Chapter 16 Brace for it
Serena's POV
I had been trying to avoid this all day. I guess it's what he has been waiting for... but why?
I didn't get a second to think it through. Nico's voice cut through my quick thoughts again, smoothly. "Missed me?"
I turned slowly, scrunching my face into the nastiest look of disgust I could pull off. There he was, leaning against a display rack like he owned the whole damn place. He had his huge arms crossed over his chest and that proud smug grin on.
I so felt like slapping it off.
He let out a low, sinister laugh that made goosebumps spread through my skin. "How'd the shopping go?"
"Fine," I replied, trying to keep it short, pushing the cart a little further, hoping he'd get the hint and fuck off.
"That all? Looks like you guys did a bit more than fine," he continued, apparently not getting the hint.
"Uh uh," I muttered absently.
"Valentina picked everything?" He asked, pushing the conversation on.
"Yeah," I responded dryly again, scanning the aisles for her. Where the hell was she? Bathroom break my ass—this was taking forever.
Nico didn't budge still, I can't tell what exactly he is up to, but it's annoying. "How's life with the boss treating you? Dante keeping you busy?" He asked with a smirk.
I shot him a glare. "None of your business," I replied through gritted teeth.
He chuckled again, stepping closer. "Come on. Just trying to make conversation here. You know I'm not the enemy here," he added with a shrug.
"Oh really? Didn't seem so the other day," I replied bluntly.
"The method of passing the message can be questioned, but the message itself has to be considered," he continued with a smile like he's one genius.
I nearly face panned myself, what the fuck does that mean now?
"Whatever, Nico," I replied. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"Apparently not," he shot back with a smile. "Now now, I just want to know if you are settling well.
"I'm fine. Whatever, Nico." I shot back a bit louder than I intended to. My eyes quickly darted around. Valentina, come on. I didn't want to be stuck here trading words with this creep.
He lowered his voice and leaned closer to me. "Hey, you do realize we're in public. Don't need to create a scene here."
I gritted my teeth. "Oh really? Yeah, we don't need to create a scene. I guess that's why you're not dragging me around or talking shit like usual."
He pulled back a little and narrowed his eyes at me with a little amusement in them. "Who does the dragging and talking shit in public? Me... or Dante?"
I froze, not expecting that kind of direct response from him. I opened my mouth to shoot back a reply, but nothing came out. I had no quirky comeback this time around.
He had me there, he had me good, and he knew it. That smug look on his face deepened.
Before I could wrap my mind around something, Valentina's voice cut through from behind. "Done. Now let's go."
Those were the exact words I was waiting for a few minutes ago, but for some reason, I wasn't too pleased to hear them now. Nico's words had gotten to me more than I would admit to him. My gut twisted ever so annoyingly, was he right?
Dante did pull that crap—grabbing, commanding, and treating me like shit right where anyone could see. But when we are alone, he would treat me like I'm the only thing he cares about. And I let him all the time.
Hell, I even craved it. Was I that lost in the mess of a thing that I didn't see the humiliation he was putting me through?
I pushed the cart after Valentina with my mind still swarming with thoughts. Nico followed slowly from behind us. I stole a few glances back at him—caught him watching me once or twice with no expression, just those cold eyes.
At the counter, Valentina handled the scanning process. She passed the items on. Dresses, shoes, all that crap. I couldn't focus.
Numbers flashed on the screen, the total figure climbed pretty high, but I could barely remember it when I looked away. It didn't matter to me again.
They bagged everything neatly.
"I'll take care of that," Nico called from behind and picked up everything like it weighed nothing. We headed out to the SUV together.
He popped the back open and started loading everything in neatly. Midway through it, his face changed. It hardened and his eyes narrowed at something over my shoulder.
"What is it?" I asked.
He didn't answer me directly. Just muttered under his breath. "Shit, this is what I've been trying to avoid."
He dropped the last bags in without caring to arrange them, then slammed the hatch. He looked over to us and spoke fast. "Entrate, dobbiamo andare ora."
There was no time for questions. He bolted to the driver's side while Valentina and I jumped in too. Her to the front, and me to the back. The engine came to life and he had us out in a flash.
I twisted, looking back. Three black sedans peeled out from the far end of the lot, falling in behind us. They accelerated, closing the gap fast.
"Nico—they're getting closer!"
"Shit," he cursed under his breath. I turned around fully to catch his fingers jabbing something on the buttons of the dash console. A beep popped out, then Dante's voice crackled through the speakers. "Qual è l'aggiornamento?"
Nico gripped the wheel tighter. "Avevi ragione."
Dante's reply came quickly. "Sarò lì presto."
What the hell? He was right about what? I opened my mouth, but Nico was already punching more buttons.
He yelled into it the moment it connected. "Gli uomini ci stanno addosso, abbiamo bisogno di rinforzi ora!"
Then paused to swerve past a car. "The men around. Get ready to fire on my signal."
My blood ran cold. Fire? Backup? I glanced at Valentina—she sat rigidly in her seat with her hands clenched tightly on her lap. Guess she wasn't as tough as she looked.
I whipped around again, staring out the back glass. The sedans were closer now. Their windows were shaded so I couldn't catch any of their faces.
But a terrible feeling washed through me as I watched on. "Nico?" I called out.
He didn't answer, just kept blaring the horn madly.
"Nico!"
"Serena, this isn't the time!" He yelled back as the car went faster.
I shook my head, unable to peel my eyes from them. "I think we have serious trouble on our hands.”