Nicolai

"Hey, Sutton."

I can't believe that's all I can think of to say to her. Hey, Sutton? What a fucking dork.

She's just standing there, rooted to the spot like she's forgotten how to walk and I can't decide if it's because she's so shocked to see me or if it's because she's so angry I'm here.

It's Xavier who finally speaks first. "Nicolai?" His tone sounds incredulous, like he can't believe I'm here.

And honestly, I shouldn't be. I work for the Gospodari; being a driver/bodyguard for one of the princesses of the Ring is unheard of.

Well, it would be if I hadn't had Juri "exile" me. Damn, what rotten luck I have. To have been exiled from two of the biggest crime syndicates in New York. How'd I manage that? That was easy. First of all, Juri may be smart when it comes to business, but he's kind of a dumbass when it comes to matters of the heart. He has no idea that I'm fucking head over heels for Sutton and that no part of what I'm doing has jackshit to do with anything other than her.

So I can continue to "work undercover" for Juri while watching over Sutton. It's fucking cake. And if anyone questions my connection with the Gospodari, well...it'll be easy to show them the tattoo I had covered up last night.

You don't do that unless you're serious about being out of the club.

Or you get your cousin to fake exile you.

Either way. It got the job done, and I was able to accept Dominique's offer.

I swallow down any remaining resentment I have toward Xavier Banks and step forward with my hand extended. "Mr. Banks. It's nice to see you again."

To my surprise, he takes my hand and gives it a firm shake. "Nicolai Marković. My God, I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Where have you been hiding?"

I shrug one shoulder and say, "Oh, ya know, here and there. Worked with my family for a while, then got tired of that. My mom passed away a couple years back, so..."

His eyes soften and he pats my shoulder. "Sorry to hear that, son. She was one of the good ones."

I wish I could turn and glare at Jason. He'd used my mom against me so many times, and that was the final straw that sent me packing.

"Yes. She was," is all I say though. It's so clear to me that Xavier has no clue what happened between me and Jason three years ago. He has no idea why I left. He confirms this with the next words out of his mouth.

"I was surprised when you left us for a different job, I have to admit. I know Sutton here was heartbroken," he says, wrapping an arm around her and squeezing her to his side.

I finally look at her again, and she's just staring at me with so many questions in her eyes, and I hardly know what to say in this moment, so I just say what I feel without giving away my feelings or my true reason for being here.

"I know. I wasn't necessarily happy about it either, but I had to do what I had to do for my family. The job I took paid better, and you know how that goes," I say, avoiding her jade stare.

Dominique cuts in and says, "Well, we fixed that, didn't we?"

"Sure did. This is going to be a perfect gig for me."

"I bet it is," Jason grumbles from the other side of the room, and I feel so satisfied with his anger that I could throw a fucking party right here in his foyer.

Dominique shoots him a dirty look while Xavier's eyebrows dip in confusion—he always was sort of clueless—but Sutton hasn't taken her eyes off me.

I am dying to get her alone and find out what she's thinking. I didn't think I'd be greeted with a parade or anything, but she actually looks angry.

Why would she be angry? If anything, I should be angry with her for the way she acted the other day after I helped to save her life. After she rubbed it in my face that Jason kissed her and definitely insinuated that she kissed him back. I know Dominique insists that's not how it happened, but I need to hear it from Sutton before I believe it.

The elevator dings and Henry, the Banks' driver, steps out with his arms full of boxes. I rush forward to take some out of his hands. "Here, let me help you with that."

"Thank you." He looks at me and then does a double take. "Mr. Marković, how nice to see you again," the older man says with a genuine smile.

I always liked that guy.

"You too. Here, let me show you the room Sutton will be staying in."

I shoot a smug glance at Jason as I lead Henry down the hall to the guest bedroom Dominique set up for Sutton...that happens to be right across the hall from me.

As we're dropping the boxes off, I can hear Xavier and Sutton saying their goodbyes, and when we get back to the lobby, she is hugging her father with a tearful expression on her face. My heart squeezes in my chest seeing her so emotional.

Was this how she felt when I left her?

No.

I'm certain by what she's told me that she felt worse. She knew I wasn't coming back.

"Take care of her, you three. Do you hear me?"

And when Xavier looks at me, Jason, and Dominique, I know I can trust myself and her best friend to do that. No matter what we have to do, no matter what we have to sacrifice.

Kincaid, I'm not so sure about.

***

"Sutton?" I ask as I tap on her open doorframe. "Can I come in?"

She looks up from where she sits on the carpet, unpacking the big box of books I'd carried in for Henry. "Yeah, I guess."

I round the bed and sit on the edge nearest to her, watching as she separates the books into stacks by genre. I don't even have to pay close attention to know that's what she's doing; it's how she's always organized her books and movies.

"You doing okay?" I ask as I lean over, resting my elbows on my knees in a casual attempt to see the cut on her neck from the other day.

"Fine," she says, not looking up from her work, throwing the box behind her when she pulls out the last book.

Okay, this is going to be fun.

"How's the cut?"

"It's fine," she says, turning away from me so I can't see.

Oh, no. Not going to happen. I get to my feet and squat in front of her, moving her hair from where it's shielding her neck from view and gripping her chin, turning her head so I can see.

"Hey, what the fuck?" she gripes, trying to jerk from my grasp, but to no avail.

"Just let me see it, Sutton," I growl. "Stop being so fucking stubborn."

She rolls her eyes and tilts her head, giving me better access. I try to ignore how smooth her skin is and how easy it would be to press my lips to that spot just below her ear that made her purr for me that night in the park.

Fuck, stay focused, tupan.

I nudge the hood of her sweatshirt aside and when I see the wound, I'm mildly satisfied. It's fully scabbed over, but it's a little red and puffy around the edges. "Does it still hurt?"

She shakes her head, but when I run my fingers across it, she winces.

I lean forward and ghost my lips over the cut. "Liar."

She inhales sharply but doesn't move away from me, and I let that spur me on. I trail my lips further up her neck, planting open mouthed kisses all the way to her ear before whispering, "Let me take care of that for you."

"How—"

Someone clearing their throat—loudly—kills the moment.

Both of us jump and I turn toward the door to see that, thank fuck, it's just Dominique.

I get to my feet and Sutton is quick to follow, grabbing a stack of books off the floor and cramming them onto the top shelf.

"What are y'all up to in here?" she asks, leaning on the doorframe with a knowing smirk on her face.

"Nothing," Sutton says with a bite in her tone. "I'm trying to organize my books and Nicolai is in here bothering me."

I hold back my laughter and say, "Oh, yeah? 'Bothering you'? Seems legit." Dominique and I share a look and I brush past Sutton on my way to the door. "Let me know if you want me to help you get rid of that puffiness around that cut. Even though it's scabbed over it could still get infected."

"'Kay," Sutton says, casting me a glance that is nothing less than shy.

I chew the inside of my cheek and hold back the grin I want to flash her. I know just from that look that she's going to forgive me.

But not before I earn it.

When I cross the hall to my room, before I shut the door, I hear Dominique say, "God, you two are so fucking weird."