Chapter Four
1596 Words
L
Chapter 4
Nikaulas Alvaro was the kind of man who knew how to read a room, and right now, seated at his stepbrother’s lavish dining table with a glass of aged wine in hand, he saw something very, very interesting. Across from him sat Ethan the infamous Devil of Chicago. A man feared by many, admired by some, and yet at this moment, utterly disarmed by the woman at his side.
It was ridiculous.
While others indulged in the gourmet meal, sipping wine and engaging in muted conversations, Ethan barely touched his food. His gaze never left Tracy. He brushed her wrist with his fingers in the kind of caress that made Nick wince. The intensity in his brother’s eyes was enough to make anyone squirm in their seat.
Every time Tracy stood up, Ethan was on his feet beside her. When she reached for her glass, he was already there, refilling it. If she so much as shifted in her seat, he watched her like she might vanish if he blinked too long.
Nikaulas leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass and lazily twirling his fork between his fingers. To see the Devil of Chicago acting like a love-struck i***t it was nothing short of premium entertainment.
He turned to one of the guards stationed discreetly nearby and murmured under his breath, “Is he always like this?”
The guard spared a glance at the couple, then smirked. “Yup. Boss is in love.”
Nikaulas chuckled. “Love. Hmm.”
Love. That was something Nikaulas had no time for. No use for. No belief in. But seeing his brother so blinded by it? Now that was valuable. For years, Ethan had been untouchable, unreadable. Now, Nikaulas had just spotted the perfect c***k in his armor.
The next morning, Ethan was seated on one of the plush cream couches in the sunlit living room, his fingers tracing idle patterns on Tracy’s palm.
“I have a business trip in Chicago, amore,” he said softly. “You’ll be coming with me.”
Tracy raised a skeptical brow. “Me?”
“Yes.” His Italian accent clung to the word like silk. “You.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “You expect me to sit through a mafia board meeting where you and your associates talk about God knows what?”
Ethan blinked, completely unbothered. “Yeah. That pretty much sums it up.”
She burst out laughing again, and Ethan leaned forward to stroke her cheek.
“Ethan, that’s not going to happen,” she said gently.
Ethan pouted. “But I don’t want to leave you alone.”
Before she could reply, Nikaulas, who had been lounging near the bar with a drink in hand, let out a quiet laugh. “Taking her with you to Chicago? That’s a terrible idea, big brother. You’ll be distracted.”
“Even better,” Ethan said without hesitation. “I need the distraction. Emphasis on need.”
Nikaulas’s smile tightened, and the way his fingers clenched around the glass betrayed his true feelings. “Oh really?”
It was still strange seeing his powerful, cold, ruthless brother behave like a hopeless romantic. Enough to make any man question reality.
“Amore, you have to come with me,” Ethan whispered, his tone pleading.
Tracy looked toward Nikaulas, silently asking for help.
With a sigh, Nikaulas stepped in, setting his glass down with a soft clink. “Here’s a better plan, brother. Since I’m here until the weekend anyway, I’ll stay with Tracy. Make sure she’s safe. You go and handle your business without distractions. Skype exists for a reason.”
Ethan narrowed his eyes. Suspicion flickered in his gaze, but Nikaulas returned the look with calm ease—though inside, his heart pounded against his ribs like a war drum.
Tracy, oblivious to the tension, laughed and gave Ethan a playful shove. “Go on, Ethan. Go handle your business.”
Ethan wrapped his arms around her again, groaning dramatically. “But I don’t want to leave.”
They shared a kiss that made Nikaulas roll his eyes and look away in disgust. He’d never get used to that nauseating display.
A little while later, Ethan was ready to leave. Nikaulas watched from the bar, casually downing a shot of whiskey.
“Keep Tracy safe,” Ethan said, his tone turning serious.
Nikaulas raised his glass. “Of course. Anything for family.”
Ethan gave Tracy one last lingering kiss, then left.
As his car disappeared beyond the gates, Tracy stood on the veranda, waving. Nikaulas studied her, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Family, he echoed to himself.
