Enforcer’s Obsession

Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

Nico

“I don’t want to hear it, Nico,” she said before I could say a word.

“Maybe not but you need too,” I said.

Then I pulled off my shirt, turned my back to her, and looked at her over my shoulder.

I stared at her, her eyes dance with what looked to be unshed tears.

I hated that.

Hated to see her in any kind of distress, especially if it was my fault, but I had to be strong for both of us.

“Look,” I growled when she turned her eyes away.

She looked up, stared at my scars, giving no reaction.

After a moment, I turned to face her and do the thing I’d hate more than any other.

“Whatever you think this is between us… Whatever you want it to be…”

“Whatever I want to be?” she said.

It was no surprise that Hope had hit the target.

This was about me as much as it was her.

About the feelings that I couldn’t afford, the feelings I would make her pay for.

“Whatever,” I said, deciding to keep pushing ahead.

“I told you about my family,” I said.

“Yes,” she responded.

“But I didn’t tell you everything. I didn’t tell you that it’s my fault they’re dead.”

I’d said those words in my head a million times, thought them so often that they were etched into my soul as truth.

But I’d never said them out loud.

And saying them now, feeling the weight of that responsibility.

Knowing what I had done.

This, this was the reason that I could never have her.

Was the reason I didn’t deserve her.

“Explain,” she said.

She was wearing that expression, that determined one that I wasn’t even sure she knew she had.

So I went on.

“The people who set that fire. They were a rival family. And I, idiot that I was, thought it would be a good idea to fuck with them. So I did. Beat the shit out of one of their capos. Stupid kid shit that only an idiot sixteen-year-old would think was smart. And it was my age that made it so embarrassing for the capo.

“I was so proud of myself. I bragged about it. Never once considered the consequences. My father tried to warn me. Told me that it was one thing to best someone, but something else altogether to humiliate them. I brushed it off, thought he was being an old man. I should have listened,” I said.

I lowered my head, turned away from her, unable to look at her.

Remembered why I never spoke of these things.

“Anyway, I’m left one night, even though my mother told me to stay home. She was worried, but I paid her no attention. And when I came home, I saw the fire. Smelled smoke, so thick it was burning my eyes. I can still hear my family’s screams,” I said.

I felt transported back to that day, remembered how powerless I had been, how I had rushed into the house, searching for someone.

How I hadn’t been able to save a single one of them.

“I guess someone dragged me out. When I woke up, the capo that I had beaten up was standing over me. Smiling. Asking me if I thought there was still something funny.”

“Oh God,” Hope whispered.

I shrugged. “Yeah, it’s what I deserved. But my family didn’t. They didn’t deserve that. And they died. Two sisters who never got to grow up. A little brother who idolized me. They died painful, horrible deaths because of me. I can’t let that happen again. I will not let that happen again.”

My fist slamming against my palm was barely audible over my words.

I looked at Hope, and she met my eyes. “Is that why you won’t admit you have feelings for me?”

“Did you not hear anything I said?” I screamed, anger surging through me.

“I heard everything you said,” she replied, seeming calm.

“You clearly didn’t. Because I told you I won’t let that happen again. My family is dead because of me. I won’t carry your death, too, Hope. I can’t,” I said.

“You really think it’s your fault?”

“I don’t think anything. I know it’s my fault.”

She tilted her head.

“I could see a sixteen-year-old boy thinking that. But you’re a grown man now, Nico. You can’t hide behind that anymore. Not if you want me to believe that.”

I glared at her, so angry that I could barely see straight.

“What the fuck did you say to me?” I asked.

My voice was rough, a low growl.

Hope didn’t flinch.

“You heard me,” she said.

I blinked, and was on her in an instant.

Hope

I realized, far too late, that perhaps that wasn’t what I should have said.

Had confirmation of that when Nico scooped me up like I was nothing.

I already knew he was strong, but his rage only made him seem that much stronger.

Weeks ago, I would have cowered in the face of that strength.

Not now.

I let him carry me.

Didn’t flinch when he literally ripped the clothes from my body.

Didn’t cower when he pushed me down on the bed, then stripped himself. Or when he kneeled in front of me and pushed my thighs apart, splaying my legs so wide that my hips protested at the angle.

Didn’t even blink when he entered me with one hard thrust, his thickness stretching me, his length burrowing inside me.

His forearms were hooked under my knees, and his cock was buried inside me, his thrusts so hard that his balls smacked my ass and his muscles bulged with the effort.

There was no hint of tenderness, none of the softness, sweetness, that I had come to expect, even when Nico was at his roughest.

No, this was meant to be punishment. This was Nico pushing me away.

I refused to let him.

I pushed up on my elbows as best I could against the soft mattress, and lifted my hips to meet his thrusts.

His eyes, which he had closed, popped open with surprise.

I kept my gaze locked on his, refusing to look away. He stilled, but I didn’t. I just kept fucking myself on his cock, thrusting as hard as he had.

Harder, even.

I kept my gaze lasered on his as I moved, trying to bury as much of him as I could inside of me, despite the awkward angle, that telltale quiver in my stomach, my undeniable desire for him more important than anything.

I didn’t even blink as I came, just kept my eyes on his as my pussy spasmed around his cock. When I clamped down hard, he finally lost it, seeming caught off guard as he spurted his cum inside of me.

I kept still as his body spasmed, and he throbbed inside of me.

Didn’t move until he softened and slipped out of me, a trail of our combined fluids following him.

Eyes still locked on his, I pushed myself up and kneeled in front of him.

He was stiff when I wrapped my arms around him, but I still held him tight.

Whispered in his ear. “I’m still here, Nico.”

He didn’t say anything.

But he didn’t push me away.