"It's not my cock you're leading me by. And you damn well know it."
Yes, she did. "Nico, maintaining cover should be your priority. Not me."
"I won't break cover. Nico Grabar, boss of one of the most ruthless cartels in the world, has a woman. Let anyone try to mess with her."
Chapter Twelve
"You are going to get her killed. You know that, right?" Jack grunted, his stare reproving. He was barefoot, wearing white cotton pants and a half-unbuttoned white shirt. One of the world's most feared and effective ex-covert operatives, about to star in a wedding on the beach, surrounded by seniors.
"Nobody will touch her," Nico answered, pulling his sunglasses on and watching as the last wedding arrangements were taking place.
Jack crossed his arms over his chest. "Really? And how can you be so sure? Because last time I checked, you weren't short of enemies."
"Nothing will happen to me, because my enemies know me. I would hunt down and kill anyone who dared touch her. I would leave no one alive, and they know it." He had backup in place for all sort of contingencies, him biting the big one included. Paige would never be unprotected.
Jack took a second to answer. "You're not infallible."
"I don't need to be infallible; they just have to believe it. And trust me, I've spent every minute of the last two years convincing them. At some point someone would stop me, true, but it would take a damned long time for that to happen. Not a single soul who would dare to harm her would make it out alive. I assure you."
And Nico meant every word.
Not. A. Single. Soul. No one would be spared his wrath.
Jack's gaze bore into Nico. "Mark my words, if shit hits the fan, you won't have to wait too long for someone to stop you. Something happens to Elle-or anyone else here for that matter-I will kill you myself."
Fair enough.
Nico withstood the man's stare. Yes, looks were deceiving. Jack might be tanned, barefoot, dressed like a nineties' guru, playing along and being nice to this overbearing crowd for his future wife's benefit, but under all that still lurked the covert operative.
"Coming here was not a smart move," Jack continued. "Just a few months ago, I stormed Maldonado's hideout. You must recall; you were there. About to shoot me before you blew Maldonado's brains out. Ring a bell?"
Nico didn't react to Jack's sarcastic tone. "Only a very small contingent of Maldonado's men was at that compound. Most of them got arrested. The ones I kept are loyal to me. Besides, coming here was my only move. Some of my associates know about Paige. Claiming her publicly is the only way to ensure her safety."
"She'll always be in danger with you," Jack insisted.
"Once the cartel is taken down, Nico Grabar will disappear, and I'll reenter civilian life."
Jack shook his head. "Walk away from her."
"I can't. I love her. Would you have walked away from Elle?" He could still feel Paige's trembling body under his. So proud and courageous, his woman, willing to do away with her hard limits. Facing her fears. Letting go of her need for space and control and giving herself to him. No reservations. There was no way in hell he could walk away from her. Not now. Not ever.
"You're fucked, my man," Jack muttered.
No shit. Men like them didn't belong to anyone-until they did. Then it was game over. Nico had definitely been macho-tripping when he said Paige belonged to him. In reality it was the other way around: Nico belonged to Paige, body and soul. Being led by his cock would have been bad, but having his heart do the leading? That was worse. Much worse.
"And what's this shit about being cyberstalked?" Jack asked, interrupting Nico's thoughts.
"Her ex."
Jack nodded. "I see."
Nico didn't bother explaining further. There was no need. He wasn't the only one running background checks on the people he came into contact with. Occupational hazard.
"What's the plan?"
"Once this wedding of yours is finished, I'm having her stashed somewhere safe until things blow over. I don't care if I have to kidnap her."
"I hear you," Jack said, assenting. "I can help."
Despite the seriousness of the matter, Nico couldn't refrain from poking the bear. "Really? What about your honeymoon? I don't think your new bride would appreciate you bolting on her."
"Elle loves Paige. She'd do anything for her."
"Even help kidnap her?" Nico asked, his tone dry.
Paige had promised to lay low, but she probably had no clue what she was signing up for. Hell, he probably would have to present her with a pros and cons list, like the ones she was so fond of.
The only pro on it would be keeping Paige alive, which as far as Nico was concerned, trumped all the gazillion cons.