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His eyes darken with murderous intent. He shoots out of his seat. “They won’t get their dirty Romano hands on her.” He barks out a laugh, but it’s humorless. “And fornicated? Really, Nic? What era are you living in? You know I wouldn’t disrespect your sister like that. I know how this world works.”
I relax a little. I know they are in love, but it would be disrespectful of Dante to be intimate with my sister. It’s hypocritical of me, considering my relationship with Ocean and us having a child. But Dante and my sister need to wait before they take their relationship to the next level. At least until they are married. I sneer at the thought of them together and bile fills my throat. Yeah, no. That’s not something I want to think about.
“Anything else?” I ask, quickly trying to change the subject.
“No. I will leave you to your stalking.” He smirks, jerking his head to my laptop.
I growl. Fucker knows exactly what I was doing.
***
The following morning, I am just finishing up breakfast when Ocean, who has been at the table with me for the last hour, decides to speak to me.
“I want to take Romeo down to the beach.” It’s not a question, but more of a demand.
Glancing up at her, my eyes lock on our son and my chest constricts, like it does every time I look at him. I still can’t believe that I’m a father.
“That will be nice. I would come with you, but I have a yoga class in town at eleven.” Mamma responds, beaming at Ocean like she didn’t keep my son away from me for the first four months of his life. I try to push the negative thoughts away, but it doesn’t work. I need to accept that things will be up and down. That I will have days where I hate her for what she has done, and days when I feel some sort of compassion toward her. That things will not just slot into place like a perfect puzzle piece just because she is back here with me.
“You are not going anywhere without a guard.” I snap, breaking whatever mushy shit Mamma and my woman have going on.
Ocean’s eyes flash with blue fire and I smirk, daring her to challenge me. Obviously, she realizes it’s not worth the fight. Her shoulders slump, gaze dropping to Romeo. “As you wish. Can you arrange that? I would like to go before he has his afternoon nap.”
I grit my teeth, trying to rein in my quickly rising temper. Little witch knows just how to push my buttons. “I will. I would also like to spend some time withmyson on my own today.” I don’t miss the way she tenses. “You know, since I have missed so much already.”
“Asshole,” she mumbles under her breath, before forcing a fake smile. “Why can’t I be there, too?” Her brows furrow, a mixture of emotions flicker on her beautiful face. “I don’t want him around your wife,” she grits out.
I smirk, only for it to drop when I hear my mamma’s confused voice. “Wif–”
I cut her off before she can say more. “I will do as I damn well please. You know, I have a good mind to take him away from you for a couple months just so you know how it feels.” She gasps, her face paling. Satisfaction unfurls in my chest at her reaction. It’s petty of me. Beneath me really. But still, I can’t stop. She brings this side out of me. A malicious side that I can’t control. “Now go and get ready. I will arrange for a couple of my men to take you down to the beach.” My tone leaves no room for argument. She jumps out of her chair, grabs our son, and scurries out of the room before I can say more.
“Nico.” Mamma admonishes and reluctantly my gaze shifts to her. “Don’t you dare threaten that girl with her child.” Her brows cinch. “And what does she mean by wife?”
Throwing down my napkin, I push out of my seat. “She thinks I married Gianna. That is how it will stay for now.” I pin her with a look that dares her to argue. “And I will threaten her all I like. Are you forgetting that she kept me from my son?” I point out, hating that my own mamma seems more loyal to the lying littleTesoroover her own son.
She scowls, disappointment clear in her eyes, as she shakes her head. “This isn’t you, Nico.”
My jaw tics in annoyance. I don’t want my mamma to be disappointed in me, but fuck. What does she expect after everything Ocean has put me through? I can’t back down now. No matter how much I want to. Throwing Mamma one last look, I say. “Maybe it’s the new me.” Then I quickly leave the room to arrange for a couple of my guards to take Ocean and my son to the beach.
Chapter13
Ocean
“Asshole,” I mumble under my breath, as I stomp down the steps toward the beach. Two guards follow behind me. Close enough that they invade my personal space and a stark reminder that I’m not alone. I know without a doubt, it’s a power play. Nico’s way of showing me that there is no way out. “Can you step back.” I hiss over my shoulder. It’s not a question but a demand I want them to follow.
The older of the two grins, pausing briefly. “Sorry miss, boss’s orders. We are not to let you out of our sight.”
Shaking my head, I continue down the steps. All I wanted was a nice day with Romeo on the beach. Yet I’m being followed by these two idiots, like their lives depend on it. And maybe they do. I wouldn’t put it past Nico to kill them should they lose me.
Nico. My jaw clenches. That fucker had the audacity to threaten me with taking my son away? Surely, he knows that I would die before I let that happen. He may think that I am still that weak, scared, girl I was a year ago. But I’m not. I have changed because I had to. Because I had no other choice. Romeo depends on me and for that, I will be whoever I need to be to keep him with me. To keep him safe.
Glancing down, my heart bursts with intense happiness at the way he is snuggled close into my chest. As long as I have him, I have everything I will ever need. My eyes shift to the wrap he is snuggled up in. Nico really did think of everything, covering every possible base for what our son would need. Even right down to the baby sling currently wrapped around my body.
Stepping onto the sand, I sigh, my lips curving into a smile as I inhale the salty sea air. It instantly relaxes me, and I almost forget about the two men watching my every move. Romeo lets out a little noise of contentment, his hot breath hitting my chest. I run a finger down his soft cheek before moving closer to the water.
Finding a spot, I drop down and exhale a breath. I want to look over my shoulder, see where the goons have positioned themselves, but I refuse to give them the satisfaction. Instead, I focus on my son. On the sound of the water hitting the sand. It’s calming. If I had a cellphone, I could picture myself out here, music playing as I practice ballet. Or even better, I could call Patty, and let her know that I am okay. My heart clenches in my chest, hand flying up to the spot and rubbing as if it will alleviate some of the pain. It doesn’t. I miss the lady who became my family. The woman who took a chance on me when most people would have left me to struggle.
Tears blur my vision as thoughts of her filter through my mind. I suck in a breath, trying to calm myself. Get it together, Ocean. Crying won’t achieve anything. It will not change my situation. That doesn’t negate the fact that I need to talk to Patty. Need to put her mind at ease… Nico would understand, right? Understand that she was there for his son, and she deserves this courtesy? I hum to myself, making a mental note to speak to Nico about this. It’s the least he can do, and surely he isn’t that much of a monster that he would say no? I sigh. After this morning, I know I shouldn’t bet on anything. After all, he did threaten to take my son. Nothing is impossible when it comes to him, and I need to remember that.
