Chapter 60

Nico

I was too exhausted to even do anything with Lucky, by the time I nodded off for a couple of hours, it must have been hitting three in the morning. Quietly and with slow movements I ease myself out of the bed, my body wakes naturally at five and I can see it is still dark outside. In fact, it’s pitch black in the bedroom, shame because I’d love to see Lucky’s sleeping, peaceful face.

Easily, I make my way to the dressing room and dig out my grey run shorts, an old Uni top and slip into my sneakers. As I open the door one of the guards turns to me and nods. “Your aide is waiting downstairs for you, Nico.”

“Thanks, just getting some water before I start.” He nods back and I make my way down the stairs into the kitchen. It’s always eery when the house sleeps but I like the peace and quiet. My life, our lives are chaotic, always running from one business to the next, always having someone to sort out or read the riot act to or worse, torture.

What this house needs is a family, lots of kids running around in the day after school, babies screaming and squealing with happiness and contentment. A whole bunch of them, but with Tony not wanting to ever get married and stay a bachelor and Dario, God knows what will happen to him – there doesn’t seem to be much hope in the kids thing. Although I am keen for Lucky and I to start our own family. When the timing is right, and we can be as safe as we can possibly be. I let out a sigh, knock back the glass of water I just poured and make my way out to the front door where my detail is waiting for me, dressed in black shorts, sneakers and tight fitting, black T-shirt highlighting his extreme physique.

Lucas is an ex-Navy Seal and it shows. He came to me a couple of years back when I was hiring on the black market, someone that would be able to kill if necessary, without batting an eyelid. Of course, I pay well and Lucas has been by my side ever since. “Ready?” I ask him. He nods.

“How did you sleep, Boss?” he asks as we begin our warm up routine, stretching our quads, our hamstrings and do some planks before we start down the driveway that veers off with a path on the right taking us to the woodland at the back of the property where lighting has been installed since I love to run so early in the morning. In the winter you can’t really see a damn thing.

“Not much sleep, Lucas. You know me.”

“Any news on the woman, Yelena?”

“Nothing right now, other than what I am sure Aurora has shared with you recently. We’re waiting for more information. We know she is at the Four Seasons.” I pause, “for now anyway. We’ll hopefully have more details when Aurora flies in this morning. I want you present at the meeting.”

“Yes, Sir.” We run in companionable silence for a while, only the sound of our breathing, and the crunch underfoot of the gravel beneath our feet until we get onto the softer woodland ground.

“Any idea what you’re going to do with Lucky? She needs to be moved, Nico.”

“I know, but it’s dangerous to move her right now. Besides, if this woman is already in Manhattan, then she must know we have returned here from the Island. What I want to know is who is on the inside leaking the information?”

“Maybe the org she works for had their own eyes in the sky and tracked you to the island and back again.”

“It’s a possibility, with today’s technology anything is possible. Still, Aurora seems to think someone on the inside is feeding her information. In the meantime, we need to stay close to Lucky and our families.”

“Got it, Sir. You’ve got the best. My team will not let you down. Now, how about I race you to the centre spot and back to the main house.”

I grimace, since I am not up to being a raring athlete this morning, everything aches. I’m putting it down to the sheer exhaustion of lack of sleep, and all the stress and worry.

“Go for it.” I tell him psyching myself up to make my legs work faster and harder.

“Gotta give it to you, Nico. You run a mean streak,” Lucas says as we both return to the steps of the mansion, both of us bent forward with our hands on our thighs.

“Evidently not fast enough. Good job, Lucas. You’re a fast runner.”

“Have to be, Sir.” That he does. “I’ll go grab a shower and meet you all downstairs for breakfast. Eric is on duty inside; the property is all clear and we have nothing in the sky other than our own eyes.”

“Good to know. Thanks Lucas and remind me to give you a raise. By the way, how is that girl of yours doing?”

“Ellie is doing well, she’s having her violin recital tomorrow. Shame I’m going to miss it, but my ex is going to send me the link to watch it later.”

“Yeah, sorry, Lucas. I just need you here.”

