My brother is about to be pissed I left him in the dark this long. But he’s right. It’s time to let him in.
Forty-five minutes later, after our tuxedo fitting, Nick and I sit in my man cave where I bring him up to speed on the last fourteen years of my life.
My brother’s hand curls around the crystal glass tightly. “You almost died, Nico.” It’s not a question. It’s a statement.
“Yes.” I sip the glass of water.
“Our parents don’t know either?” He asks.
“Nick, listen. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I’d do anything to protect her. Even fight her war.”
Nick is silent for a moment. “I get that.”
He stares at me for a second longer. “You pretended to be so unaffected. Didn’t give a shit about love. But in reality, you’re fucked up in the head when it comes to her. Following her around New York like a lost pup.”
I shake my head. “You make it sound like I’m pussy-whipped.”
He chuckles. “Clearly, you are.”
Nick rubs his forehead. “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”
“Yes, but after the wedding.”
“Fine. Let’s go over the security details for the wedding,” he says.
I meet his gaze. “Thanks, big brother.”
“Don’t you ever hold out on me again. I’d die for you, little brother.”
I know he would. That’s why I didn’t tell him. If he died trying to help me, he wouldn’t have found happiness with Kinsley.
“I won’t.” I offer a small smile.
“Also, Serenity tried to kill me this morning.”
“What?”
“Yeah, she tried to poison me.”
He runs his fingers through his hair. “Damn, she tried to kill you before the wedding. What did you do to her?”
“It’s nothing I did. It’s all about what she’s trying to protect.”
My son.
SERENITY
“I’ve heard about you,” I tell her. “Nico told me how Nick was forced to let you go.”
Kinsley lets out a soft laugh.
“I didn’t leave because I stopped loving him. I overheard that he was a mafia boss, and I confronted him. He admitted he was engaged.
She shakes her head.
“I didn’t care that the engagement was arranged. I cared that he’d taken my virginity while keeping that part of his life from me. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to give myself to him. But if I’d known he belonged to another woman and lived this life, I would’ve walked away before I ever fell in love.”
“So you had no problem walking away from him? You didn’t look back?” I question.
