Gripping the edge of my soft pillow, my eyelids lower. When I come to Nico’s, beside me focused on the basketball game.
His gaze snaps to me. “Are you hungry?”
My eyes roam his body. He’s wearing a gray t-shirt, gray sweatpants, and white socks cover his big feet. I want to pull those sweatpants down with my teeth.
“Yes.”
He hops out of bed, then strolls out of the room. I jump up and run into the bathroom to relieve myself and pull myself together. After ditching my bonnet in the drawer, I walk out the bathroom. Nico is back on the bed, resting his head on the headboard. I spot the piping hot soup on the nightstand.
“Thank you.” I grin.
Settling beside him, I pick up the spoon and bowl of soup.
“You’re welcome.” Nico hits a few buttons on the remote. “Let’s watch a movie.”
“Sounds good.” I push the spoon into my mouth, filled with noodles, carrots, and celery.
“This soup is delicious.”
He smirks. “I knew what you needed.”
“Nico, I don’t feel up to having sex.”
He slides his hand over my thigh. “I’m not here for sex. I’m here to take care of you.”
My heart skips a beat as I hold his gaze.
“We haven’t done this in a long time. Just exist in each other’s presence.”
“I know, Serenity. It’s time for that to change.”
I place the spoon and empty bowl on the nightstand. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I say.
He pauses the movie. “Like what?”
I’m silent for a moment. “When I was fourteen me, Krew, and mom were terrorized by my father’s enemies. There were three men.” I pull my legs up and hug them as I tell the story.
“They killed our security detail. Dad was out working. He wasn’t there to protect us,” I choke out.
“The main terrorizer, Lauro (Lurch) Archioni, came to my room to get me. He hit me as if I were a man, knocking me unconscious. I didn’t learn any of their names until later.”
Nico’s jaw ticks. He can’t hide his anger.
“Krew and Mom were tied up. I wasn’t. Pretending to be helpless and compliant, I spoke softly to the nineteen-year-old, Gioele Vero, who wanted to rape me. Lurch kicked my mother repeatedly. Jeno Mergia sat in the chair, watching everything play out. I knew I couldn’t watch Lurch kick my mother in her pregnant belly anymore.”
Nico runs a hand over my back in soothing circles.
“I was ready to die. And I planned to take Gioele and Lurch with me. The knife I hid in my sneaker, I retrieved it and said, “Bruciare all’inferno. Burn in hell.” I slid the blade across Gioele’s neck. I moved quickly, leaning forward, I slammed the knife into the bully’s legs again and again. He turned, aiming the Glock at me. I ducked to the side, and the bullet missed me. I had to get to his upper body. I stared him in the eyes and brought the knife down on his chest repeatedly.”
I’m back reliving that moment at my childhood home. “You tried to kill us,” I cried.
Someone said in the distance, “It’s over, Serenity.”
It was Big Lux, my bodyguard. I was put into a psychiatric hospital after that.”’
I lock eyes with Nico and press two fingers lightly to my temple. “I’m not all there.”
His hand cups my face gently. “You’re perfect just as you are.”