“No problem, Nico.” We head inside, me feeling like a total shit because I know how much his little girl means to him. Ellie is about eight now and apparently, she is amazing on violin. It sometimes takes me by surprise that my staff have a family life. But they are always here for me, having my back. They put me first, always have and always will. Still doesn’t stop me from feeling bad that he’s missing his kid’s recital tomorrow.

Inside the bedroom Lucky stirs, as she stretches her arms above her head and yawns. She opens one eye slowly then the other. “You’ve ran already?”

“Yes, sleepy head. I wasn’t going to wake you that early.” She yawns again. “Why don’t you stay in bed, and I’ll have breakfast sent up to you?”

“Yeah, that would be nice. What are you plans other than your meeting when Aurora gets in?”

She sits up in the bed, the sheet moves down a fraction showcasing the top of her perfect, full breasts making my dick twitch in my shorts. “I have to go and see Dario, speak to Tony, inform our families that Yelena is in Manhattan and discuss what we think the next steps should be.”

“Shouldn’t I be present for that?” She cocks her head with a quizzical look on her face.

“You don’t need to be. Tony, your father, mine and I will come up with a plan.”

“Can I at least walk around the grounds or take a horse out today?”

“That can be organized. Let me know what time you want to ride, and I will ask Lucas to handle everything. You will need to ride with one of the detail.”

“Okay, that’s fine. I just need some air and head space. This is all too much for me, it’s oppressive.”

I walk over to the bed and place a kiss on the top of her head. “I know, Princess. I know and I’m sorry this has happened. Everything is on hold right now including the wedding. I’m sure you are pleased about that.”

I watch as she bites her lower lip, but she doesn’t respond. God, I could kiss her right here and now, flip her over in the bed and take her from behind, thrusting deep inside her wet cunt, but I have meetings straight after my breakfast and shower. My desire will have to wait.

Downstairs in the kitchen I see Dario is sitting at the island browsing through his mobile. He looks rail thin, my heart drops to see him so poorly looking. At least he is up and about, that is a blessing, and he hasn’t left the property. As much as I want him to stay and be cared for and have regular sessions for his recovery, he is not a prisoner. Even under the circumstances with Yelena and whoever else she has working with or for her on the prowl.

“Good morning,” I say as I saunter in trying not to make a big deal of him being out of bed.

I get a grunt, okay well at least he didn’t ignore me or give me a tongue lashing. Fuck, it’s going to be hard to question him later. I can already see it won’t go down too well.

“You want some eggs? I’m about to scramble some?”

“Nah, what’s with you cooking? Where’s Malina?” Malina does all our cooking for us, has looked after us for many years.

“She has gone to be with her daughter, the latest grand baby has been born. We have someone else in, but they don’t start until eight.”

I get out a pan, the olive oil, a plate and some eggs. “So, you feel any better?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Everything.” I reply as I whisk the eggs up careful to remove some of the yolks for a more protein dense version.

He snorts. “Right, like you give a fuck, Nico. It’s always about yourself and what you have to gain from it.” He doesn’t bother looking up from his mobile. So much hate and venom in his voice, it cuts through me like a blade.

“You are my flesh and blood, Dario. You are my brother. Of course I care, I made a vow to always look after you and protect you when we were kids. I intend to uphold that.”

“Care, you’ve dragged me in from the streets, trying to get me cleaned up and really all you give a fuck about is your damn empire. You don’t care about me.”

“I would have left you to die with a needle in your arm you dumb fuck, if I didn’t care.”

“And you plan to marry a fucking Gianluca, and you have their family in this house. It’s disgusting, they are not blood we owe them nothing.” He glares at me the first time his eyes have made contact with me, since he was brought here.

“Oh, wait, fuck. Don’t tell me. You’re in love with the cunt.” I clench my fists not wanting to deck my kid brother out. But honestly, I could choke him for talking about Lucky like that. Nobody calls her a cunt.

“I’d rather you didn’t call her that, Dario. And what my feelings towards her are, is none of your damn business.”

“You both deserve each other, you and your darling Princess. Should have both been shot right in the fucking head the other week.” My heart picks up, my eyebrows shoot to the top of my head.

“What are you talking about?”

He continues to hold eye contact with me. “Did you have anything to do with the shooting, Dario? So, help me, God.”