Chapter 42

Nico

Just looking at her with her lifted chin, the sorrow in her eyes at an arranged marriage, pulls on my heart. Dammit why do I have to start having feelings for this woman? How did this even happen? She was merely supposed to be a tool, a weapon, a woman with the Gianluca name to marry to give me the ownership of the streets. Our two families blending to be the biggest in New York City.

What can I say? I can’t tell her I love her; how do I even know it’s love? It could just be infatuation. She is intriguing, her strength and her dry sense of humor are challenging and maybe it’s only that, which makes me feel strange inside. She makes me dizzy; she drives me insane, I’ve never met a woman like her before.

The woman who I am engaged to, to be married to. “Let’s get it over and done with,” she says as she makes her way up the stone steps leading to the registry office. I follow behind trying not to look at the curve of her hips, the way her ass sits high on her lean legs. My dick wants to pump inside of her but not yet. Like I’ve told her before, she has to want me and not just my cock. Me as a man.

How I’ve got to this point where it matters that she actually wants me, is totally beyond my entire comprehension. My phone beeps. I cuss and take it from my pocket as she continues to the large, smoked glass doors and rests her hand on it and looks back expectantly at me.

“Just a minute, I have to address this, go wait inside I won’t be long.” She huffs, throws her luscious, dark mane over her shoulders and makes her way through the doors. I can tell she is not impressed with any of this.

I read the message from my brother.

Dario is coming round, we have the care team at the safe house, but he’s muttering on about Monletto. Something about he will show you, Nico who is the boss.

What the fuck is he on about?

I have no idea, but he seems to think he’s going to show you who will be King of New York. He’s muttering all sorts of rubbish, I thought you should know. It sounds like he has it in for you.

My heart drops down to my black, patent shoes.

Why? We’re close, I don’t understand. I thought we were tight?

He hasn’t been right, Nico for the last couple of years. Maybe he doesn’t think you two are tight anymore. I have no idea what he’s talking about he is drifting in and out. Maybe he is behind the shooting?

That is the most insane thing I’ve heard. Dario would not try to kill blood. We are his family.

Trust me, brother you and I both know that family means fuck all when there is power, and money involved. Maybe you should lay low for a while longer and not come back to New York tomorrow.

I’m flying in tonight. Lucky and I are at the registry office then we’ll be flying back. I’ll bring her back to the safe house. Step up the protection and I want eyes in the sky 24/7. Any news on finding the kid Monletto?

We have him placed at his father’s property in Mexico.

Good, great job. Get eyes on him too and we’ll take it from here when I get back late tonight.

Stay safe, brother.

Always.

I rake my hands through my hair after I’ve put my mobile away. Why would Dario want to do something to me? It’s beyond me. He’s my kid brother. Since when did he decide he has no love or respect for me? My own brother, the kid I grew up with. The one I shared many a joke with, afternoons sunning by the sea, secrets we kept from our parents.

It was always Dario and I, Tony being older was never as close to us two. I am disheartened and shocked. What if he is the one behind the shooting? That would mean Lucky and I can never be safe, not unless I do something to Dario. It makes me shudder. We are blood, thicker than water. We have a bond, the Santangelo bond should never be broken nor betrayed.

“Are you fucking coming or what?” I hear Lucky’s voice as she pokes her head out of the door.

“It has to wait, we’re leaving.” She cocks her perfectly dark eyebrow at me.

“What, we’re not getting married? Thank fuck for that, it’s the best news I’ve heard since this ridiculous engagement.” She wastes no time and marches out of the doors down the steps and straight to the car where my ever-patient driver awaits us.

I grab her by the arm, “we will be married Princess, but there is a slight change of plan. We fly back to New York.”

“Oh. Well, there is a God after all.” She yanks her arm free, instantly I miss the warmth of her closeness and wonder for the second time in under half an hour, how I’ve come to be invested in this strong-willed woman.

We sit quietly in the car neither one of us speaking until we go through the imposing iron gates of my residence. “I want a phone when we get back, a new laptop and I want to go back to my parent’s house.”

“You are not in a position my Princess to make any fucking demands.” I get a look that kill for that comment. I can take it.

“Fuck you, I’ll buy them myself I do have my own money.”

“And you won’t be going anywhere other than glued to my side at the safe house.”

“Jeez-us, nothing is going to happen to me.”

“I’m not taking any chances.”

“Why because of your precious standing in the mafia community? Honestly, you need to get a reality check, Nico.”

“Because I don’t want anything to happen to you. I swore I would protect you and keep you safe and that is what I intend to do. You can huff and puff like a brat all you like, Gianluca. You’re under my care now and that’s the final word on this.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh. “I want to see Mia and my folks.”

“You can. Your folks are now at the safe house. As for Mia, well that may have to wait. I’m not having you roaming the sidewalks of New York city like a bird waiting to be taken by a bird of prey.”

“Seriously, I think it’s you they wanted killed, Nico not me.”

“Don’t back chat me, Lucky. I’m warning you, if I have to chain you up, I fucking well will.”

She scoffs at me, even her laugh makes my heart flutter. When the fuck have I ever had a fluttering heart? I’m a mean, cold sonofabitch. I. Do. Not. Do. Fluttering. Fucking. Hearts.

Vinnie is in my office, “get the jet ready please and make sure you have all your stuff. We’re leaving. I want wheels up in the next ninety minutes.” She looks up confused but covers it immediately with a poker face.

“Of course. Are we taking Lucky?”

“Yes.”

“Is that wise after what just happened to you both?”

“She’ll be fine. I can’t operate from here; I need to be back in the thick of it. And whilst you’re at it, I need to go to Mexico with Tony. Have that organized for tomorrow morning. We will leave at seven in the morning.”

“Mexico?”

“Since when do you question me, Vinnie?” She has the decency to blush and cast her eyes downward.

“Yes, Nico. On it.”

Lucky is seated in the marble floored foyer with one leg crossed over the other. She has changed into a pale pink jumper that hangs off one shoulder exposing, soft, tan flesh, I could like it. Pulling myself together I give her a smirk.

“I see you wasted no time. Aren’t you taking anything back with you?” I stick my hands in my pockets.

“Nope. I don’t need the clothes you bought for me thanks; I’ve got my own.”

“Not at the safe house,” I point out.

“Besides,” she continues to ignore what I just said. “You do know that buying clothes for your partner is considered controlling.”

“For heaven’s sake woman, you are irritating me with your spoilt, brattish ways. Fine, go round in that jumper that does nothing for you and those nasty black leggings.”

Her eyes widen, the hurt that flashes across her eyes makes me feel like a right cunt. Why did I even have to say that? Seriously though she is driving me to want to drink all fucking day.

“I despise you, Santangelo.” She hisses at me. I chuckle, catching her looking at my prominent Adam’s apple.

“Is that so? Then tell me, Princess, why does your cunt get so fucking wet for me when I’m near you?”