CHAPTER 26

NICOLE’S POV.

When I left the house to meet Herrera, I was nervous, but determined. Adrenaline and an odd sense of excitement were pumping through my veins at the thought that Herrera would finally get what was coming to him and that Alexander trusted me enough to be a part of it.

I hadn’t seen Herrera face to face in several days, and in that amount of time, I had been a bit okay but now he was threatening me again.

Herrera asked me to meet him in Manhatten, so after I got myself ready, I headed that way. On a good day, it was about a forty-five-minute drive, but the weather was beautiful and the water was crystal clear as I made my way over the bridge.

The coffee shop he picked was in Times Square and so I hopped out of the taxi a block or two up, hoping the fresh air would calm my nerves. I rubbed my thumb against the indentation on my finger where my ring had been just a little while ago. Alexander didn’t want to give him any indication that we were married yet, but I had been conflicted.

Wearing that ring, Alexander’s ring, was almost like a badge of honor. I felt important and claimed and protected, almost untouchable. I was part of something, and even though the circumstances were skewed, Alexander had chosen me. Herrera had set out to drive a wedge between us, but instead he had bonded us forever.

A few people looked up at me as the chimes rang when I opened the door. I glanced around, setting my eyes on Herrera, seated at a booth in the back corner, hovering over a steaming cup of coffee. Just the sight of him made my skin crawl, and I fought the urge to run right back out the door. Instead, I took a deep breath to compose myself, and plastered a fake smile on my face when he looked my way. I made my way over there and slipped into the booth across from him.

“You’re late.” He grumbled, barely looking up.

“Sorry.” I quipped. “It takes me a little longer to get into the city now since I have to come from the other side of Rockaway. You know, since my apartment is unsafe and everything.”

“You know as well as I do that you had that coming. This isn’t a game Nicole and now you’ll remember who’s in charge around here.” He mocked.

“What exactly do you mean? I gave you what you wanted, how was I supposed to know they would know it?”

“You’re supposed to know because that’s what your job is.” He hissed, leaning in close. “Fuck Alexander, fuck the brother. I don’t care who you have to have sex with, just don’t let it happen again and I want you to make him sign the contract.”

“Still the contract?” I let a sharp laugh. “You really changed Herrera, I didn’t know that you’re like this”,

Herrera chuckled. “You don’t me Nicole, If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. Right now, you’re worth more to me alive. Especially since Alexander has taken such an interest in you. Just remember, Nicole, I can do things to you that not even the Smith family could dream up. If this goes south, neither you or your mother will see the light of day again. And what happens inside those prison walls, that’s all up to me. So I’d tread lightly here.”

“You’re disgusting.” I gritted my teeth, feeling all of that strength and determination I had earlier slowly simmer away. I knew Herrera couldn’t put me in jail for the nude photos, but that didn’t keep his threats from terrifying me any less. I knew what he was capable of, I just had to hope Alexander was right about all of this.

“I’m going to let that one slide because I’m feeling generous today.” An evil grin spread on his lips. “You know, you really should be thanking me. If I hadn’t sent the truth about you to Alexander, you would have been in hell , Who knew he would jump into superman mode so quickly and come to your rescue? It’s a win-win for everybody and you just had to endure a little bit of pain for it. A little appreciation for what I’ve done for you would be nice.”

Herrera was fucking delusional but I had nothing to do. I only had to play it cool

“You right Herrera, am grateful for everything you did for me. I also have an address for you where you find Alexander and make him sign the contract” My voice broke with the flood of emotions I was keeping inside.

“This better not be another damn dead end” ,He hissed out.

“It’s not, I swear. They’re getting a shipment delivered there in a few days.” I came up with a fake story.

“If this pans out, and we’re able to get him, I’ll have the charges about your nudes dropped. But only if it ends in his arrest.” He murmured.

“Yes, and we’ll be done?”, I asked.

“We’ll be done.” He chuckled.

“It can’t happen, if anything goes wrong you will have give me some good amount of money or have sex with me. I hope you remember my moments with you”, He chuckled more.

“I do recall”, I shrugged my shoulders at the thought. He was a fucking psycho.

Talk to you soon.” I stood up to leave quickly but Herrera caught my wrist.

“And Nicole,” He grinned up at me. “If anything goes wrong this time, I’ll kill them all. Your mother, Jason, Alexander, Blair. Every last one of them I will slaughter and I’ll keep you alive just long enough to watch it happen.”

I jerked myself from his grasp, rushing out of the coffee shop before I burst into tears.

Anger was really boiling in my blood.

God, i still couldn’t believe it that I was once in love him.