Yes, he would do anything for family but not to protect it. His goal was to take from it. Ethan’s empire. His power. And if the cards were played right… even his woman.
Over the next week, Nikaulas became Tracy’s shadow.
He was patient, charming. A listener. A confidant. And when she wasn’t looking, he planted little seeds doubts, questions, subtle reminders of a life she once had.
One morning, while they made breakfast together, Nikaulas leaned casually against the kitchen island. “You know,” he said, dicing tomatoes, “I don’t agree with how Ethan keeps you here. Locked away like a prisoner.”
Tracy, whisking eggs, paused mid-motion. “What?”
“This island… you were brought here against your will, weren’t you?”
She smiled faintly, remembering the chaos of that day. “Well… yeah.”
He stopped chopping. His eyes locked onto hers. “If you want to leave, Tracy… I can help you.”
She blinked, caught off guard. “But… why?”
Nikaulas sighed, voice softer now. “Because it’s the right thing to do.” He waited, then added, “Your fiancé Matteo he’s been looking for you.”
The bowl in her hands stilled. “What?” she whispered.
Nikaulas watched the change in her expression, delighting silently in her unease. He leaned forward, tone heavy with fake empathy. “He’s been searching all over Chicago. For two weeks. The man’s frantic.”
Tracy looked down at her hand, the ring Ethan gave her catching the morning light.
“Matteo’s the love of your life, isn’t he?” Nikaulas asked.
His question sucked the air right out of her lungs.
“You need to do what’s right, Tracy,” he continued, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “And when you’re ready, I’ll be here.”
He turned back to the chopping board, leaving Tracy staring into space, emotions clouding her features. He smiled.
“One more nudge,” he whispered to himself, “and she’ll break.”
By the time Ethan returned, the bond between Nikaulas and Tracy had deepened.
They cooked together, played chess, binged crime dramas, shared stories and laughter. Tracy began to see him as the older brother she never had.
One afternoon, they were playing chess in the living room. Tracy laughed at something Nikaulas said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear—only for him to reach out and tuck it gently for her.
That was the exact moment the front door slammed open.
Ethan stepped in, travel-worn and tense. His gaze swept the room and stopped.
His eyes narrowed on the space between them. On Tracy’s smile. On Nikaulas’s fingers. Something primal flickered in his stare.
“Ethan,” Tracy beamed. “You’re back!”
“Get away from him!” he barked.
Her expression froze. “What?”
Ethan stormed across the room. Nikaulas stood, holding up his hands in a calming gesture.
“Ethan, I know what this looks like, but—”
“I don’t want to hear a word!” Ethan snapped. “È così che stanno le cose, Nikaulas?! I look away for one second, and you betray me?”
Tracy winced at the word betrayal.
“Ethan, you’re overreacting—”
“Are you sleeping with him?” he asked, voice laced with venom.
Tracy recoiled. “What? No! Why would you even say that?!”
“Because I come home to this!” he roared. “I told you …. you belong to me!”
Nikaulas stepped in, voice calm. “Ethan, you’re letting jealousy cloud your judgment. Tracy has been loyal to you why would you think otherwise?”
Ethan turned on him, fists clenched. “You think I don’t see your game?”
Tracy reached for him. “Ethan, please—”
He clamped his hand over hers. “Amore, you disappoint me.”
Her voice wavered. “No, I didn’t…”
“You need to remember where your loyalties lie.”
“But—”
“You’ll stay in your room for three days.”
“You can’t be serious!”
“Ethan—” Nikaulas tried to intervene.
“Shut up, Nikaulas!” he snapped. Then he turned to his guards. “Take her.”
“Ethan!” Tracy struggled as they seized her arms. “Nick! Say something!”
Nikaulas sighed, raising his hands. “I’m sorry, Tracy. This is for your own good.”
Her shocked eyes stayed locked on his as the guards dragged her away.
Ethan stared at the chessboard, fists trembling. Without a word, he turned and left the room.
Once he was gone, Nikaulas crouched and picked up the fallen black king, spinning it between his fingers.
“Careful, big brother,” he murmured, smiling. “You’re losing the game.”
- Writer
