. “What do you want to eat, my dear Z? Just to be clear, Elijah isn’t an option,” he teased, grinning like a child.
I mimicked a fake laugh, “Hahaha Niko. I’m going to take this fork and put it down your throat.”
“Oh, so you’re threatening me now. You spent too much time with Eli.”
“He teaches me a lot of ways to kill people. Even if I really think that women are more creative.”
“Ben and Elijah are also super creative. But I’m not; I love simple kills. They’re less messy, and I hate messy things.”
“Clean and classy then.”
He laughed but he was still not fully relaxed. Niko blinked so many times, scanning the room as if he was searching for something, a threat maybe. His lips were pressed together everytime, and he kept clenching his jaw. He literally deployed three guards outside just ‘in case’.
I could feel it in his body language, the alertness, the concern, the worry for my safety. Even if he was just trying to make me laugh and make me feel good, he was still so cautious.
This version of Niko is quite different from the one I’m used to. He’s the Don, I know. But he’s still the same Niko I know and love—the one who brings me comfort and laughter, my Niko, the funny, sweet, insolent man trying to bring me peace. And now I can see it, the leader of the Zennites, scary, lethal,powerful.
While he went to the bar to pay for our drinks, a stranger approached me with confidence, he looked familiar.
Nikolai appeared instantly. I didn’t even have the time to talk when he was already in front of me facing him. His voice was cold and sarcastic, “Lost, buddy?”
I think I know this man.Focus Z, focus.
“Just striking up a friendly conversation with the lady. No harm, right Miss Dellé ?” he said, smirking.
Nikolai’s grin held, but his eyes darkened. “She’s not interested. Get the fuck out of my vision now.”
The stranger chuckled arrogantly and replied. “I don’t take orders from anyone but my boss.”
You know him Z!
Nikolai laughed darkly, before taking a step closer to him. “I’m not suggesting. Get the fuck out of here if you don’t want me to just send back your head in a box to your boss.”
Their eyes locked, but Niko’s stare was literally burning the other man’s skin like a searing flame.
The stranger finally took a step back, realizing that he had no chance in front of him and retreated outside.
Niko’s eyes remained fixed on him until he was out of sight. Then his gaze returned to me, his eyes were cold, I never saw him like that, he was terrifying, and I understood that he may begentle and calm with me, but, in their world, he was a completely different man.
Realizing who the stranger was, I felt a chill run down my spine.
Oh my god.
He’s one of my father’s men. Elias wasn’t joking when he said that he would make me regret leaving the house.
