Ettore’s words echo relentlessly as the water pounds against my scalp, drowning out everything around me.
“He’s going to try to strip me of everything I hold dear,” I whisper.
Aleksandr already attempted to kill Nico.
The water pounds on my scalp drowning out my surroundings. Ettore’s words keep me in strategy mode.
A hand curls around my bicep, getting my attention. I glance up at him.
Nico crouches beside me, clad only in white boxer briefs. “This is our honeymoon, Serenity. Don’t let those assholes ruin our time. We can face our problems once we’re home.”
“I got swept up in the moment. I told you we should have a baby.” I squeeze my eyes shut.
I feel my husband’s long legs on either side of me. He pulls me with him until I’m no longer directly under the water.
Nico brushes my hair from my face, tucking it over my shoulder to get a better look. “Tell me you’re not having second thoughts about starting a family.”
My wild eyes lock with his. “Ettore’s words haunt me. He’ll have another one of his men harm me like that other asshole did to my mother.”
He showers my shoulder with soft kisses, holding me close. “Honestly, that’s why I didn’t come for you sooner. I was trying to take out both of them first. You were safer in Florence.”
Nico could have arrived at any moment and found out about Madden. I tried to keep Nico safe from my shit.
“We have to kill those assholes now,” I say firmly.
“Serenity, we will.” He kisses my head and holds me tight until sleep claims me.
Chapter Sixteen
NICO
Some people just have a death wish. Ettore tormented my woman all these years. He didn’t have to talk to her daily. His words in that card from her graduation were enough to keep her panicked. That asshole doesn’t know about Madden. We have to keep it that way.
My statement threw Serenity off-kilter. Not only was she thinking about our future child, she’d just been hit with the realization that I always wanted her to have my children. I’d told her that in the past, but that was before she left. I wasn’t sure when she planned to tell me about Madden. There was no way she could hide my son from me now that she was back in the U.S. She knows how resourceful I am.
My wife is crazy. She didn’t fold or cower while being punished. I wouldn’t ever hurt her. However, she wanted to be choked. And tried pushing me over the edge. Did she think I could kill her?
I stare at my wife soundly sleeping with her ass pressed against my hard cock. She uses my arm as a pillow. My free handglides along her bare breasts and curvy hip. I don’t ever want to be away from her again. The last five years had been pure hell without her. Now my queen will reign the Pitucco empire by my side. And together we’ll end Ettore and Alexandr.
Nuzzling my nose in her wavy strands, I inhale her strawberry-scented shampoo. Finally, I have my woman back where she belongs. Before I know it, sleep takes me under.
“Woo-hoo,” Serenity yells. “Don’t throw her in the pool. She’ll hunt you down if you do.”
Laughter kicks up.
One eye pops open, and I take in the scene around the pool. Serenity is dancing along the edge, sipping a strawberry daiquiri. The volume of the music is kept low, but I can feel the bass.
Serenity grips the top of her oversized straw hat, twirling her ass. She’s wearing a lavender two-piece bikini. The gray cover-up is doing a horrible job of hiding all that ass. So this is what she does? Hang out with her security team? I smile. As long as they’re good to her, I don’t mind. My wife must have been very lonely while in Florence. Sure, she had her grandmother and family. But she couldn’t go out and make real friendships. I’m curious how she met Colby Jack. Finding out yesterday she had Baylor was shocking, but good. She needed that connection. Once Serenity meets with the assassin and mob wives on a more consistent basis, I believe she’ll come out of her shell.
After watching my wife from the bed for ten minutes, I finally dip into the bathroom to tackle the three S’s. Shit, shower, and shave. Once I’ve finished taking a piping hot shower, I lather my chest with shaving cream while I brush my teeth. We leave in roughly five hours for Fiji. Right now I’d like to chill near thepool with my wife. No pussy for five years makes this man evil and unpleasant to everyone around him. I had revenge on my mind. Also, visiting my son as much as possible was important. Before we board the jet for Fiji, I’ll FaceTime with Madden.
I strap on my black waist holster and push both Glocks inside. The Glocks are visible above the waistband of my blue swim trunks. I shove my feet into a pair of brown sandals before I stroll through the luxury villa. I take in the art on the walls and halt at the ivory kitchen countertop.
The front door opens. “Good afternoon, Nico.”
“Reacher, good afternoon. Status update?”
His eyes hide behind a pair of gold aviator sunglasses. He’s wearing a gray short sleeve golf shirt, gray slacks, and black loafers. His black holster rest against his chest, equipped with weapons.
