NERO: Chapter 49

I let her drift out of view, then pull my phone out of my pocket.

“Excuse me, I need to take this.” I cut Mr. Gintley off mid-sentence.

Pressing my palm into Nikki’s back, she takes the hint and steps forward to cozy up to her new mark.

No one had actually called me, but they don’t know that. And in a few quick taps, the line is ringing.

I nod at a person I recognize from City Hall, then angle away from them as King answers.

“What’s up?”

He knows I wouldn’t be calling him unless it was something important.

“Find me,” is all I say.

King hangs up the call on his end, but I keep the phone pressed to my ear, giving the illusion that I’m talking to someone.

A few more people tip their glasses to me in acknowledgement, but none try to talk to me while it looks like I’m on a call.

Watching the glances, I realize it’s quite the mix of people. Sure, it’s my party. But the people here are either distant work or society acquaintances, and don’t know me well enough to feel comfortable around me, or they’re people that actually know me well enough to know they should be scared of me.

“Yes. Take care of it.” I say to no one, before lowering my phone into my pocket, just as King reaches me, drink in hand.

“Nero,” his greeting is formal, keeping up our front of only being friendly but not friends. “Happy birthday.”

He extends his free hand, and I take it.

“Appreciate it.”

We automatically adjust our footing, so the wall is at our sides and we’re watching each other’s backs.

“How’s the party?” King keeps his volume low, and I know no one can overhear us above the music and droning voices.

“I need you to grab an artifact for me and put it in storage. Gently.”

King swirls the amber liquid in his glass before taking a sip. “One I’ll recognize?” he finally asks.

“Yes.” My fingers itch to curl into a fist, but I keep them loose. “The coconut honey.”

King’s brows raise, the smallest amount, revealing just how surprised he is by my request.

“Here?” he clarifies and I nod.

Even if no one can hear us, I’m not taking the chance of saying her name out loud in this room. I know he’ll understand what I’m getting at, since the only time either of us have used the words coconut and honey together was that one morning outside of Twin’s Café.

“You sure?” he asks.

And I know he’s not asking if I’m sure Payton’s here. He’s asking if I’m sure that I want him to go lock her in a storage room until I can get my hands on her.

“Positive.” Then I reiterate, “Gently.” Because this isn’t one of our usual snatch and stores. The only torture she’ll feel is the sting of my hand on her bare ass. And maybe my cock back inside her ass as well.

King whistles low but doesn’t say more.

As he starts to leave his eyes flick over my shoulder then back to me. In a warning.

Turning to see who’s approaching, I thank god I got Payton to leave when I did. This man is the exact reason I don’t want her in my world.

The blond man with the sharp eyes and an exaggerated swagger stops before me.

“Mikhail.” I say his name but keep my hands at my sides when he holds his out. “What are you doing here?”

He grins, turning his palm up before dropping his hand. “Can’t I come wish a fellow businessman a happy birthday?”

“No.” My tone is bland, but we both know I’m not joking.

Nikki, who’d walked over with him, moves back to my side. And even though she’s doing exactly what I paid her to do, I hate her for it.

Mikhail lifts a shoulder. “Pity, I was starting to enjoy myself.” His eyes trail down the length of Nikki.

I don’t know if he’s trying to imply something, or get me riled up, but I don’t give two fucks if he sleeps with her. Now, if he so much as glances in Payton’s direction, I’ll rip off more than his finger.

“Sorry to hear that.” I raise my right hand to eye level and gesture with two fingers.

Mikhail watches, weariness finally landing on his features. Features eerily similar to those of a man I killed fifteen years ago.

Four of my men materialize around us, their dark suits blending in with the crowd.

“This is hardly necessary.” Mikhail tries to keep a smile on his face, but I can see his anger. Hell, I can feel it.

And I love it.

“Get the fuck out of my party.”