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The day doesn't end after that. No, we spend another hour fucking and clawing at one another like depraved animals. The sun hasn’t even set yet, but we have calmed down enough to offer each other some reprieve.
We are lying in bed, lazily touching and sharing open-mouthed kisses, when my phone rings. We both groan our protests, but I lean over and see it's my underboss so decide to answer. We could use a minute of separation.
“Giulio.”
“Sir, sorry to bother you, but I have something to report.”
“All right. Out with it,” I snap.
“We got word that not even twenty-four hours after you and Mrs. Valiente left your honeymoon that the boat was hit.”
I shoot up in bed. “What?”
“Yes, the boat exploded. They found a bomb in a hidden chamber at the bottom.” My heart speeds up to an alarming rate, and I realize that if we hadn't left when we did, Emelia and I could have died.
Emelia.
Emelia could have been dead. Someone knew we were there and wanted to hurt us and didn’t care that my wife was on the boat. Men are out for me all the time, at every corner, but my wife? She is sacred. Off limits. She is the part of me that will flip everyone on their heads and ruin their worlds if I find out who would dare do that her. Emelia is not to be harmed. Ever. There is no return if you mess with mine.
“There’s more, sir.”
“What else?” What could possibly top that? Nothing, but I need him to tell me everything so I can instruct him on what to do next. Emelia sits up, pulling the sheet up to her chest and touching me softly on the shoulder.
“The Notellis. Giuseppe hasn’t moved. He isn’t sending men out or anything. They are all lying low, so we can’t for sure tie them to anything, but I did get word that he has his own shipment coming in.”
“Good. I want one of our moles—unmarked, never been sent to a job outside Seattle—on the ground. He can keep a safe distance, but I want him to take pictures of all the men who are there getting the shipments. We will investigate all of them and see if there’s anyone new that could be doing the dirty work.”
“Yes, sir.” He pauses. “Are you going to tell Emelia?” he asks, and I peer at her over my shoulder and see her face is twisted with worry.
“No. Keep me informed as that progresses.” Before he can get a word out, I end the call.
“What’s going on, Nico?” She sounds terrified, and that is exactly why I have to lie to her.
“Giulio’s just keeping me up to date on things.” There is a way she looks at me that I can tell she knows something is off, but she doesn’t push. I told her already that I will not talk about business with her.
In the meantime, I have to put my game face on, wait for a new report from my men, and try to focus on Emelia. The waters are so fucking dirty in my outfit right now, and we’re under attack. All since Emelia came. There is no way that is a coincidence.
How could her family want her dead? If they wanted to come after me, they could have. But to sacrifice their daughter at that cost, without her knowing? How fucked up. My poor wife was placed in my life as a casualty, and she didn’t even know it.
Emelia breaks our silence and stands. “I’m going to take a bath, if that’s all right.”
I nod and let her leave. I will join her in a minute, but I need a fucking moment alone. I listen to the water run, and I go into a deep trance as I think about my next move.
Today was going too fucking well. I wanted to spend it with Emelia and not worry about this shit, but like always, business will always be my first fucking wife.
Finally, I get up and make my way to the bathroom. Emelia is sitting in the tub and looking out at the Seattle skyline as the sun falls behind the buildings in golden hues.
“Nico, what’s going on?” She doesn't even look at me when she asks this. She keeps her head on her folded arms on the lip of the bathtub.
“Nothing. Let’s not focus on business or anything but us right now.”
This has her shifting in the tub, and I can tell she’s annoyed.“Fine. I can do that, on one condition.”
“What’s that, principessa?” I ask, stepping in and sitting down opposite her.
“I want to know about your parents. About what happened.” She softens her voice, but my back stiffens. I don’t talk to anyone about my parents. That is a hard fucking limit for me.
But if I don’t give her something, she’s going to withhold all of herself from me again. And today was enough to make me realize I can’t do that anymore. I can’t push her out; my body and soul won’t fucking let me.
