Chapter 46

Nico

I wake and remember I am in the bed with Lucky, the evening comes back to me. The sound of her voice as she was reading her story to me, it sent me to sleep. Not because I was bored, but her voice it is soothing when she is not being a bitch or brat to me. I could listen to her voice all night long.

It's still dark outside, I easily slip from under the sheets and make my way to the closet room to put on my workout gear. But not before I take another look at her peaceful, resting face. She is beautiful, graceful, her skin is tan even with he light on dimly, I can see her glow. Lucky’s hair is splayed all over the pillows, so much of it, it’s dizzying. It reminds me of a glossy mane.

Quietly, I move around to retrieve my running shorts, my old, favorite black T-shirt and slip into my trainers then take a seat on one of the chairs in the closet room and do up the laces.

“Hey, are you planning on shirking out of running with me? Are you scared to lose?” And there goes that mouth of hers again. I want to stride over to that bed and cover it with my own, place my tongue inside her mouth and taste her.

Instead, I chuckle. “You have got to be kidding me. Besides you looked so peaceful, and I figured you could do with some sleep, Princess.”

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead. I don’t need much sleep. A deal is a deal.” She sits up, the sheets falling away from her body exposing her practically see through sleepwear, I catch a glimpse of her breasts.

Unabashedly, Lucky flings the sheets back and gets out of bed, her long limbs in full view. Damn she has fine, strong legs. “Give me a few minutes, Santangelo. I am going to beat your ass. You won’t know what’s hit you.” She is a cocky bitch; I’ll give her that only she doesn’t know the training I put in on a daily basis and have done ever since I was a kid.

I could easily be a Navy SEAL with all the hardcore training I put in, my trainer is paid exceptionally well to keep me in good shape. He spares me no mercy. “Fine, but if I win, Princess less of the lippy, bratty mouth of yours.”

“Not likely, I can’t help it around you. It would appear, Nico that you bring out the absolute worst in me.”

I shrug and waggle my eyebrows. “My detail will be running with us and there will be eyes in the sky on us at all times.”

“A bit dramatic don’t you think?” She slips off her nightwear totally unashamed that I am standing right by the closet, leaning against the frame to the room, my ankles crossed. “You can look away you perving letch.”

I throw my head back and chuckle, then grab her wrist. “I am your fiancée; Lucky do not forget that. You are mine now and if I want to look at you, I fucking well will. Understood?” She doesn’t cast her eyes down, instead she continues to glare at me with those mesmerizing, emerald eyes of hers. She could easily weaken another man, but I am Nico Santangelo and I do not do weakness. 

Lucky pulls her wrist out of my hand and opens some drawers until she finds one that holds workout gear. I had everything stocked for her, not missing anything out. Of course, I had to rely heavily on my assistant to make sure everything was in place for when Lucky arrived.

Still, I can’t help wondering if brining her back to the city was the right thing to do. I know for sure we would be safer still on the island, but I have business to do here. We also have a wedding to organize, and it needs to take place here. She was such a brat about the whole thing that even I cannot deny her, her mother and father being present, and her family and best friend, Mia.

If I didn’t relent, I would always have her angry and at war with me. As for some plan she mentioned previously to be rid of me, I will get to the bottom of that. First, the run then I have business to attend to. Tony has already left me a message to say that the forensics are back, and they have the make of the gun that took the shot.

He will give me more information when I am showered. That man never sleeps. It is good to know that when I am resting or in my bed at night, I have full protection around me, and my business does not rest. Tony is a night owl and takes care of stuff that involves transatlantic dealings, he takes rest when I come back on. It works for us. Somewhere in the middle we always meet.

“Well, come on then. What are you waiting for? And you can knock that smug, righteous look off your ugly face,” wow did someone get out of bed the wrong way? She is especially bitchy this morning. I merely raise my eyebrows at her and smirk, the corners of my mouth lifting up. Knowing this will irritate her further.

Why must I do this? Keep irritating her? I mean I want us to get along but it will take time. Breaking Lucky Gianluca is like taming a wild, stallion. It will give when it will give. When it is ready and trusts me. I will do everything in my power to let her know I am a man of my word, and that she can trust me.

Perhaps it is fair to say, that maybe, just maybe I went a bit too far. Threatening old man Gianluca’s life was not the smartest thing to do but it is done, and I cannot turn back the clock. If I tell her I don’t actually mean to kill her father, there will be no marriage. This mean no alliance, which in turn means I will not have the power and streets that I need to end the wars out there. Especially with the Monletto family.

