Chapter 06
That’s why Nike had been so unbothered. This entire time, we were on his turf.’
Nike heard every word through the earpiece.
The door opened. Damien stepped in, took one look at me, and paused. “Ms. Shade, I didn’t expect it to be you. And it seems
you’re more complicated than your invitation suggested.”
“Well done. I’ll wire your fee.”
Nike smirked. “Send it to My wife’s account.”
“Your wife? So the rumors are true. You settled down.”
Nike didn’t bother confirming or denying it.
Damien offered brief congratulations, and then he said, “I’d like you to leave Ms. Shade with Me.”
I sneered. “Leave me with you?”
“So I get to be the poor thing you keep around to warm beds and entertain your guests?”
Damien’s eyes glazed over, undressing Me with every look. “You should be grateful.”
“So you’re admitting to what happens on that island?”
He stared at me the way people look at things that are already dead. “I built an empire. What of it?”
He kept rambling about his empire and didn’t notice my expression shift.
Damien came to his senses. “You’ve been baiting me.”
The knife left my hand before he finished the sentence, and buried itself in his
chest.
Damien hit the floor, and I casually wiped
his hands off. “Clean.”
Nike couldn’t care less about Damien’s
death. “Still mad at me, babe? After the gift I give you?”
His “gift” was lying dead on the floor.
I saved the recording, shot a look at Nike’s hair, and asked, “You upset my husband. Did you know that?”
Nike slid closer and wrapped both hands around Mine, thumbs working slow circles. over my wrists. “He should’ve fought harder for his spot. Does it hurt?”
I slapped him across the back of the neck. “Who told you that you could go anywhere near My husband?”
Nike’s skin started to go red, but he closed his eyes, let out a slow breath, lifted my hand, and pressed his mouth to the center of it, lips moving softly through the mask.
“What if you hurt yourself by hitting me that hard?”
‘He’s completely a psycho.’
I texted Nicholas once the scene was
clear.
Miranda: [Honey, trip’s done. Back tomorrow. Wait for me.]
Nicholas: [Miss you, babe. I’ll be waiting.]
Nike insisted on driving Me, something about the dress making it hard to move.
He drove smoothly, the kind of calm that Comes from a good mood.
I let the silence stretch, and then broke it. “Nike. Do you like Oreos?”
The brakes screamed.
The car lurched to a stop on the shoulder, tires dragging against the road. His expression disappeared into the dark as wind pressed against the windows.
“Shade. What are you saying?”
“Maybe you were right. Maybe I’ve been emotionally cheating.”
Nike was not happy. The vein surfaced, and he looked like he was going to
explode. “You told me you loved your husband.”
“I do, but I’m also attracted to you.”
He was still wearing the mask. I couldn’t see his face. But I felt the temperature drop.
I leaned over and put my arms around him anyway.
“Isn’t this what you wanted? You’ve been working at this for months. I’m sitting here telling you it worked. Shouldn’t you be happy?”
Nike trembled, Moving to push me away. “You said you loved him.”
I leaned into him again, all soft and pliant.
“I do. And I like you. I’ve never been in the Middle like this with someone I wanted.”
A vein pulsed sharply at his forehead. “I don’t share. I want all of you. If that’s not Something you can give me, then-”
I cut him off. “You want Me to leave My husband and choose you?”
Nike went rigid in his seat.
“I’d think about it if that’s what you’re asking.”
He didn’t answer right away. When he looked up, his eyes were red.
‘Maybe I’d pushed too far. As I opened my Mouth, he turned away and floored it.
Nike sped down the road and didn’t slow down until we stopped in front of a villa I’d never seen before. He held my wrist and pushed me in.
The villa was dim. Nike pushed me down onto the couch. For all that urgency, all he did was tie a ribbon over my eyes and drag his mouth down my neck.
“Is this your version of a captivity romance?”
He didn’t answer, just kept kissing My neck.
“Fine by me. My husband thinks I’m still out of town. We’ve got all night.”
And he froze. “Shade. Don’t push me.”
“Or what, Nike? What are you going to do?”
I paused for a second. “Or wait, I should
call you Nicholas, shouldn’t I?”