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“Sounds good,” I hum, impressed. Though I shouldn’t be. Valentina did bring two children into the world, so I guess she knows what she is talking about.
She exhales. “I know things haven’t been ideal since Nico brought you back, and he hasn’t treated you in the best way, but I’m happy you’re both here. It’s made this house feel more like a home.”
Emotion clogs my throat, my gaze shooting to hers. I see the truth on her face. Hear the honesty in her words. From the moment I came here, Valentina has been nothing but nice. I thought she might hold some resentment toward me for keeping Romeo away from her son, from her, but it’s clear that she doesn’t. From my one interaction with her husband, I will never understand how such a kind, empathic, woman was married to someone like him. But then that’s me being judgmental. Maybe there was a nice side to him that I never got to witness. Because to Lorenzo Marchetti, I was just the girl that stood in the way of his perfectly made plans. One that he would get rid of, no matter the cost.
Shaking the thought from my head, I step into the den. Stopping on the threshold, I take Valentina’s hand with my free one. “Thank you, for everything. If it wasn’t for your kindness and hospitality, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Giving me a gentle squeeze, she shoots me a knowing smile. “Something tells me that you would have been just fine. You’re strong and resilient, Ocean. Exactly the kind of woman I imagined for my son.”
***
I’m putting Romeo down for his afternoon nap when I hear it.
A helicopter.
Nico is home.
My stomach dips, in excitement or worry, I’m not sure. I hate these confusing feelings. They really mess with my head. All I know is that I have felt empty since he left this morning. It’s messed up, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s true.
Sighing, I drop a kiss on my son’s cheek, grab the baby monitor and decide to head downstairs. I know Nico is busy taking care of business, but it’s been over a week since I asked him about calling Patty and it still hasn’t happened. I don’t want to wait any longer. I could have gone behind his back, called her while he was in the city, but I didn’t. I’m sure had I asked Valentina about making a call, she would have allowed it – well, unless Nico said otherwise - but she has been so nice to me, I don’t want to use her like that. Or put her in a position that could possibly make her uncomfortable.
Making my way downstairs, I pause when the front door is pushed open. Nico steps inside, followed by Dante and two other men. His cold gaze meets mine. He pauses, shock flashing in his eyes before he covers it. His blue orbs narrow, searching my face. My cheeks heat under his scrutiny, my body burning up with something I don’t want to decipher right now. His hungry gaze rakes over me and though I am fully dressed, I feel naked as he takes me in.
“We will wait for you in your office.” Dante says, breaking the tension currently suffocating the big foyer.
“Tell Mario to join us,” Nico drawls, his eyes never leaving mine.
My heart thumps in my chest. A throb starts between my legs. I loathe my traitorous body for reacting this way to him. It’s like I lose all control over myself when he is around and turn into a wanton hussy. As if he knows exactly what he is doing to me, his lips curve into a sexy smirk. Asshole. I roll my eyes.
“Nico, I need to talk to you.”
“How is my son?” he asks, completely ignoring me.
“Ourson is fine. He just went down for a nap. Can I talk to you about what we discussed last week? Patty,” I clarify.
He sighs, hand coming up to loosen his tie. “Not right now,Tesoro. I have a lot going on and I need to take care of it. Patty can wait.”
He steps forward to move past me, but I grab his wrist, stopping him. Electricity zips through me and I know he feels it too by the way his brows scrunch up. “Please, Nico.” I beg.
“Not right now, Ocean,” he barks, making me flinch. Dejection surges through me at his easy dismissal. Guilt flickers in his eyes before they turn hard, cold. It’s a look I have come to expect from him but has been absent this last week. The one I hate. He runs a hand through his hair, sighing. Its only then I notice the weariness on his face. “Look, let me take care of business, then you can call her later. Okay?” It’s his way of compromising and I jump on it.
“Okay,” I agree, perking up slightly.
He nods, his lips a tight, tense line. With one last look thrown my way, he saunters down the hall toward his office.
I smile, a sense of accomplishment hitting me. It might not be right now, but I will be speaking to Patty at some point today. Excitement bubbles inside me at the thought of hearing her voice. She doesn’t know it and would never accept it, but she saved me.
And for that, I will forever be grateful to her.
Chapter24
Nico
After two hours locked in my office discussing everything from increasing our security, the attack on my club, why Ocean is involved, to meeting with the Bratva, we are finally done. I’m exhausted to say the least, but we got everything covered, which is exactly the outcome I had hoped for.
“I think we could both use a drink,” Dante drawls, when it’s only the two of us left in the room. Pushing out of his seat, he strides to my bar cart, pouring us both a Macallan.
Sighing, I lean back in my chair, taking the crystal tumbler when he hands it to me. “This shit with the Bratva and Ocean is putting me on edge,” I admit.
