Nero watched Lucca pick the book up and flip through the pages himself.
Lucca looked up at Chloe. “How come you were never hurt?”
“W-what?” Chloe looked back at him.
Lucca slammed the book closed. “Why did they only ever hurt Elle?”
Chloe bit her lip. “She wouldn’t ever let them touch me. If-if they tried, Elle would do something to make them hit her instead.”
“That’s enough. You can go.” Nero stood and turned his back to her, walking to the rail of the gazebo to hold him up. She works so she can go to school and get the shit beat out of her just so Chloe doesn’t get hurt.
While Chloe solemnly stood and left the gazebo, Nero was on the verge of losing his mind. He’d found out everything he had wanted to know. Sebastian had done the most gruesome things to her over the years. He’s going to fucking die. Cassandra and everyone else who had witnessed or done something to her were all going to get what they deserved, as well, but right now, Sebastian was his main priority. It’s taking everything in me not to fucking go out and get even right now.
When Chloe had gone through the back door to leave, Nero turned around and saw the same battle in Amo and Vincent’s eyes.
Vincent stood. “How in the fuck is she still sane or alive? Please tell me we start tonight.”
Nero’s hands wanted retribution, but his mind hesitated. “Go home. I’ll call you if I decide to do anything.”
Vincent nodded before he disappeared.
Nero watched Amo stand. He clearly wanted to say something as he stared Lucca down until he finally walked away.
“What are you going to do, brother?”
Nero looked over at Lucca. He had never been able to figure out what went through his mind. His brother was never much for words, nor did he really care about anything in his life. But tonight, he had seen something different.
Nero sat back down in the chair. “What do you think?”
Lucca flicked his lighter and stared into the flame. “I think killing is way too fucking easy.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
A Lot of Makeup Caking
Elle sat on Nero’s bed wondering what had happened. Everything seemed fine, the night had been great, and then Nero had told her to go upstairs with Maria.
Elle and Maria had really had a good time. She’d tried on whatever Maria had told her to and ended up with Maria giving her a couple of things. Well, the ones that weren’t too girly.
Maria liked flowers and pink too much for Elle’s taste, but Maria had a few things she had bought when she went through a phase. Elle hadn’t wanted to take them, but Maria had insisted, saying she was going to give them away anyway. After looking at Maria’s huge, walk-in closet that was filled to capacity, Elle hadn’t felt too badly.
Then, when Nero had come into Maria’s bedroom, his face had been scarier than she had ever seen it. All he said to Elle was, ‘My room, now.’
Elle could feel his fury radiating from his body as she had sat on his bed and Nero had gone into his bathroom.
Now, here Elle was, confused and worried, sitting on his bed, listening to the shower run. After a bit, she decided to use the time to call her boss and tell him why she didn’t make it to work tonight, hoping to sidetrack her mind. When the call ended, she had thought he must have fallen in by how long it was taking him to take a shower, but then she heard the water turn off.
Elle was biting her nails, waiting for the door to open, and when it finally did, her heart stopped. Nero came out of the bathroom, still dripping wet. She had never seen him in anything other than dress clothes, and now he was wearing a towel low around his hips.
She watched his perfectly-toned body move toward his dresser. I mean, perfect. You could see every muscle under Nero’s skin. They weren’t bulky; his body was lean and cut. Everything is defined; his arms, his chest, and his abs…Elle followed a drop of water going down his abdomen, drifting down his dark skin until his towel captured it right above his…
Elle turned her head with a snap. “Don’t change in here!” She had seen the towel start to drop.
“Turn your head, then.”
“I am,” Elle mocked him. She crossed her arms and kept her head turned; however, her gaze slowly drifted to see out of the corner of her eye. When she saw his ass, she quickly snapped them back in place, licking her lips and trying not to think of how glorious his ass had looked.
Elle felt a breeze under the covers, so she turned her head and saw Nero getting under the sheets, wearing dark boxer briefs. She tried to get up to get off the bed. Clearly, Nero is ready for bed.
Nero grabbed her hand. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Um, I thought I could sleep with Maria tonight.”
Nero pulled her down beside him, pinning her upper body under his. “No, you’re not.”
How does he always do that? Elle had no idea how Nero always managed to mold her body like putty to the way he saw fit.
Elle tried to push off his unclothed chest. “Nero, I’m not sleeping with you.”
“Yes, you are,” Nero’s voice commanded her.
Elle’s body betrayed her again, giving in to Nero’s demand, even though she had never slept beside a boy before. She figured he had just given her her first orgasm, therefore sleeping beside each other was a step down. Right?
“Then could you please change?”
“I usually sleep naked; would you prefer that?” Nero mocked her.
Elle quickly responded, “No.”
She tried to ease into Nero and the bed. His anger had lessened, yet she could still tell he was mad, making her unable to relax. Minutes had passed of them lying in the silence before Elle began to really worry.
“Did I do something wrong?” Elle whispered.
Nero took a deep breath and pulled her into him closer. “No, baby, you didn’t do anything wrong.”