The Heiress and the Hitman

Chapter Six: OLD FLAMES AND NEW FIRES

The question hangs in the air like smoke from a recently fired gun.

Nicolai’s breath is hot against my ear, each word laced with something lethal and quiet. His fingers dig deeper into my waist, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me I’m not going anywhere. Not until he gets answers.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out at first. My mind races, scrambling for a lie that won’t unravel everything I’ve just built with tears and trembling. Marcus is still talking through the speaker, “Aria, if you’re hurt or something’s wrong, just say the word. I’ll get the building manager, the cops, whoever. I’m not leaving until I know you’re safe. Please...”

Safe. The irony twists in my gut. The only thing keeping me “safe” right now is the man currently caging me against his chest while staring daggers at the security feed.

Nicolai’s eyes never leave the screen. Marcus paces the lobby, phone in hand, glancing up at the camera every few seconds like he can will me to appear. He looks wrecked, dark circles under his eyes he's run his hands through his honey brown hair so many times it looked like a bird's nest now. He’s always been like this. Even when we were together. He had always been warm and kind. The one who helped me crawl out after I'd sunk to the depths of despair.

And now he’s about to become the biggest threat to my survival.

“He’s… no one,” I whisper finally, the words tasting like ash. “Just an old friend. He's been checking on me once in a while since the incident.”

“Old friend.” He repeats it slowly, tasting the lie. “Do all your old friends visit you at..."He glances at the digital clock on the panel. "One in the morning?"

My heart hammers so hard I’m sure he can feel it against his ribs. “It’s not like that. We dated in college, but it ended years ago. After that we were just casual... Sometimes. When things get bad.” I hate how small my voice sounds.“ Of course I stopped seeing him after I met you." Another lie. I wonder how he'd react if he knew I'd worn this very nightgown tonight for Marcus.

“So he's your Ex..." he cuts in, voice dripping with ice. His hand comes up, fingers wrapping loosely around my throat... not squeezing, just holding. A reminder of who I belonged to now. “What a coincidence that my Wife's Ex shows up at her doorstep while I’m trying to remember who the hell I am?”

His thumb brushes the frantic pulse at my neck. The same spot he’s been obsessed with since he woke up. But now the touch feels different. Possessive in a way that makes my skin prickle with equal parts fear and something darker.

“I told you,” I say, forcing my voice steady. “You’re all I have. Marcus is nothing.”

His eyes flick back to mine, searching. The sliver of doubt is still there, but it’s warring with something hotter, something more primal. Jealousy. Raw and unfiltered.

On the screen, Marcus slams his palm against the intercom's call button again. “Aria, please. I know you’re up there. The doorman watched you go up... Say something ”

Nicolai’s grip on my throat tightens fractionally. Not choking. Claiming.

“Tell him to leave,” he says quietly. Too quietly. “Tell him you’re safe and you don’t need him.”

My mouth goes dry. If I speak to Marcus now, one wrong word and this fragile house of cards collapses. He could say something that unravels the lies I've woven. If I don’t speak to him, Nicolai might doubt me.. And doubt in a man like him is more dangerous than any gun.

Nicolai loosens his grip on me reluctantly and I rise slowly, I pad across the room, his footsteps trailing mine silently. I stand in front of the screen and reach for the intercom button with shaking fingers. I feel Nicolai's heat behind me. He's standing so close now.

I press the talk button.

“Marcus,” I say, voice steadier than I feel. “I’m okay. Really. Don't worry about the Lockdown. It’s just… a security thing. False alarm. You can go home. I'm fine.”

There's silence on the other end. I watch hurt flash across his features then concern.“I see... You're really okay? Are you sure?"

My pulse roars in my ears. His concern for me was touching and all but right now it was going to ruin everything.

“Marcus, I’m fine,” I repeat, louder. “Go home. Please. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Another beat of silence.

Then Marcus’s voice returns edged with something resigned. “Okay... I just wanted to make sure you're okay? You're not drunk again are you? Also... We need to talk, there's something you need to know."

From behind me, I hear Nicolai's impatient grunt. He reaches past me and presses the talk button before I can stop him.

“You heard her.” Nicolai cuts in. His tone is deadly. “She doesn’t want your company tonight. Or any night. Go home.”

There's silence on the other end. Then Marcus laughs in disbelief.

“Who the hell is this?”

Nicolai’s thumb strokes once along my spine calmly, a silent promise.

“The man who’s going to make sure you never set foot in this building again if you don’t walk away right now.”

I feel the words vibrate through his chest into mine. My pulse roars in my ears.

Marcus’s voice hardens. “What the actual fuck... Put Aria on. Now.”

Nicolai’s grip tightens. He doesn’t look away from the screen. “She’s safe. She’s with me. That’s all you need to know.”

Another beat of silence. Then Marcus's voice go quiet, almost dangerous. “If you’ve hurt her. I swear I'll make sure you f*****g regret it...”

Nicolai releases the button and the line goes dead. His eyes flickers back to the lobby feed. Marcus is still standing there, glaring up at the camera like he can burn through it with his eyes.

Nicolai turns fully to me now. His expression is unreadable again, storm clouds gathering.

I swallow. “Nicolai..."

He cups my jaw, tilting my face up. Not rough but not exactly gentle either.

“He'll leave." he murmurs. His eyes meet mine. “ I don't remember being the kind of person who likes sharing his things..." His thumb presses lightly against my lower lip then drops to his side. Something unreadable burns in his eyes. "Infact the concept of sharing doesn't sit right with me. What's the point of Owning something if you have to share..."

