Page 20 of Christmas with the Mafia
“She’s, um, a friend, nothing more. I only invited her because you said you would be out of town and couldn’t come. When your plans changed, I forgot I had invited her until I was on the way to yours. It’s no big deal; she’s merely a friend and always has been.”
I stare at him in shock as she hisses, “Then perhaps you should tell her.”
She pushes past him and yells, “You are a freak, Connor, and you can take your ring and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. Actually, scrub that, I’m keeping it ascompensation for ever believing you were good enough for me.”
He turns to follow her and growls, “What have you done, Reggie, are you happy now? It must have been you who got me hauled into the manager’s office for a COVID test. I thought it was routine, but apparently not. You’re an embarrassment, and I’m amazed you even showed up here alone. God, what did I ever see in you, you stupid bitch.”
I don’t get a chance to answer before the crowds part and a strong hand finds mine, and as Connor’s expression changes to disbelief, I know exactly whose hand it is.
Ten
NICO
The minuteshe walked into the room, my gaze locked on her. She is the most important person in my life right now and is the key to my successful future. There is nobody else that I want. She is the one, and even five minutes away from me was too long. Until the deal is done, she is going nowhere, and as my gaze followed her progress, I witnessed everything.
It takes me seconds to arrive by her side, my rage bristling the moment he laid his hands on her.
By the time I reach them, it’s pretty obvious what’s going down, and I tug her gently toward me and say coolly, “Darling, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
Her cheating boyfriend stares in surprise, and hismouth drops to the floor.
“Nico.”
Regina leans against me, and it’s obvious she’s dealing with a lot right now. I place my arm around her waist and pull her closer and glare at her boyfriend. “If you’ll excuse us, I want to dance with this gorgeous woman.”
I don’t give him time to reply as I pull her away, signaling to my men to dispose of him from sight. The moment his hands touched her sealed his fate. I will not tolerate another man’s hands on my property and he will suffer the consequences of that.
I pull her into my arms and flush against my body, my hands holding her against me with no room to escape.
She rests her face against my chest and follows my lead, and I whisper in her ear, “I take it that was your cheating ex and his date for the night.”
“They are engaged. She’s more than just a date, it seems.”
“I see.”
I rub circles on her back, oblivious to the curious stares directed our way.
She whispers, “He was cheating on me the entire time, and I never saw it coming.”
I pull back and tilt her beautiful face to mine and ask. “Do you want to leave?”
Her eyes swim with tears as she shakes her head. “These are tears of anger, Nico. Tears of humiliation, rage and disbelief, but for some reason they arenottears of pain.”
My thumb eases the tears from the corner of each eye, and I smile. “Rage and anger are good. They are powerful emotions that can be harnessed and used to better yourself.”
“How?”
“By being better. For showing others what they’re missing and elevating yourself above them. Proving that you are better than them and they are fools for ever believing they were your equals.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“Do you think this has been easy for me?” I shake my head.
“Life isn’t easy when you come from my beginnings. Every dollar I have was earned the hard way.”
“I know what that’s like.” She nods her agreement, and my eyes lift in surprise.
“Do you now?”
