NICO
Ihave no idea what the hell I’m doing with her. Domenic is right. She’s so far from my type as to be a whole other species from what I’m accustomed to, but as I follow her home to a rough part of town near Little Haiti, I’m more determined than ever to make her—and her son—mine. I don’t care what it takes or what I have to do to achieve my goal of having her in my life, in my arms and in my bed.
I can’t even think about that last one, or I’ll be hard as a rock in two seconds flat. No other woman in the history of women has had this kind of immediate effect on me. Sure, other women have turned me on and gotten me fired up, but not like this. Sofia is unique in every possible way, which is why it’s so important for me to keep her and her son safe and as close to me as possible.
They’re coming with me to my parents’ house tomorrow, too, not that she knows that yet. I’ll talk her into it, or I won’t go.
My cell rings with a call from Angelo, my right hand at work. “What’s up?”
“Dude, we’re getting killed over here with last-minute requests for rides. We could really use you and one more car if you can break free.”
“I can’t.”
“Nico… We’ll have to turn people away.”
“Let me call my brother. I’ll get right back to you.”
I use the Bluetooth in my car to call Milo.
“Yo. I thought you left?”
“I did. I need a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Can you drive for us tonight? Just for a couple of hours?”
Milo’s groan tells me he feels the same way I do about working on Christmas Eve.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ve got a situation, and I need one more driver right away.” Milo rarely has more than one drink per event, so I’m not worried about him being impaired.
“Is your situation named Sofia?”
“So what if it is?”
“Let me get this straight—you want me to leave my family on Christmas Eve so you can be with your girlfriend or whatever she is?”
“Did you see Miguel there earlier?”
“Yeah, I was going to ask you what was up with that.”
“He arrested her ex-husband, or soon-to-be ex, lurking outside Abuela’s and probably looking for some trouble. She has a protective order against him. Now he’s in jail for Christmas, and she’s worried about his friends and family coming for her, so I’m following her home and planning to stick around.”
“I’ve got you covered at work, bro. Tell Angelo I’m on my way.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Milo. Seriously. I owe you.”
“One of these days, I’m going to cash in on all those IOUs.”
“Any time, brother.”
“Call me if you need backup at Sofia’s.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
“Will we see you tomorrow at Mom’s?”
“I’ll be there.”