Andreas stood and began to pace as he talked. “Gio, go move the cars. Nikko give him your keys.” Gio got up and took Andreas’ keys first, then held out his hand to Nikko who passed keys to him over the table. He was already leaving before, Andreas spoke again. When he saw the confusion on Ronnie’s face, he clarified.
“In case your old lover boy decides to drive into town before you call him, we don’t want him seeing two rentals parked out front. Gio knows what to do. He’ll park one in the back by the employees parking area and one down the block.”
Ronnie nodded. “Makes sense,” she murmured. His look silenced her again, and he resumed his pacing.
“As I was saying, you’re going to ask Gary to come get you at that warehouse down the block, tell him that’s where you have been hiding. If he takes the bait, you are going to throw yourself at him. Kiss him, act your little heart out. Tell him you love him, and you’ll do whatever it takes for him to take you to Canada with him. Make it look good. Real good.”
“The hell she will!” Nikko jumped out of his seat, his chair flying backwards. He flew across the room to Andreas’ side of the table.
“Listen,” Andreas held up his hands to ward off his hot headed baby brother while taking a step forward as well. “We don’t have time for games. If we are going to get this guy fast, we have to make it look good. We can’t dick around.” He placed a pointed index finger in the middle of Nikko’s chest. “This girl, who loves you,” the words dripped sarcasm, “is a fugitive. Her lawyer is probably getting suspicious. The police in Hernando County may decide to do a drive by, and what the hell happens if they announce it on the news that she’s skipped. Gary boy, if he hasn’t already, will disappear off the radar. He’s fucking got the resources to do it too. We don’t have time for bullshit.”
“But,” Nikko started, his face red, and grim. He looked at Ronnie.
“If she’s got to stick her tongue down his throat, if she’s got to grab his cock, and moan to get this shit done today, she’s doing it.” Andreas was holding nothing back. They didn’t have the time, or the law on their side. They were aiding and abetting a fugitive.
Ronnie noticed Nikko’s fists clenched at his sides. She knew this was tearing him apart. What man would agree to allow the woman he loved to do this? She wouldn’t like it either if the tables were reversed. She had no choice but to take the decision out of his hands before this blew up.
“I’ll do it,” she jumped out of her seat. Nikko’s head whipped in her direction. His anger was now turned in her direction.
“I don’t want his fucking hands on you,” Nikko started for her, and Blaze stepped into his path.
She hadn’t even noticed the quietest of the four brothers getting up. She stepped between them.
“Nikko, please. If this can be over today, we can have a real chance. We won’t have this dark cloud looming over us. Over my mother, the baby.” Nikko’s face still looked grim, angry, and he was still trying to get around her to face Blaze and Andreas. She was desperate to get his approval on this plan. She needed this over so she stated the one thing she thought would make him get on board.
“Nikko, please,” she begged. “I know I haven’t said the words, but I do. And I can’t say them. Not until this is behind me. I won’t say them until my name is cleared and I can offer you me, all of me, without another dark cloud looming on the horizon. I have nothing to offer you until I know we can have a life together. I can’t say those words to you until I know for sure I can give you that. That’s why I haven’t told you I love you, because it wouldn’t be fair to you. To give you false hope when I’d be going to jail. I couldn’t do that to you.”
Her eyes began to tear during her pleading, and when she finally saw a hint of approval in Andrea’s eyes, she held back those tears with conviction. She squared her shoulders and waited for what would come next.
Nikko was finally able to twist out of Blaze’s grasp, and he rushed to her. He held her, to him, this woman he loved with his heart and soul.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. A strange voice called out that their order was being delivered. Their breakfast had arrived. Blaze went to the door, and Nikko turned Ronnie so she was hidden from any suspicious glances, but it hadn’t been necessary as Blaze stepped into the hall to tip the hotel wait staff. He brought the heavily laden cart in himself.
Ronnie managed to get her emotions under control, and when Nikko felt she was ready to face them all again, he pulled away from her just enough to see her expression. “I love you baby, I do. I am just a man, and the thought of someone touching what’s mine . . .” He couldn’t finish. He just shook his head.