8. Hidden Behind that Smile is a Forked Tongue and Cold Dead Eyes

8. Hidden Behind that Smile is a Forked Tongue and Cold Dead Eyes
The louder Joshua's screams grew, the more agitated Nicolo became. "That's annoying." He grumbled before slamming Joshua's face against the table and silencing him.

A fit of laughter erupted from my lips. I couldn't control myself. My body shook as I lost control, pain still throbbing in my limbs, I attempted to take steady breaths. My ribs screamed at me, and I was sure one was broken.

"Get him out of my fucking sight. Call Parker while you're at it. Let him know I want the Euler account secured." Nicolo instructed the men. They nodded, pulled Joshua's unconscious body from the chair and dragged it with as much care as trash.

I didn't speak. My laughter had finally died down, and I was faintly aware I could feel my heartbeat pulsing in my head. Nicolo turned towards me. His face impassive. No signs of remorse, or guilt. Unmoving. Unfeeling and in this new light, I wondered why I had ever found him attractive.

"Stand."

I glanced down at the floor anxiously. If I tried to stand I was sure to fall on my face. My eyes widened, trying to figure out how to maneuver this.

Nicolo let out a quick, annoyed breath and stepped forward towards me. He hunched over, looped his arms under my arms and helped me up. I winced, a puff of air hissing through my lips. Don't scream! Don't give him the fucking satisfaction.

"Steady yourself. I'm going to unzip your dress."

"H-here?" I croaked.

He frowned. "Yes, here. I need to check you out."

"You're not a doctor..." I groaned as he stepped back and shifted my weight.

"Calm yourself, Bambina. There's a lot you don't know about me." His voice softened, as a whimper left my lips. I honestly felt like I was hit by a truck. Why did this happen?

His hands worked on my zipper, pulling it down my back while still maintaining my stability, before slipping the dress down my body. I gasped. Bruises already began to form. Large, nasty red spots covered my abdomen. I was clearly bleeding into my skin. Nicolo ran his finger along the forming bruises.

"Ow!" I yelped.

"Quiet. Don't scream. It's a sign of weakness." He uttered, before sliding his hand down towards my waist. I shivered from his touch, despite my own burning skin. He seemed transfixed by the injuries, or maybe by me being practically naked before him once again?

"Your rib is broken."

"I figured." I mumbled sarcastically. His eyes narrowed and I shut my mouth immediately.

"Why is it so hard for you to be compliant?" He said. Disbelief crossed his face. I meant to shrug but my body was no longer in my control, so it resembled an awkward twitch.

"I told you I meant nothing to him." I attempted to make my voice sound flat, and void of emotion, but it just came out like a hopeless little girl. One that had lost her most prized stuffed animal and wouldn't be able to sleep without it. I was pathetic.

Nicolo didn't comment on Joshua's previous words. Instead, he released me and slipped off his jacket, one that was much too big for me, and rested it on my shoulders. "You don't' want to wear something too confining. I'll have someone wait for you in your room and observe you."

"So, I'll just be in my panties under your jacket?"

He nodded. His jaw tensed, and as my eyes traveled down his body I noticed the slight twitch of his cock in his pants. He was getting turned on? Do men have no bounds? I looked like complete shit.

"I- I won't be able to walk." I admitted. My energy was draining fast from just standing. Walking was out of the question.

"I'll carry you, but it won't feel pleasant." He didn't have to say that twice, as he scooped me up in his arms, I placed my mouth against his chest to muffle my screams. It was like having my ribs broken again. I willed myself to pass out from the pain. If only life was that merciful, but as he made his way down the hallway I remained alert, but only slightly lucid. I was delirious with pain. Consumed by it. With every ragged breath, and sharp sting I clung to him.

He stopped in the lobby, turning towards the woman at the desk. Her forehead was wrinkled with worry.

"Natalie, phone Kacey Rowland. Tell her I'm in need of her services."

"She's beat up pretty badly."

"I know." He hissed. His grip tightened on me and I groaned in agony. "Sorry." He mumbled before we exited the building. Consciousness slowly faded away. I could no longer keep my eyes open. All I heard were his footsteps and my own deep breaths. The sound of a car door opening broke the silence, and I was placed back on the soft, leather seats.

I was aware of Nicolo beside me. I held on for as long as I could, but as the car began to move, swaying us gently, I surrendered to the darkness.



