Nicole. This is going to be awkward. A hot shirtless man with a body like that teaching me how to cook. How can I concentrate? How will I survive burning the damn food? "Nikki?" Leo walks into the kitchen followed by the two men. One of them sporting a wide smirk and the one behind them having a calm look. He holds himself so well. He is everything on my dream guy list minus the anger problems. That is one awful flaw that I wish I could erase with a snap of my finger. "Whatever he said is not true, I will start the food" I turn around the stove and stare at the metal not knowing what to turn or switch on. What food do I even want to cook? Tara knows everything. She works like magic with this stuff and boom, food is ready. I never took my time to learn. Blame it on laziness, I would always go for snacks and I was fine. Until now."You need help?" his voice murmurs behind me as he cages me between the cooking stove and himself. Why is he this close? "Mmh" I worriedly clear

"Are you ready?" Leo asks assessing my outfit with uncertainty. He didn't expect me to wear the dress Alessio sent while going with someone else, right? "Yes, so much ready" I exclaim but his hard stare shows just how much he is not impressed. " It's a ball, Nicole, dress code matters a lot in these types of events" I look down at my black jean shorts, and a red crop top, and on top of it is a big camouflage jacket that also belongs to him. When I add my black army boots to the look, I appear so hot and badass. "Who cares Leo?" I nonchalantly murmur, tucking my gun at the back of my shorts "I'm driving," I say, snatching the keys from his hands and dashing to the door before he could object to it, or say something else about my dressing. "Wait Nicole, Alex is picking you up" My brother rushes after me and just to his luck, a blue sports car with extremely loud hip-hop music, roughly comes to a stumbling stop two steps away from me. Well, this will be the most romantic date I wil

Alessio. "I need to tell you something boss" Luca whispers staring warily at Leo who is strangely beside me. He told me his sister would be here on a security detail but I haven't seen her. "Is something wrong?" I ask a little more dismissively as my eyes roam around the room. I need to find Nicole before Ernesto lays his eyes on her. We both know he will do something that won't favor her or me. "Yes, they have a target on you again" he whispers but I don't find shock in his words. Someone always has a hit on me and it's no longer news. I need to put these fuckers out before they could cause more harm. I haven't thought about the fact that I almost became a father and they knew it before I could. I can't afford to bring a life in this damned world, yet. Fuck! the thought has never even crossed my mind until that night. I can't see myself taking care of those little ones. Not now and definitely not in the future. "Who is it now?" I ask in a bored tone. Apart from Ernesto, I don

Nicole."What do you mean I'm getting married, Alessio?" I whisper in disbelief as I stare at my supposed brother.From one shitty brother to another. Just great."Nicole I'm sorry, it's not as serious as you think" Leo defends and I can't believe he just said that. "Not as serious?" I mumble, taking unsteady steps towards him" You signing my life away is not as serious as I think?"Now everything makes sense. How he didn't want me with Alessio. Him being cool with the reckless Alex when he picked me up. Also, the smirk on Julio's face the other day, I knew there was a reason behind it.I didn't understand why they almost killed Ernesto's son for hurting me while we just met.I look at Leo in disbelief.He is just like everyone. Using me for his gain.I should have ran when I had a chance. This world will surely ruin me beyond my limits."He is gay Nicole. His dad found out and he is trying to manipulate him"."And you thought I was an object to be used by them?" now I wish I never

Alessio. She stares at me in shock and silently lays back down. Ernesto did it. I am sure of that. At the ball, the bastard slipped away and left a trail of his men behind. My men and I got rid of all of them. Unfortunately, when I was done he had already gone into hiding. We had to pin Leo down for information after that and it only got worse. How could he, in his senses trust Julio? Leo has been working for me for some time and I assumed he knew all the snakes in the game, Clearly, he didn't Julio and Ernesto go way back. Their families had an alliance for years and to this day, they don't hunt each other unless one is getting in the way of another. He even had the audacity to sell his sister off. The only woman I love. He has been a sick pain in my ass lately and I assumed it was because he cared for his sister but no. " What is wrong with her son?" Father follows me to the kitchen when I return the glass, and I sigh leaning on the counter. "Ernesto messed her up Dad. He w