My throat closes. "He doesn't know I'm married Nicolai... No one does."

"So he thinks he can still have you." His jaw clenches. His eyes return to the monitor. If looks could kill, Marcus would drop dead on the spot. He was still in the Lobby, pacing angrily. He looks up at the camera one last time then his shoulders drop. He shoves his phone in his pocket, turns, and walks toward the lobby doors. The glass slides open for him and he disappears into the night. The feed stays on the empty lobby for another few seconds before it times out and goes dark. I sigh in relief and turn to find Nicolai's eyes trained on me. There's something feral in them.

“Come here.”

It’s not a request.

I step closer on unsteady legs. He catches my wrist, gentle, but firm and pulls me against him until my chest is flush with his. His arm bands around my waist then slides up to cup the back of my neck, his thumb pressing lightly against my pulse.

“You have any more friends I should know about?" He murmurs against my hair.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Don’t be.” His grip tightens. “I just don't like the idea of other men thinking they have any right to you.” He pulls back just enough to look down at me. “You’re Mine now. You said it yourself. I'm all you have left in the world.”

I nod because I have to. Because part of me, the terrified, exhausted part wants it to be true. Wants the safety he’s offering, even if it’s built on a foundation of lies.

He studies my face another moment, then leans in and kisses me.

It’s not soft like before. Not comforting. This is claiming.

His mouth is hard, demanding, tongue sweeping in like he’s erasing every trace of Marcus’s voice from the room. From me. His hand fists in my hair, tilting my head exactly how he wants it. Then his hand slides down to grip my hip, pulling me tighter against him until I can feel how much his jealousy has wound him up.

When he finally breaks the kiss, we’re both breathing ragged.

“You're Mine." he says against my mouth. "If anyone tries to take you from me... anyone. I'll bury them.” A delicious shiver runs down my spine.

I slide my arms around his neck instead. “Don't let go..." I whisper.

His eyes darken.

He lifts me in one smooth motion, Broken arm be damned and carries me toward the couch.

His mouth finds mine again in a slow, deliberate kiss that steals what little air I have left. When he pulls back, his eyes are heavy-lidded, dark with something that isn’t just possessiveness anymore.

“You look exhausted,” he murmurs, voice rough around the edges. “You should lie down.”

I don’t argue. My legs feel like they might give out anyway.

He sets me gently on the wide leather sectional, then steps back just enough to shrug out of his jacket. It hits the floor with a soft thud. His good hand moves to the buttons of his shirt next... slowly, unhurried, like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me. One button... Then the next.

The fabric parts. I can’t look away.

His chest is carved muscle under scarred skin. Old knife wounds, faint bullet scars, a roadmap of violence that should terrify me but only pulls the ache between my legs tighter. The shirt slides off his shoulders, revealing the full breadth of him. Powerful, dangerous and beautiful in a way that makes my mouth go dry. Heat floods low in my belly, sharp and insistent. I’m still throbbing from earlier when he put his fingers inside me, his mouth on my breasts. The way he left me clenching around nothing. Unsatisfied. Starving.

I want him. Badly. Right now.

He tosses the shirt aside and kneels in front of me, bracing one knee on the cushion between my thighs. His bare skin brushes mine through the thin silk of my nightgown and I have to bite my lip to keep from whimpering.

Then I see it.

A glimpse of ink curling around the thick muscle of his upper arm catches my attention. It's a Tattoo... A Dagger wrapped in thorns. It’s small, but unmistakable... Important. It feels important.

My breath catches.

Dread coils cold in my chest, sudden and sickening.

I’ve seen that tattoo before.

Not exactly the same... but close. Too close.

The man who stepped out of the black SUV three months ago, the one who raised the gun and put three bullets into my father’s chest... He had the same symbol inked high on the side of his neck. I remember seeing it before Father shoved me behind him.

My heart collapses inward.

Nicolai is still watching me, head tilted, waiting for me to say something, do something. His hand rests warm on my thigh, thumb stroking absently.

But all I can see is that tattoo. If he’s connected... Then the people who killed my father are the same ones who sent him here tonight... Why come for me now? Why me? I'm not Important... Someone like Audrey would be a better target. She was someone important. Me? I was a mere figurehead in the company. Mother puts Audrey in charge of everything. I wasn't even important to my own family. I'm nobody... Why would they want me dead?

My eyes flickers to Nicolai's, His eyes are still hazy with desire... Locked onto my lips. He was sent here to kill me now he believes I’m his wife... What a cruel ironic twist. I'd forgotten the true state of my situation.

I’m trapped with a killer… My killer. My heart speeds up.

“Aria…” His voice slices through my haze.

His thumb glides higher, tracing the hem of my nightgown, teasing the soft skin just beneath. His gaze locks onto mine, dark and unblinking.

“I’d like to f**k you right here on this couch.” My breath snags in my throat.

“But first…I’m dying to spread you open and taste every inch of you with my tongue until the only thing left in your mind is how f*****g good it feels when I’m devouring you.”

His hand slides higher, fingers teasing the edge of my thong, slow and sure. I suppress a gasp. Desire surges hot and traitorous through my veins, pooling low, making my thighs clench against the ache he left unfinished earlier. Yet ice-cold reason slices through the haze.

Nicolai's eyes flicker down to my lips. “Can I?”

I swallow nervously, Blood rushing to my head.

I’m split down the middle... aching for his ruin, but terrified it’ll be my last...