"Awe, would you look at that?"

I was ripped from my slumber by the sound of Rod's voice. I commanded my eyes to open, but all I got in response was a slight flutter of my lids. I was in pain. Dull pain. As fear gripped my being, I fought to take control of my body.

"I know you're awake, princess."

My eyes peeled open. I felt like I had been asleep for years. The stabbing pain in my arm did nothing to comfort me in this moment, and I realized I was hooked to an I.V. I steadied my gaze on Rod.

He smirked, and sat at the edge of the bed. "Don't try to speak. You'll only hurt yourself."

I cleared my throat, opening my mouth to protest when he held his hand up for me to be silent. "You've been out for a while." I watched helplessly as he played with a gun on his lap. "Funny thing is, you were only supposed to have minor injuries. I arranged for something I thought would be better." He chuckled, mirthlessly.

A sadistic smile spread along his face. "You were sedated for a few days so the swelling in your head would go down." He placed the tip of the barrel towards his mouth. His eyes twinkled with humor. "It benefits me, because now you'll be awake when I enter you, but you won't really be able to move. In fact, you may be unconscious for some parts, but I'm sure the pain will keep you rather lucid."

My heart raced in my chest. I couldn't speak. I could barely move and Rod was sure to take full advantage of that. Where was Nicolo? Surely he wouldn't leave me in the presence of this sick fuck, whilst knowing he tried to rape me?

Why did I expect so much from Nicolo?

Because he's a man who doesn't believe in forcing himself on women.

That would make no difference. I mentally cursed myself for being such a naïve idiot. It didn't matter. Rod was going to climb on top of me, rest his wait on my painful, broken rib and thrust himself inside of me. Probably tear the inside of my vagina, while I laid helplessly.

"Y-you.." I rasped, my voice barely a whisper.

"Sh, sh, sh." He moved, standing up and pulling the light blanket off of my body. It didn't help I was in a thin, silk night-gown. His eyes feasted on me like fresh meat, and I felt sick. "You're really not going to like this." He added, before pushing my nightgown up my thighs to rest on my stomach. My panties were a thin, lacy fabric, and he took no time ripping them from my body. I twisted my body away from him, gasping from the pain in my side, only to be wrestled onto my back.

"No!" I cried. He nudged my legs open with ease considering I could barely move to begin with.

He grunted. I blinked as he was ripped off of me. Nicolo was feral. His gaze ominous as he stared down at Rod.

"What the fuck?" Rod spewed before scrambling to his feet. "Sir, I-I don't understand –"

Without warning Nicolo threw a punch. His fist connected with Rod's jaw, blood spurted from his mouth as he stumbled backwards. As he remained stunned from the blow, I gazed at Nicolo, mesmerized by the gleam of a knife.

In seconds, Rod was on the floor clutching his throat. The knife buried in the side of it. He struggled for breath, gurgling sounds bounced off the walls as blood choked him.

"Nobody fucking listens anymore." Nicolo murmured with annoyance. "A bunch of petulant, filthy, money hungry, disloyal... pezzo di merda."

I watched miraculously as Nicolo removed the knife from Rod's neck. Letting his body slump to the floor lifelessly as I imagine blood painted the wood.

He walked over to me, glancing from my face to my I.V, before checking my arm. His fingers grazed my skin a little longer than necessary.

"Get some rest."

My eyes widened. How the hell could I get rest in the same room as a dead body? I was frightened of Nicolo. More now than ever. This was a side I never wished to see, considering I could one day be on the other end of it, like Rod.

His face softened, and he smiled at my expression. "Don't worry. I'll have someone come clean this up. It'll be like it never happened by the time you've awoken."

"W-why?"

"What?" He asked.

"T-than –"

"Don't thank me." He snapped. He removed his hand from my elbow. "This..." He gestured frantically to my ripped panties, before pulling the blanket back up over me. "Is normal for Rod."

He glanced down at Rod's body on the floor. "This isn't normal for me. I- I don't usually care, but with you it's different..." He sighed. What was different? If he was implying I was getting the presidential treatment, he was insane. "I didn't want anyone touching you, and he was disobedient. I have no tolerance for such things. When you control a pack, you eliminate defiance, so the other's stay in order."

"So..." I coughed. "What am I? Special?"

He walked slowly towards the door, scoffing before whipping his head around to throw me an acidic glare.

"Not at all."