“Nixon,” she sighed against my mouth. “I love you. You have to know that.”
“That’s the problem,” I said.
“How is that a problem?”
“It’s a problem because I’m consumed with you, Trace. Are you hungry? How are classes? Do you need your space? Are you scared? Can you shoot a gun? Shit. I can’t even sleep at night because I’m so terrified, and I’ve literally been sharing a bed with you for the past two weeks.”
A pretty blush stained her cheeks.
“Sharing a bed isn’t sex; stop blushing.” I winked when she smacked me on the shoulder. “Not that I’m opposed to the idea…”
“You’re a guy. You’re never opposed to it.”
“You’re not ready, therefore I have to be.” I pushed her away gently and cupped her face with my right hand. “I’m not telling you all of this to get all sappy and freak you out. I just want you to know what’s at stake.”
“What do you mean?”
“Faust is here.”
“WHAT?” Trace stumbled out of my embrace and stood. “The same Faust who accused me of asking for it when I told him Phoenix raped me? That Faust?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, though he may be unrecognizable right about now.”
“Nixon, you didn’t…”
I shrugged. “He’s alive.”
Trace pressed a shaking hand to her temple. “What does he want?”
“What does anyone want in our world? Leverage? Money? Your guess is as good as mine. But he basically wants me to pick a side…”
“By you not finishing that sentence, I’m guessing it’s not the Alfero side he’s wanting you to stand on.”
“Smart and sexy. How did I get so lucky?”
Trace sighed and closed her hands. “My grandfather—”
“—is fine.” I knew we were alone, but… a person could never be too careful. “Drop it.”
I hated that I had to be rough with her. I hated that it was necessary in order to protect her. If she knew where he was, she was making herself a target. I knew, and that was enough.
“So what happens now?” Trace grabbed my hand and traced a small circle next to my newest scar.
“We wait it out. The Sicilians are here. I know the family well. Business goes on as usual and you try to graduate.”
“Without getting killed,” she murmured.
“Nobody is going after you.” I released her hand and got up. “Besides, they’d have to kill me first and I don’t die very easily.”
“Right.”
“I’m going to go put on some clothes so you stop staring at my ass.”
“I’m not—” Trace closed her eyes as her face flamed bright red.
“You are.” I walked over to the spare room, where we kept clothing and took naps in between classes. “But I forgive you because I have a really nice ass. It would be kind of cruel to hold that against you.”
“Wow, cocky and a killer. How did I get so lucky?” she said dryly.
I laughed and went into the room to find something without blood on it. Not that I would ever be free from the stain. After all, it was like my marker—blood.
Once I was dressed, I went back to find Trace laying facedown on the couch, her breathing deep.
I checked my watch. She had class in exactly ten minutes. I sent a quick text to Chase that I was going to steal Trace away for the rest of the afternoon. He responded quickly, saying he didn’t mind and that he was going to go find a hot chick to make out with. As long as it wasn’t my hot chick, I was fine with that.
“Trace?” I nudged her awake. She groaned aloud and mumbled something that sounded nothing like English. “Trace.” I kissed the back of her head. She moved her arm toward me, hitting me directly in the stomach. Hard.
I smacked her ass just as hard and laughed as she fell off the couch and glared. “What’s wrong with you! You can’t just go waking people up like that! I could have…”
“What? You could have what?” I crossed my arms and smirked. “What could you possibly do that would bring me to my knees?”
Trace licked her lips and eyed me up and down. “Oh, I have a few ideas.”
“Well played,” I grumbled. “We’re skipping class.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Why?”
“Say thank you, Trace, and so help me God if you say why one more time I’m taking you into that back bedroom and having my way with you until you can’t ask why anymore.”
She seemed to actually think about it. Shit. I was kidding, I wasn’t ready for that, not with her. It seemed too precious. And here I was joking about it.
“Fine.” She yawned and stretched her arms high above her head. “Do I need to text Chase?”
“Nah, I just did. He said he’s gonna go make out with some chick. Clearly you’re messing with his mojo.”
Trace’s face fell a bit. “I guess I never thought about that.”
“Don’t feel sorry for him. The man could charm anything with a pulse and could probably use this time as a way to do some sort of cleansing ritual.”
She nodded and reached for my hand. “So, where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe.” I winked.
I pulled the Range Rover up to the large metal gate. After I pushed the intercom button, a voice came on the speaker. “Who is visiting?”
“Nixon Abandonato.”
Lots of yelling and hushing and then, “Pleasure to have you, sir.” The gates opened in front of us and I drove through.
“Doesn’t that bother you?” Trace asked, pulling off her sunglasses.
“What?”
“ ‘Sir’?” Her eyebrow arched. “It makes you sound so old and… just old.”
“It’s a respect thing.” I shrugged.
“No,” she argued. “It’s an old person thing.”
“What?” I pulled to the front of the mansion and turned off the car. “You’d rather they call me Dude? Or Homie?”
“I vote Homie. It sounds—”
“I’m an American-born Sicilian,” I interrupted. “It sounds like an easy way to get shot; that’s what it sounds like.”
Trace rolled her eyes and unbuckled her seat belt. As she reached for the door, I grasped her wrist and pulled her toward me. “What would you call me?”
“You mean other than your name?” Her eyes narrowed.
“Yeah.” I licked my lips. My tongue touched the metal of my lip ring. I could almost taste her hot mouth on mine.
“Perfect.” She sighed. “I’d call you perfect.” Her hands reached out to cup my face as her tongue touched my lip ring and then slipped into my mouth.
I groaned in frustration when our lips met in a frenzy. It really wasn’t the time or place to be kissing her, or nearly exploding with frustration that I couldn’t just jump across the console and maul her. Reluctantly, I pulled back.
“As much as I’d love to finish that… conversation…” I chewed hard on my lower lip and literally had to look away from her so I wouldn’t say what the hell and drive her back to my house and lock her in my bedroom. “We’re here for a reason.”
“Oh yeah?” Her eyes were dilated as they looked me up and down. “What’s that?”
I smirked. “You’ll see.”
Thankfully, the air was crisp, so when I stepped out of the SUV I wasn’t still so aroused that I was ready to shoot something.
“What is this place?” Trace put her hand up as a shade over her eyes and looked up at the mansion. It was an impressive four stories, with over three hundred rooms. I’d loved this place, loved visiting. It had been my safe haven when my dad beat me. “My cousin Sergio takes care of the place while his father serves out the rest of his sentence.” I led her toward the back of the house.
“Sentence?” Trace repeated. “As in prison sentence?”