Page 10 of Nicoli

“Alexius,” Nicoli starts, “didn’t you give Esther that weekend off?”

“I sure did.”

I narrow my eyes at Alexius. “No, you didn’t.”

“He’s about to,” Nicoli says, followed by taking a bite of his toast.

“It’s my birthday, and I’m going out. Leandra is my best friend, which means she’s coming with me. So, either you lock me in my room—”

“Which you know the men in this family have no problem doing.”

“Or,” I enunciate at Nicoli, “you can all join us and make sure Leandra and I don’t get into any trouble.”

“Who’s getting into trouble?” Isaia plops down next to Nicoli, his forehead creased with confusion.

“No one,” Nicoli responds curtly. “Because they’re not going.”

“Who’s not going where?” Isaia glances from Nicoli to Alexius. “What the fuck am I missing?”

Caelian rights himself and places his arm on the table as he leans closer to Isaia. “Mirabella wants to go to After Dark for her birthday. Alexius clearly has a problem with it. Nicoli definitely has a problem with it. And do you know what that means, little brother?”

Isaia lifts a brow in question, grabbing a warm, buttery croissant drizzled with melted chocolate. I’m debating whether being bloated for the rest of the day might be worth indulging in one of those.

“It means we’re in for a very entertaining breakfast because what’s about to happen is Mira will be stubborn as hell as she always is. Leandra will not appreciate Alexius’ tone and the fact that he thinks he can control her, and by the time the women leave this table, our twin brothers will sit here wondering what the fuck just happened. And you and I, we’ll enjoy the fuck out of it.”

Isaia bursts out laughing, and Alexius slaps Caelian against the back of his head.

“You’re an idiot. You know that?”

“Says the one whose day is about to get shot to shit.”

Leandra stands, her glare aimed at Alexius, who, by the expression on his face, already knows what’s coming. “It’s Mirabella’s birthday, and if she wants to go celebrate at After Midnight—”

“After Dark,” I correct her.

“After Dark, then I’m going with her. Join us. Don’t join us. But we’re going.”

“Like fuck you are,” Alexius snaps, but then he’s forced to watch his wife walk away without sparing him another glance. Her only response is the determined click of her heels across the patio.

I smile at Alexius, reveling in my victory as I reach for a croissant at the same time Nicoli does. Our hands touch, and it’s as if his skin is an inferno of wildfire, heat spreading up my arm and across my chest. I let out a silent gasp, my pulse racing and my heart thundering with its echo beating between my ears.

It’s always like this. For me, at least. Whenever he’s near me, whenever there’s the slightest sensation of physical touch between us, it’s as if my world comes to a screeching halt, and I’m robbed of gravity. There’s no air. There’s no light or darkness. There’s no past or future. There’s only him. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember. He’s never given me any reason to believe he harbors any kind of feelings for me. In fact, if he does feel something, I’m pretty sure it’s somewhere between apathy and contempt, judging by the way he looks at me ninety-nine percent of the time. But this moment right now is that other one percent where his gaze is white-hot and I feel it caress my skin.

I’m frozen, our pinkies still touching as I look into his eyes. Alexius and Nicoli are almost identical in many ways, even the color of their irises. But where Alexius’ eyes are sapphires that shimmer with mystery, Nicoli’s are dark and deep blue, like azurite, with a vitreous luster that hypnotizes me with a single glance.

For a few breaths, our eyes remain locked, and I’m lost, heat kissing the back of my neck. I can feel my body and soul wanting to get closer, every nerve ignited with flames that lick my flesh. His lips part, my gaze drops to the movement, and he…looks away.

Ice clamps down around my spine, and it all fades to nothing, like water sinking into desert sand.

“I have a busy day.” He stands, slipping on his suit jacket. “I’ll grab breakfast on my way to Myth.”

My cheeks warm as I place my hands in my lap, looking down. I’ve been part of this family long enough to know it’s not only business that takes place at Myth. I’m painfully aware of Nicoli’s sexual prowess and late nights at Myth. It hurts, but it is what it is.

I listen as Nicoli’s footsteps disappear, and I swallow the hurt slowly creeping up my throat. “I, um…”

“I’m telling you,” Caelian starts, “out of us four douchebags, Nicoli is the cunt.”

I get up from my seat. “I have to go inform the chef that plans have changed for my birthday.”

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