I stepped out of the taxi, and my stomach dropped when I took in the imposing man waiting at my front door. Niko’s megawatt smile flashed through the twilight, a wicked promise.
My feet stuck to the pavement, locking me in place as my heart began to race.
Max said that Niko was involved with the Bratva. My own research suggested that his family had ties to organized crime.
And now he was waiting for me outside my house, despite the fact that I’d broken things off with him.
His low chuckle rumbled through the night air, and he strolled toward me when I didn’t approach, a wolf closing in on its prey.
Butterflies beat their wings in my belly, a sickening sensation that had once felt slightly alluring; Niko had always set off my feminine warning signals, but I no longer found it enticing.
“What are you doing here?” I asked breathlessly, remaining rooted to the spot: a frightened doe freezing in the gaze of a predator.
That crooked smile was impossibly charming, designed to cut through all my defenses. It set my teeth on edge.
“Your dad gave me your address so I could send flowers,” he explained in his velvet deep voice, each word sounding dark and tempting. “I decided to make the delivery myself.”
My wide-eyed gaze flicked over him. “You don’t have any flowers.” I gathered my courage and straightened my shoulders. If Niko was involved in anything nefarious, he wouldn’t dare threaten me in public. Would he?
“What are you really doing here?” I demanded.
He came to a stop just at the edge of my personal space: a respectful but intimate distance.
His dark brows rose to his perfectly mussed sable hair. “So hostile,” he teased. “I figured I could do better than flowers.” He took a small velvet box from his jacket pocket. I eyed it warily, my mind stalling out in response to this strange, shocking turn of events.
I had no idea what to expect from the enigmatic billionaire. While I didn’t sense a threat in his cocky demeanor, he still kept me on edge. My fingers trembled, and I flexed my fists to hide the small sign of weakness.
I drew myself up to my full height, even though Niko still towered over me. I allowed my eyes to clash with his, and his aquamarine gaze glittered with amusement.
Heat suffused my cheeks. He was toying with me. Niko had always liked making me nervous. It hadn’t felt dangerous before, but now…
I wished Max were here.
When I didn’t reach for the velvet box, Niko snapped it open. “For you to wear on our date tomorrow,” he announced.
A huge teardrop diamond pendant sparkled through the growing shadows. My jaw dropped. The gesture was insanely extravagant, and it might’ve been romantic if I weren’t so disconcerted around the handsome Russian.
I gripped my locket, my thumb worrying the smooth gold back. “I already have a necklace.” I shook my head, refusing the gift. “I’m not going on another date with you, Niko.”
His smile faltered ever so slightly before he caught it. “Why not?”
I narrowed my lashes at him, not buying his act. There was no reason why a man as gorgeous and wealthy as Niko should pursue me so relentlessly. I didn’t trust his presence outside my house one bit.
Max had suggested that Niko’s father had tasked him with keeping an eye on me because of my interest in the Mafia case. Why else would he be here after I’d rejected his advances?
“What do you want from me?” I demanded.
His smile sharpened, a feral flash of white teeth. He’d said that he liked it when I challenged him. It appeared that hadn’t changed. “I think that’s obvious. I want to take you out again.”
“I said no,” I reminded him, trying to keep my voice from hitching. He was standing between me and my front door, blocking my way to my private sanctuary. “I’m with someone else. I don’t want to go out with you.”
I think you might have ties to blood money, and you scare me. I didn’t voice the accusation aloud. It sounded half-crazy in my own mind, and openly accusing him of criminal activity would be far more dangerous than turning down a date.
I didn’t have proof. All I had were niggling doubts and soul-deep fears that I barely dared to acknowledge. There was so much about Niko—about my father’s relationship with his family—that I hadn’t allowed myself to fully contemplate. Now, he was forcing me to confront my inner turmoil about my dad and everything Max had said about Daddy’s ties to the Bratva.
Niko snapped the jewelry box closed, and the sound pierced my chest like a gunshot. I jolted, and he frowned.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Allie,” he rumbled. The hard planes of his handsome face were softened by sincerity, and for a moment, I almost believed the fervent light in his pale blue eyes. “If my coming here without warning freaked you out, I’m sorry.” He raked a hand through his hair, and the uncharacteristically uncertain gesture was shocking enough to make me doubt my own fears. “I like you,” he asserted with a self-deprecating smile. “I thought I was going to sweep you off your feet. You’re more of a challenge than I anticipated.”