Dare To Defy (Slow Updates)

Chapter One

NICO

I took a sip of my whiskey and glanced across the party. Another boring fucking party, for what? My father nudged my side. “Who knows, son? You might find the one tonight.”

My father keeps badgering me to get married, so I can take over for him. I didn’t need a wife. It would just be another headache. Besides, there’s only one girl I want. Gracie Davenport. Sweet, innocent little Gracie.

Shit!

She made it clear we were friends and nothing more. How pathetic is that? The son of ‘The Boss’ friend zoned by a little country girl from Oklahoma. She came to Vegas to pursue a degree in Art. That’s when I received the text from Trey Grayson, her cousin. He wanted me to look out for her. I promised I would for him. Honestly, I think he worries too much, but this is Las Vegas, Sin City.

“Dad, I’m suffocating here. Can’t I just go home?”

“No, within six months I want you married. There’s got to be someone here that catches your eye.” He told me.

I shook my head.

“No? Well, if you swing the other way, I’m sure we can find you a…”

“Dad,” I groaned. “I’m not gay.”

“Then, what is it?”

“I have my sights set on someone…”

“I’m sensing a but.” He muttered.

“She… doesn’t belong in this world. Not in the Mafia.”

“Son, how do you know that?”

“She… is too good for me.”

“Do I know her?” He pushed.

“No… yes… maybe. I don’t know.” I stammered on my words.

“Is it her?” My father nodded to the woman that just came in.

I clenched my jaw. “No, most certainly not.” I lied.

He smirked. “Well, I’ll be damned. Little Gracie is all grown up.”

Fuck yeah, she is.
Nice, firm tits.
Curves in all the right places.

“Gracie, what are you doing here?” I snapped.

“I was invited. It said it came from you.” She whispered.

I whipped my head to the side and glared at my father. He shook his head.

“Oh Gracie, there you are, darling.” My mother said as she joined my father.

“Hi, Mrs. Valentino.”

“You look just darling, doesn’t she, son?”

“She looks fine.” I muttered under my breath.

She looked more than fine, but my parents didn’t need to know that.

“Come on, let’s dance.” My mother led my father away.

I took to steps forward and pulled Gracie to me. She tried to pull away, but I wrapped one arm around her waist to prevent her from leaving. “Quit squirming.”

She pressed her hands onto my chest and pushed. “Nico, stop.”

“I lied to them. You look more than fine. You’re absolutely breathtaking.”

“Why?”

“Because they don’t need to know. It’s not their business.”

Her breath hitched and she parted her lips when I kissed her cheek. I wanted to give her a real kiss. Right on her lips. But for now, I’d have to settle for this.

“Truth or Dare.” She whispered.

I threw her a smirk. “Dare.”

“I dare you to dance with me.”

“Come on, little country. I know you can come up with something better than that.”

She licked her lips and leaned in to murmur in my ear. “I dare you… to kiss me. Right here.”

“No.”

She pulled away and huffed. “Fine, maybe I’ll go find someone else. Dante is looking rather sexy tonight.”

I jerked her harshly and hissed. “You will do no such thing.”

“Then, prove me wrong. Kiss me now, Nico.”

“I’ll dance with you.”

“What’s the matter, Nico? I guess you are a pussy.” She was taunting me.

If she only knew…

“I’ll show you a fucking pussy.” I held the back of her head and crushed my lips against hers. My heart pounded in my chest as I slid my tongue in her mouth. She tasted of cherries and lime. Must be from the cherry limeade she always drank. When I pulled away, I whispered. “How’s that for a pussy?”

“Nico…”

“Come on, let’s get you back home. You have class in the morning, yes?”

“No, I have to work tomorrow.”

“Work?”

“Remember, I told you I got a job down at your father’s club.”

“No. I. Don’t.” I said through clenched teeth.

The thought of her near that place is enough to make my blood boil.

“Why are you acting like this?” She growled.

“Because you don’t belong in a place like that.”

She scoffed. “Right, because I’m just a country girl.”

“No, because I thought you were better than that. All that works there are damn whores.”

