Page 51 of Vendetta

Once I find a dress that fits exactly what I want I decide to pop into a lingerie store. I want to surprise Nico with a few items as a treat. My bodyguards again don’t comment but they stand at the door, looking slightly awkward amongst all the lace and frills.

I pick up a few items, a cut out set, a corset, some crotchless panties, all things I think Nico will appreciate me covering my body in.

“Miss Gordon?” A man says quietly as I’m holding a teal bra and trying to figure out if the colour would be draining or not against my skin tone.

I frown looking at him and then at my guards. I don’t think they’ve seen him, we’re pretty well hidden but I know I only have to call and they’ll come running.

“Who are you?” I ask.

He flashes a badge. Subtly. Enough for me to see briefly and understand he’s a cop.

“You’ve got yourself tangled up into a lot of mess.” He murmurs.The authority dripping from his voice.

“I think you’re mistaken there.” I reply coolly.

“You’re sleeping with Nico Morelli.” He states like it’s a secret. Like it’s not his men standing at the door.

“What do you want?”

“Your boyfriend is not a good man. He runs the mob. He’s killed a lot of people. Murdered them.”

“Can you prove that?” I ask.

He smirks. “He’s facing RICO charges that would mean he spends the rest of his life in jail. He and everyone associated with him.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “How do you think you’d fare in the system? A woman like you?”

I screw my face up at him. He thinks he can persuade me to snitch of Nico is that it? Not a chance.

“We know he’s controlling you, we know you’re not fully complicit in this relationship despite your attempts to be…” He glances at the bra in my hand as if it’s evidence of Nico’s power over me. “Would you really throw your entire life away for such a man? If you work with us, give us information then I can help you avoid all that. You could have a new life, a new start. Without Nico Morelli controlling you.”

I scoff. “He doesn’t control me. I’m with him by choice. And you have nothing on him. Nico is a good man.”

“His victims would disagree with you there.” He states before making a point of studying my scar. As if he has a right too. “I’d have thought with your history you’d be more on the side of justice.”

I scowl. “How dare you.” I snap. “You have no idea what you’re even talking about. Nico gave me more justice than you lot ever did. I’m loyal to him. I’ll never betray him, even if he was the devil himself I would stand by his side and nothing you say would change that.”

My bodyguards are suddenly here. Grabbing this piece of garbage and hauling him out before he can reply and tossing him into the street.

I take a deep breath, calming myself and go pay for the items I’m holding before gratefully getting into the waiting car.

I try not to think of that man. Of what he said. But I make a mental note to tell Nico. He needs to know that they’re looking into him, investigating him.I need to warn him.

I spend the afternoon getting ready. I’ve arranged for someone to do my hair, to do my makeup too. I want to look perfect for Nico.

I want him to be proud of me.

He comes back to the hotel later than I expected but I know with whatever the hell is going on he’s busy. Really busy.

He showers and gets in his tuxedo and sits, glass of whiskey in hand watching as I descend the stairs.

“What do you think?” I ask but I can already tell from the look on his face that he likes what he sees. He always seems to like what he sees.

The dress is an off the shoulder, fit and flare with a split up the side the whole way to the top of my thigh. I’m wearing a corset because a bra just wouldn’t hold me and the fabric clings to my figure as if it’s worshipping it. With my hair curled and tousled over the damaged part of my face I feel a million dollars right now.

“Perfect except for one thing.” He replies pulling out a box and handing it to me.

I frown as I open it and my jaw drops. It’s a necklace, a gold necklace with the biggest pear shaped diamond pendant I’ve ever seen.

“It’s forty carats.” He says as he takes it and unhooks the chain before sweeping my hair aside to fasten it around my neck.

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