Sonny broke first, scattering the balls across the table. Two striped balls went in the corner pocket. Sonny continued to pick off each ball one by one. It was happening so quickly. Victoria swore that she could hear her heartbeat. She watched as he only had three balls left on the table. She chanced a glance at Nic. He seemed calm, although he kept his eyes glued to the table. Fuck! Now he only had two balls left and Nic hadn't even had a shot yet. She started to panic.
"Shit!" Sonny belted out, when he finally missed a shot. He backed away from the table, shaking his head.
Nic calmly stepped up, chalked his cue stick again, while staring at the table. He looked over at Victoria for a second, then made his first shot, sending two balls in. The entire room was quiet as Nic proceeded to pick off each colored ball one at a time.
Victoria stared at Nic, as he glided around the table. His concentration was unbelievable. He was now down to two balls also. She held he
Victoria wasn't quite sure what to do. There was no manual to tell you what to do if you are ever trapped in this type of situation. Was he being serious?"I've never done that before," she admitted."Not to worry, I won't laugh at you," Nic said, grinning at her."I mean, I can dance, but I've just never done the seductive stripper type of dancing." Victoria didn't know why, but she was embarrassed to admit that to him.Nic flexed his index finger for her to come to him. Shit. She wasn't getting out of this. She took a huge gulp of her wine and quickly shook her head. Perhaps she shouldn't have downed it that fast. She stood up and walked over to him. Okay...it's just him. It's not like she was doing it for an entire club of people. She would just pretend he was her boyfriend, and that it was his birthday or something like that.'Okay, I can do this,' she thought. Plus, she wasn't willing to have him add yet another week. She'd keep her mouth clos
He sat up and adjusted his penis back inside his pants. He stood up and walked to the bathroom door."Victoria, open the door," he said.No answer."Open the fucking door now, before I add on another week," he said, leaning against the frame.The door swung open, and she stood staring up at him with tears in her eyes. He sighed."I—I'm not some cheap girl that you can talk down to. I'm not, I'm not like other women you, you might know. You sh--should treat me with respect!" she said, stumbling over several words while trying to wipe her tears away."Respect? Victoria, you are not my wife. You are not my girlfriend. In fact, you and I have a business arrangement and that's it. You ask me to respect you, yet you're fucking me for money. Am I missing something here?"She opened her mouth like she was about to say something, then suddenly closed it. She just stared up at him. She then lowered her head. "I'm really tired now. I'd lik
On the ride over, Victoria was nervous. She wasn't sure what to expect. When they pulled into the driveway, Victoria couldn't believe her eyes. She saw several men and women getting out of their expensive cars, and waiting on the valet. Raymond drove past Mercedes, BMWs, Bentleys and every other expensive car she could think of. She shook her head as she thought about the fact that one could run a small corporation from the money that was put into these vehicles.When the car finally pulled up to the steps, Raymond hopped out and opened the door for Victoria. She flashed him a smile as she slowly ascended the steps leading into Nic's house. She was suddenly nervous as classical music filled her ears and the lights became brighter. Raymond escorted her down the main hall into a large ballroom area. Jesus, how big was his house?Inside, she saw several people dressed to the nines. Some stopped to stare at her before they turned their attention back to their conversations
"Hey pops. Well, well...hey Victoria. How ya been?" Sonny said, smirking at her, before lowering his gaze to her cleavage."Oh, I didn't know you two knew each other," Paul said, staring at his son skeptically."Oh yeah, Victoria and I go way back. Actually, she owes me a McLaren Roadster," he said with a wink.The bastard would be so slimy to bring this up in front of his father. God, she wanted to kick him in the nuts! Just when she was finally feeling good about herself, one sentence from him could tear her down and make her feel cheap all over again."I don't owe you anything, Sonny. Perhaps you shouldn't make bets with someone you know will beat you every time," Victoria said.She watched his face as his smile dropped. She figured that losing to Nic was something that happened more than he'd like to admit. Then just as soon as it had disappeared, he gave her an evil grin."Careful little Vicky. Getting a little high and mighty..." then