The second the word rolled off my tongue she raised her hand and struck the side of my face.

“I didn’t mean it like that and you know it. I meant Trey wouldn’t want that for you.”

“You know what, I’m leaving. I can see coming here was a mistake.”

I didn’t try to stop her or run after her. I simply let her go. Just as I glanced across the party, my father cocked his head to the side and raised a brow. I downed my drink and slammed it down on the bar on my way out. I wasn’t in the mood for a party and I wasn’t in the mood for my father’s cocky attitude. I leaned on the wall and closed my eyes.

What more could go wrong?

“That was quite the slap.” I heard Matteo say.

“Mind your business.” I hissed.

“You should go after her. A woman like that shouldn’t be walking alone in the city.”

I sighed when I saw Gracie walking down the sidewalk. He was right. I shouldn’t have let her walk away. If something happened to her, I would never be able to forgive myself. I promised Trey I’d look out for her.

“Gracie!” I call out as I catch up to her.

“Fuck off.” She speeds up, trying to avoid me.

I pull her back by her waist and twist her around. Tears roll down her cheeks and fuck me if it doesn’t feel bad for how I acted. I cup her cheeks and wipe them away with the pad of my thumbs. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t want me there.” She whispered.

“No, that’s not it. I do want you there. It’s just…”

“You’re ashamed of me.”

“No, I’m not ashamed of you. I’m only ashamed of how you make me feel.”

“And how do I make you feel?”

“You know how I feel about you.” I admit.

“Nico, you know I can’t. Not when I’m trying to focus on my classes.”

“That’s why I’m not pressuring you.”

“I better go.” She tells me.

“At least let me make sure you get home safe.”

“I’m not your responsibility.”

If only you knew, little country.
You are my responsibility.
Mine to protect.

“You should go back to the party.”

“I’m taking you home and that’s final.”

She sighed. “Fine.”

I wrapped my arm around her waist and walked her to the apartment. When we got to her door, she pried my arm from around her waist. I put my palm against her door and leaned into her neck. “I dare you to invite me in.”

“Nico,” she warned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Chicken?” I tease.

“We’re treading on dangerous ground.” She says as she unlocks her door.

“Some risks are worth taking, little country. But hey, if you’re scared…”

“I’m not scared, Nico.” She growled.

“Then, prove me wrong… invite me in, little country.”

“You should go back to the party.”

I know she’s trying her hardest to avoid me after what went down at the party. I embarrassed her. Insulted her. And then, I dismissed her. I was a total jerk.

“I meant what I said. You look beautiful tonight.”

She rolled her eyes. “Now, you’re just sucking ass.”

I took each of her wrists and pulled her to me. “I was an ass.”

“And?”

I sighed. “I shouldn’t have treated you that way. Forgive me, little country?”

“Only if you buy me breakfast tomorrow.”

“Done.”

“And take me back to the party.”

“The party was over the second I walked out of the door.”

She furrowed her brows. “What?”

“My father wants me to settle down.”

“But you’re only twenty-three.”

“I know. Try telling him that.”

“You don’t want to have a family?”

“Don’t make me answer that.”

“But…”

I put my finger to her mouth to silence her. “Please, don’t make me give you an answer. You won’t like what I tell you.”

“I better go, my father is probably waiting on me.”

“Are you sure you can’t stay a little while?”

“I don’t think that would be advisable.”

“No goodnight kiss?”

“Gracie, if I kissed you right now, I don’t think I’d be able to stop at just that.”

Gracie kissed my neck and whispered. “I’m still a virgin.”

Get the fuck out of there, Nico!
She’s a damn virgin.
You’ll only taint her.

“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you in the morning.” I blurted out and got the hell out of dodge.

By the time I made it outside, I was out of breath. That girl, Christ all mighty. She just might be the death of me. My phone vibrated.

Dad: Where the hell are you???

Me: I’m on my way home.

And now, I’ve got to go face the music. Uncle Matteo probably ratted my ass out. I ran my hand through my hair and groaned when I saw the familiar SUV coming my way.

Dammit, Matteo.
Just let me be.