Page 20 of Nicoli

“That’s a sign.”

“Of what?”

“That someone is trying to poison us.”

He slips his hands into his pants pockets. “And if you wake up finding a new scratch on your car?”

“That’s an omen.” I straighten my suit jacket. “One that says I’m about to tear your throat out your ass.”

“Can you two idiots—” Alexius levels us with a glare straight out of Lucifer’s asshole “—focus on the problem at hand?”

“Focusing,” I say, shooting him a fake smile before sauntering past him. “Where’s Yulie?”

“Maximo has her in the bar by the poker tables,” Caelian replies, and all three of us make our way down the staircase, my hand gliding across the gold banister framing the steel rails.

There are two arches on either side of the foyer—one leading you to the lavish dwelling of sinners, AKA fuckers like me, and the other taking you to the deluxe gambling area where we find Maximo standing guard next to Yulie.

“Hey, Max,” I start, approaching him. “Have you ever had an American pitbull?”

He frowns. “No. Why?”

“Just asking.” I circle my finger in front of his face. “You have that fighter dog expression nailed to a T. Makes me wonder if you grew up with a pack of wild animals.”

“I did. I grew up with you and your brothers.”

“That does explain why you’re always walking around with your asshole puckered, just like my twin brother over here.” I slap my palm on Alexius’ shoulder, then almost get obliterated with a glower that can tear the flesh off Satan.

“Okay, then.” I step back and pull a chair closer, taking a seat across from Yulie. Her rosy nipples tease through white lace, her slender body filling the button-front, split-hem sleep dress perfectly.

Yeah, our girls sure only get the best.

Alexius crosses his arms and puffs up his chest like he’s about to fight this woman. “Tell us everything. And make it quick.”

“Hey, hey. Easy, Casanova.” I hold out a hand, gesturing for him to step the fuck back. “Being with one woman has done absolutely nothing for your charisma.”

“Unlike you, I don’t have time to piss around, Nicoli.”

“Just let me handle this.”

Alexius lets out a low snarl behind me, but I ignore his impatient ass and focus all my attention on the beautiful, dark-haired Russian girl in front of me.

“Poor girl,” I coo. “You’re as pale as a ghost. Maximo, get Yulie a cosmo or something. We need to calm her nerves before her brain short-circuits.” I reach out and brush a gentle finger down her cheek. “You scared, little one?”

She nods, strands of dark hair slipping down her face.

“Don’t be.” I place my fingers below her chin and lift her blue-eyed gaze to meet mine. “You’re not in trouble here. We just need to know what happened.”

I don’t break eye contact with her, trailing my fingers along her jaw. I’ve been around these girls long enough to know what they need. And what Yulie needs right now is to feel protected. Cherished. Special. Nothing earns a woman’s loyalty faster than appreciation.

“Let’s start at the beginning. Did you get a name?”

“We have him as Aldo Costa,” Maximo responds, and I simply narrow my eyes at him.

“Thanks. I’d like to continue this conversation with Yulie, if you don’t mind.”

The creak of leather is audible as Maximo tightens his arms in front of his chest. He’s on edge. Angry. Annoyed. I’d bet the entire Dark Sovereign money pot that Maximo is about to cut through glass with his tight, sharp jawline. Whenever we have a problem that seems to have slipped through a crack in security, Maximo takes it as a personal failure and will not rest until he fixes it…and spends an entire six months sulking while riding the backs of his men with a whip and chainsaw.

I shift in my seat and drop my hand to Yulie’s knee, easing my thumb along the inside of her leg. “What, exactly, did he offer you?”

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