"Come, you must meet Nic...since this is his house and all. Would be rude not to thank the host."Amber grabbed Victoria's hand and practically drug her over to Nic's group before she could even protest."Hey darling, look who I found. This is Victoria. I don't believe you two have met." All eyes around the group went back and forth from Amber to Victoria. "Funny though, you guys said she came with you...yet she said her date was Anthony...or Adrian, something like that. The waiter over there," Amber pointed out.Nic couldn't help but look over toward Antonio. He felt an instant pang of jealousy that Victoria would claim that prick as her date. In truth, he didn't really know the kid, but he better not dare touch her. Nic wasn't sure why he was thinking so possessively of her, but fuck it, she was with him—end of story."How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?" Amber said, dragging everyone's attention back to Victoria.Victoria exhaled
In Antonio's beat up Ford Mustang, she felt at ease. She had only just met this guy, and already she was driving off with him. Her normal self...the Victoria from several days ago, would have said no. But she felt like being a little dangerous. Being around dangerous men had its effects."Mind if I smoke?" Antonio asked. Victoria shook her head. He lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips and looked over at her. "You really do look beautiful in that dress. I mean, I don't know what you normally look like, but you are fucking hot."Victoria choked out a laugh. "Um, I think that's a compliment...if you're not disappointed with my 'normal' look.""So, you gonna tell me what you were doing there?""You first. Is this what you want to do, catering and stuff like that?" Victoria asked. She had wanted to open up a catering business...but her father shot that idea all to hell, while he made her work endless hours in a dying restaurant.Antonio blew t
Victoria stared at him with wide eyes. She didn't know what to expect. He walked up to her and grabbed her wrist. She saw him lean toward Antonio and whisper something into his ear. And she couldn't be sure, be she swore she felt Antonio shiver beside her.Nic turned and walked toward the door, Victoria following closely behind him with his hand gripping her wrist tightly. With everything so quiet, her heels clicking against the floor was the only noise in the house. Victoria didn't ask any questions. She knew he was mad, even though he seemed calm. Gave new meaning to 'the calm before the storm'.She watched as Jimmy flashed his gun to a kid who looked like he was about start some trouble. The kid immediately stopped in his tracks. "You all have a good night," Jimmy smiled, as he turned and walked out, followed by Nic and her, and then Raymond.When they made it outside, the cool air hit the sweat on her body and she shivered again. Nic opened the backseat car
When they reached the bedroom, he kicked open the door and roughly tossed her onto the bed, then quickly discarded his clothing. He grabbed her foot and slid her down to the edge of the bed. God, she looked sexy in that red dress. He had figured she would. He leaned over her and untied the string around her neck and slowly pulled the top down, freeing her beautiful chocolate globes to him. He kissed each nipple, before jerking the rest of her dress down and off her body.Victoria trembled. Yes, she had to admit, she wanted this. She waited with anticipation as Nic pulled her legs up and apart and quickly entered her to the hilt. "Ooh," Victoria moaned as his thick length rammed in and out of her. It wasn't until this moment that Victoria realized how sexually repressed she had been. At this moment, he could have been the fucking devil, and she still would have succumbed to his need. Which was now her need. All was quiet in his loft except for the sounds of his grunts, her moa
"I think he needs a brother," Nic whispered to her, pulling her away from the crib. "Let's get started on that."Veronica laughed, as the two of them entered their bedroom. Nic went to take a shower, but Veronica didn't feel like budging. She was so tired, and instead opted to plop down face first on the bed, and stayed like that until she heard the shower cut off.She finally crawled underneath the covers, when she remembered something. "Oh, hey Nic," Veronica yelled from the bed."What?" she heard him say."Some woman from that party we went to months ago invited us to her party. I forgot to tell you. It's a garden party, or key party...something like that. But she seemed nice, so I wanted to let you know."Ve
His hands were shaking, and he needed to slow down his breathing. Even though he knew it wasn't there, he still felt there was blood on his hands. He quickly wiped his palms across his jeans-covered thighs. Fuck, this was spinning way out of control.He could bullshit and charm his way out of almost every situation. It was a gift he had. One that his father never fully appreciated. His old man wanted him to be more like him, old school. Or like that fucker, Nic. But that wasn't Sonny.And until tonight, he had never taken another human being's life. Until tonight, he thought over in his head again. Fuck!Sonny knew he shouldn't have gotten involved with the Russians. He had never played at that level before. That was more Nic's territory, because where Sonny liked to bullshit, charm and make an idle threat every now