“What happened to your dog by the way?” Her question throws me completely and takes me by surprise.

“Kratos was going to be transferred to the island, but with developments here, I decided against it. He will be coming over later. He is currently at a different safehouse with my parents and Dario.”

“How many of these prisons do you have exactly?” She sits down and ties up her laces, I can’t help noticing how fit she looks in tight run leggings, a crop top and her hair tied in a high ponytail. I could fist it, wrap it around my wrist and yank her head back until my lips meet hers then crush them. My dick twitches.

“Tsk, Lucky, Lucky, Lucky. When will you realize this is not a prison nor was the island? It is for your safety and your protection. I’ve been through this why must I have to continue to repeat myself?”

“Whatever, Nico. Let’s go. I hope your detail can keep up with me. I’m not hanging around for your lame asses.” She beats me to the door not allowing me to open it for her. Damn this woman is going to be the death of me yet. She can’t even let me act in a chivalrous manner. Fucking woman.

Mikel is standing outside our suite, dressed in a charcoal T-shirt and matching shorts ready to run. He looks like any other guy about to workout only he has a gun belt attached to his waist. A former congressman protection detail, he was persuaded to come and work for me. He is one of the best, an ex-Navy SEAL. I only hire the best of the best. He nods. I nod back.

Outside it is cool, I see as Lucky runs her hands up and down her arms. “Cold? You want to wear my T-shirt? I could have told you that bralette thing wouldn’t be enough.”

“So, why didn’t you then?”

“Because you would have spat it back in my face. I figured I’d let you find out for yourself.” She hisses at me, yes, hisses. I chuckle. Mikel waits behind us. Another one of my protection nods as he approaches from the grounds.

“Morning, Sir.”

“Morning, Alexi. Ready guys?”

“Yes, Sir,” they say in unison.

“Let’s get going then. We’re doing five miles this morning followed by some work in the gym. Lucky you can go ahead we will be right behind you.”

“Oh, fuck off, Nico. I can run like a man. Just watch me.” She starts running and I have to laugh because at that pace she won’t last more than a mile or two. Still, she wants to prove something then fucking let her. Damn brat if ever I met one, she needs to be put over my knee and spanked until her ass is sore. That will teach her.

It doesn’t take long until the guys and I catch her up, she is breathing hard and fast. “Your pace is too quick for five miles. This is not a race, Lucky and you won’t make the distance at this pace.”

She scoffs at me. “Little do you know, Nico. I was a cross-country runner once.”

“Yeah, maybe ten years ago.”

“I can still run, I run most mornings, or I did until you hijacked me and set me on fucking island.”

We are side by side, our arms pumping at the same pace, her chin is held up marginally. I match her stride, there is no way I am letting her out of my sight. For the foreseeable future, Lucky Gianluca will be glued to my side.

We near the end of the trail that leads to some woodland, it’s way too dark still this morning to go into the woods, one of us could trip and sprain and ankle. “Turn around, we need to head back, this is the halfway marker.”

“Fine.” She stops and bends forward placing her hands to her thighs.

“You okay, Lucky?”

“Yes of course I’m okay, I just need a breather.”

“I thought you were a runner, an elite athlete the way you have been carrying on.”

“You know what, Nico I fucking hate you.”

“Mutual, now get that ass in gear, I have a business to run and don’t have time for your antics. I told you not to run so damn fast but you’re pig headed and as stubborn as a mule.”

I smack her on the ass. Hard. She yelps and stands up glaring at me. My guys chuckle. “Do. Not. Ever. Do. That. Again.”

“What do you expect when you point it in my direction?”

“Ugh, you incense me.”

She starts to run, I trail behind her, the lights along the trail lighting up sufficiently that I can see the outline of her gorgeous body, every stride she takes makes my dick ache to be inside her.

Just as we near the property I slow down to allow her to make it to the steps first. She pumps her arms faster forming the perfect V motion in front of her chest with each pump. It’s a turn on just watching her run like an athlete. Once she gets to the first step she jumps up and down.

“See, I told you I could beat you.” She is totally oblivious to the fact I have let her win. I don’t mind, just seeing her so jubilant fills my heart and there I go again.

A total goner. If anything happens to this woman, I swear I will hunt down whoever hurts her and skin them a-fucking-live.