The Beast

Chapter Eighteen
Losing Control

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HANNAH

Standing with a group of his friends, I watched as Nico took shots, laughed with all his chest and drank some more.

I stood off to the side, studying him with a small smile. After I came home from work, I headed into the shower. When I stepped out twenty minutes later, it wasn't hard to hear Nico and all his friends in the living room slash kitchen. Granted, I wasn't surprised by their presence; today was Nico's birthday.

Last night, we'd watched a movie together until the clock hit midnight. After hugging him, he gave me the biggest grin and announced, "I don't need a mother fucking fake anymore, woman."

     And of course, his birthday fell on a Friday. Meaning, we would be celebrating at his favourite club. The same club we went to on New Years Eve.

Maybe Lev's there.

I nearly smacked my forehead at the thought. Of course, he wouldn't be there. With all the information I have about Lev now, I'm surprised Lev was even at the club. He didn't seem like the type. He still doesn't.

"Woman! Come take a shot!" Nico hollered from the kitchen, opening his arms for me to jump into. "I need to put more of this shit into you."

Some of his friends chuckled. Others smirked in my direction. I rolled my eyes with a playful smile before pushing myself off the wall next to my room.

"Why are you saying it like that?" I asked, coming around the table to stand next to him. He handed me a shot of clear tequila before picking up his own.

Clicking his glass with mine, he blinked innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't." I kept a smile painted on my lips, despite my discomfort. Nico's friends always had me wanting to keep to the sidelines. Not that they did anything to me, but... I'm not naturally good with people, as much as try to be.

Unless I get a good enough of alcohol in me. But at the same time, I don't trust myself to get that vulnerable.

"Did your sister call you?" I asked after taking our second shot. Emily was a few years older than him, and while Nico was a huge mama's boy, Emily stuck with their dad after the divorce.

Nico, who now had an arm around my shoulder, tensed. "She did. Felt forced, though." He shook his head sharply before giving me a mischievous smirk. "We're not gonna talk about her tonight, woman. Tonight, we're getting fucked. You get me?"

When I didn't answer right away, he slithered his arm to my waist and tickled me between my ribs. I tried jumping away, but he held me still.

"I get you! I get you!" I shouted amid laughter. Nico stopped his assault on my waist, but feeling petty, I reached out and did the same to him. His yell was infused with laughter. "You'll get what's coming to you, Ferrara."

Nico put several feet between us. Yet, he mockingly said, "I'm so scared."

We shared a grin, and for the first time today, I started to feel myself getting comfortable. Until Rocky spoke.

"You guys are fucking adorable. Get rid of the foreplay and fuck each other already."

I choked on my spit. Nico threw his head back and hollered with laughter. "Me and Hans over there? I'm down to commit to a marriage after forty if we're still single. But I probably have more sexual chemistry with your mom."