Veronica wasn't sure how long she lovingly admired her two boys, but she couldn't take her eyes away from them. Nic's eyes were closed and his chest was slowly rising up and down. And Sebastian's little face was turned to the side resting on his father's chest. His tiny little pink lips made an 'o' shape as he yawned, never once opening his eyes.After what seemed like forever, Veronica quietly backed out of the living room and went back into Nic's study to open up her last timed quiz. She glanced at the photo by his computer. It was a picture Isabelle had taken of her that first day in the hospital, with Sebastian in her hands. She personally hated the picture because she had just woken up, and with all the pushing, sweating and lack of makeup ...she swore she looked hideous. But Nic wouldn't let her change it. He said it was his favorite picture.Before the t
She stood up from the couch and walked him around.Nic leaned back observing his wife. He watched her cute full hips sway back and forth, as she lightly bounced Sebastian. He couldn't think of a more beautiful sight.How the hell did life bring him here? A little less than two years ago, he looked at people differently. In one glance at Veronica, he thought he knew exactly who she was. Someone who would never matter to him, and who was weak. Someone he could prey on. But Veronica sliced and diced that version of Nic Andretti to shreds, and amazingly she didn't do it by force. She didn't do it by being more cunning, or by any other sneaky methods. She accomplished a feat no other had, and she did it with love. Selfless, generous, unwavering love.He remembered thinking that he had planned to teach her a lesson the fi
"And by the way," Jimmy said, in afterthought, "Detective Marsh's car was blown up, and he was beat up and mugged. Crazy world we live in.""When did this happen?" Nic asked."Oh, it hasn't happened yet. I'm psychic, didn't you know?" he smiled over at Nic.Nic nodded. Karma was certainly a bitch.Nic's palms started sweating the closer and closer they got to Jimmy's house. He had asked everyone not to tell Veronica that he had been released. He wanted to surprise her.But at the moment, he could hardly swallow or keep a single coherent thought in his head. He would be seeing his son, Sebastian, for the first time. And he had to laugh at the fact that he didn't want to disappoint him. Although Sebastian was less than three da
"Well Nic, looks like you really fucked up yesterday. Threatening to kill a detective just doing his duty? Why, what did I ever do to deserve that," Marsh taunted, leaning against his cell. And as always, Reuben was there with Nic."I don't know what you're talking about," Nic answered."Sure. Several guards heard you yell that you wanted to kill me.""No they didn't."Marsh stared at Nic skeptically. "I never took you for a lying man. Cold-hearted killer, but not a liar. They heard you, asshole.""Yeah, they heard me threaten to kill someone, and it was my attorney. He's been falling down on the job, haven't you noticed," Nic dead-panned."Yep, and Nic already apologized to me fo
Nic's heart started beating rapidly. That asshole had to be lying. He slowly got up and walked over to pick up the photos. He flipped through them. His hands started to shake when he saw a picture of her being put in the backseat of Antonio's car and pictures of them arriving at the hospital and his mom escorting Veronica inside. Nic suddenly couldn't breathe. He dropped the photos to the ground as if they electrocuted him.Nic staggered backwards until his calves touched his cot, and then he slowly sat down. He had missed his son being born. He hadn't been away from him more than a few hours since he was conceived...and on the most important day, because of his past lifestyle and FUCKING MARSH, he had missed it.Nic considered himself a sane and rational man. And under any other circumstances, he would have found a cool place in his mind...some place he could
The next morning, Veronica was awakened by Marianna bringing her in a large plate of food. "Good morning, cara mia. You are eating today. Every bite," she demanded, as she sat at the edge of the bed, watching Veronica like a hawk. Veronica didn't feel like eating, but she started stuffing the food in her mouth just to please Marianna. "How are you able to stay so calm?" Veronica asked, pausing in between bites. Marianna thought about it for a moment. "Because I can't help my son right now. All I can do is pray for him, but there's nothing I can help Reuben or Jimmy with. What I can do for him is watch over you and his baby growing inside you. Those are the things I can do, and I'm going to do them, because I love him, I love you and my grandson. Now eat."
Marsh stepped into the interrogation room holding a cloth to his nose. He threw a few files down onto the table and stared at Nic."Nicolas Andretti...I finally got you, you fucker. And don't worry, I fucking own this precinct. There are no cameras rolling behind those mirrors. Just you and me. Together at last."Nic's wrists were raw from the tight handcuffs, but he refused to complain about it. First, it wouldn't do any good, and second, he wouldn't give that asshole the satisfaction. He stared back at Marsh with a bored expression."So Nic, this is how we're going to do this. Believe it or not, I have an amazing proposition for you. How about you walk out of here today--no questions asked. You leave, go see your wife and fly back to California. How does that sound?"N