him to leave and I was starting to hope that maybe I would be lucky enough for him to stay. He was the only solid thing in my world, without him, I’d be lost.
I yawned, peace encasing me as I relaxed in his arms. I'd never felt so tired, like a thousand restless nights were begging to be made up for right here and now. And if I really did sleep for an eternity in Nicoli's arms, that wouldn't be the worst fate that could befall me.
***
I woke to a bang and jolted in alarm, pushing at the arms holding me captive as panic washed over me like ice cold water. I gasped and became frantic as I couldn't escape, my mind dizzy as I started to claw and rip at my captor. A dog started barking and my heart bashed against my ribcage in fear.
"Winter," Nicoli growled, holding me tighter and pressing kisses to any space of flesh he could reach. "You're safe. You're with me."
I rolled towards him, needing to see him for myself, but the daylight that should have brightened the room was blotted out by thick blinds, so I breathed in his hazelnut scent instead and leaned forward to find his mouth for a kiss. It stole my breath and made my heart start to slow. I'm safe. No one can find me here.
My kiss was an apology I couldn't give in words in that second as I caressed the scratches on his arms with a noise of pain in my throat.
"It's alright, I've got you," he swore.
My heart rate started to settle but before I could feel totally calm again, he slid away, storming to the door and flicking the light on. Tyson was bouncing up and down at the door and as Nicoli opened it, the dog shot out ahead of him. Nicoli strode from the room in his boxers with his shoulders tense, muttering furiously under his breath. Whoever had made that sound had better run for their lives.
"Could you fucking knock?!" Nicoli snapped and I finally relaxed as Frankie answered. The clear perpetrator. It was just the beautiful man with the darkness behind his eyes.
"It's my apartment, fratello," Frankie laughed and I noticed Tyson had stopped barking.
"She's been through the fires of hell, so don't storm into the place like you're a pissed off hillbilly, understood?" Nicoli demanded.
"Alright, alright," Frankie said lightly. "No door banging. I’ve got the memo, stronzo. Where is the little beauty anyway?"
I slipped out of bed, walking into the hall and through to the lounge. The second I did, Nicoli ran at me like his ass was on fire and my eyes widened as he wrapped his whole body around mine and half carried me back down the hall. It was only then that I remembered I was naked.
"Jesus fucking Christ," he growled. "Please put something on when other people are around, Winter."
A laugh escaped me and he tutted angrily as he guided me back into his room, grabbing one of his shirts and tugging it firmly over my head. He was still tight-lipped when I turned to him and I smiled teasingly.
Woops, I wrote on his chest and he shook his head at me.
"I think I got you before he saw anyway," he muttered.
"You didn't," Frankie's voice sailed from out in the hall. "Nice scars by the way, Winter. You're a fucking warrior."
I blushed a little at the compliment. It might have been strange to anyone else, but it meant the world to me. He saw my scars as a sign of strength, just like Nicoli did. And after spending so long being told I was weak, even starting to believe it myself, it felt amazing to have these two brothers see that in me.
"Erase that image from your memory," Nicoli snarled as he pushed the door open again and Frankie stood there with a smirk on his face, stroking Tyson’s head where he sat beside him, staring up at him like he was his new favourite person. Frankie acted like he owned the whole world and everyone in it and I wondered how rich he really was. I also wondered if all Romeros had the gift of calming any wild creature they set their sights on. Maybe Tyson could sense a predator in him like he could in Nicoli.
"No can do," Frankie said. "But don't worry, I've got a whole cordoned off section in my mind for girls my brothers fuck. It's a neutral zone with