Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“I’m just saying that sometimes, you have to make your own decisions.”
“Do you mind if I take a shower?” Lucy asks about an hour later. “I want to wash…” she shudders, “Him, from me.”
I take her hands. “Nico told me what sort of person Dominic was. I’m so sorry for what you had to endure, Aunt Lucy.”
She clenches her jaw as tears shine in her eyes. “I won’t tell you what he did. What I will say is I hope he rots in hell, and Nico should never feel bad about what he’s done tonight.”
Lucy leaves. I text Mom, telling her I’m staying at Lilly’s. Lilly will freak out if I ever tell her what happened after the standoff in the club. I probably won’t—the fewer people who know about this, the better.
My phone vibrates. It’s Nico.
Nico: It’s done. I won’t say specifically what, but you know what I’m talking about. It’s over. I hope.
Me: Where are you? Come home.
Nico: I am home. I’m sitting in the parking lot, staring down at my hands, these hands which have done terrible things. These hands make me wonder if I will ever touch you again. I’m wondering how you could ever let me. You’re so pure, Arria, so good. I call you my angel because you’re angelic.
Me: Please, just come upstairs. Or I’m coming down.
Nico: You won’t be able to find me. I’m in darkness.
He’s not just talking about the position of his car.
Me: They were terrible people.
Then, I delete the message. Nico doesn’t want to talk specifics.
Me: Earlier, you said you were done with the savior, but that’s not true. Anything you’ve done has been because that’s who you are deep down. The world has tried to drag you into the filth over and over, but you’ve never let it. You’ve always done the right thing. Just think, Nico. You’ve earned the nickname twice in two different fields.
It feels odd calling mafia enforcing a ‘field,’ but I’m not sure how else to describe it.
Me: Twice, people have widely agreed that you’re a good person.
Nico: I don’t care about people. I care about you.
Me: I’m not judging you. I care about you, Nico. More than I can understand. More than I should be able to. I cared about you the moment I walked into that cafe—every word you’ve sent me, every text, every touch, every smile. Every time my heart beats faster when I see you or think about you, I’m reminded of just how much I care. I want you. I need you.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Me: So get your butt up here!
Nico: We can’t pretend it’s going to be plain sailing. What about your dad?
Me: I’m not talking about the rest of our lives. I’m talking about tonight. I hate the idea of you sitting down there, beating yourself up. You don’t deserve that.
Minutes pass. I send him another text.
Me: Nico?
“I’m here,” he whispers from behind me.
I gasp and leap to my feet. He’s changed his clothes since the last time I saw him. That makes sense, considering what he’s had to do. He’s wearing a T-shirt, his chest heaving, outlining his strong, muscular shape. He steps forward, his green eyes glinting in the semidarkness, the silver in his hair catching the light. His expression is heartbreaking. It’s like he thinks I’m going to run away from him.
Instead, I run toward him, throw my arms around his shoulders, and pull myself close. “You had to do it,” I whisper passionately, squeezing into his arms. “There was no other way. You saved Lucy, Nico. You’ve saved so many people by doing what you did tonight.”
He moans, smoothing his hand over my back, pressing down so that our bodies are as close as they can be when we’re clothed. Then he presses his face into my neck like he wants to escape from the world.
I lead him to the couch, sit down, pull his head into my lap, and stroke my fingers through his hair. He shudders, touching my hand.
“You’re stronger than me, Arria,” he says.
“I don’t know if that’s true, but if it is, it’s lucky I’m here for you, right?”
“Is Lucy okay?” he says after a pause.
“I think so. She’s getting there.”
“Before Dominic—before I… you know. He rubbed it in my face. Some of the stuff he did to her in the short time they were together. This is a fucked-up world, angel. It’s beyond dark. It’s depraved in all kinds of ways. I’m never going to let anything like that happen to you. Even if the universe pushes us apart, I’ll always be there, watching, protecting.”
“Texting,” I whisper.
He laughs dryly. “That should be corny, but it’s not. Texting is special for us, isn’t it? It always will be.”
“I was telling Lucy that. I’m not sure she gets it. I’m not sure anybody else would except for us. What do you want to do, Nico?”