I step off the jet wearing a white dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, a blue blazer tailored to fit me, black slacks, and black loafers. Half an hour later, sunglasses shield my eyes from the brutal sun as I walk onto the patio of an outdoor café.
She sits alone at a small table, sipping from a white mug. I don’t miss the guards sitting at tables nearby. Their eyes sweep the patio in slow, calculated movements.
I approach. “Mrs. Cichello?”
Her gray eyes meet mine. “I know who you are, but I need to hear you say it.”
I whip off my sunglasses and push them into my inner jacket pocket. “My name is Nico Pitucco. I’m your granddaughter’s ex-boyfriend.” The last two words came out raspy.
I had to force out the words. Serenity and I are not on good terms. We will never be again.
The pain in my chest isn’t just from the bullet burns, but from the pain in my cold heart because of my ex.
A hulking bodyguard steps closer to pat me down. I extend my arms so he can perform a thorough search.
“He’s clean,” her bodyguard says.
“Have a seat, Nico.” She smiles. “You're a handsome young man.”
A grin lifts my clean-shaven face. “Thank you.”
“Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes,” I reply.
“Michael will bring it over. What would you like?”
“A caffè doppio.” I’m still exhausted, so the double shot of espresso will keep me awake.
Michael leisurely walks inside, with Miff right behind him.
“Your men aren’t very trustworthy,” she comments.
“Not at all. A man in my position can never be too careful.”
She nods. “That’s true. My husband would’ve sent one of his men, too.”
“He must have been quite the businessman,” I say.
“He was,” Mrs. Cichello confirms.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I offer.
“Thank you,” she responds.
“Demario and I go way back. Before we were married off to other people,” she admits.
The brightness in her gray eyes fades.
My brows lift. “I had no idea. It was obvious he was happy to see you again. He said he feels like a young man.”
Her tanned cheeks turn a hint of red. “I feel like a young girl when I’m with Demario. Neither of us is upset with the other. Well, not anymore. When the man you love has to marry another woman, it breaks something inside you.” She taps her temple twice, just like Serenity did.
And my heart slams against my rib cage. I hated seeing Serenity so fucking broken.
Michael approaches with Miff on his heels.
He places the tiny cup of espresso in front of me. “Thank you, Michael.”
