“Take a shit on it too,” I encouraged the dog as I barked a laugh. “That guy is a total prick.”
Nicoli snorted a laugh as Tyson darted forward and licked my hand and I had to admit that he seemed like a pretty decent dog.
I pointed toward the private elevator for the penthouse and Nicoli scooped Winter up into his arms, carrying her over to it as I moved forward to press my thumb to the scanner.
“I’ll get you on the system so you can use it too,” I promised as I noticed his interest lingering on the security I had. “Papa insists we all have the best security in place on our properties in the city. Ever since Mamma was killed and you were stolen from us...” I trailed off. It wasn’t like I needed to remind him of the events that had led to his entire life being ripped away from him anyway.
“That makes sense,” Nicoli said roughly. “And I’ll certainly feel happier knowing Winter is safe here.”
“That you are, sweetheart,” I assured her and she blinked those green eyes at me without a word but she didn’t seem so afraid of me anymore, so that was something. “I can order in some new clothes for both of you,” I offered. “I’ll have them here by tomorrow and then you can both get settled in and we can figure out the rest of it as and when.”
The elevator started ascending and Nicoli lowered Winter back to her feet. She’d shrugged out of the coat and kicked off the massive boots she’d been wearing when we’d descended the mountain in the car so now her feet were bare beneath a pair of men’s jeans which had been rolled up multiple times and held in place with a belt. The green check shirt she wore over it matched the red one Nicoli was sporting. They honestly looked like they were about to shoot a low rent lumberjack porno or something. It hurt my fucking eyes. I let my gaze skim over the two of them with a critical eye as I assessed their sizes then sent out a message to some of my people telling them to get on the case ASAP. I wished I could snap a picture of the shit show which was their outfits to accentuate my point, but I guessed as they were lying low that wasn’t the best idea.
The elevator arrived with a ding and the door slid open to reveal two over excited assholes who’d clearly gotten into my liquor.
“Surprise!” Enzo shouted as Rocco pulled the string on a party popper which spewed a pathetic amount of paper streamers in our vague direction as he grinned at us.
“You decided to stop sulking and come join your brothers at last then?” Rocco asked, arching an eyebrow at Nicoli in classic alpha male bullshit posturing.
“I had hoped the months apart might give you time to work on your personality,” Nicoli replied calmly. “No such luck it would seem.”
“Who’s the hot piece of ass?” Enzo asked with a big smile for Winter and I swear Nicoli actually growled as he took a step forward, placing himself in front of her so that Enzo couldn’t keep looking.
“Winter’s with me,” he said in a tone that promised bloodshed if anyone in this room even looked at her wrong, let alone touched her.
Enzo laughed darkly, raising his hands in submission as he backed away. I noticed Winter was looking kinda horrified to be surrounded by four big, Italian men. And I guessed after all she’d been through I could appreciate her hesitancy.
Tyson ran past my brothers through the open space of my apartment. We were on the eightieth floor and were high enough to see the bay from the wall of windows which covered the far side of the space. Everything was simply decorated in tones of grey and white, though I had a set of blue scatter cushions and a rug in the living area which Rocco’s wife, Sloan, had insisted on buying me to break things up. There was a scented candle which had never been lit lurking somewhere around here too. She liked to try and help me out with my ‘hopeless bachelor ways’ whenever she could.
“I can show you guys where you can stay,” I offered, taking in Winter’s nerves and how dead tired the two of them looked. “You can clean up and when you’re ready to socialise, I’ll order us