Page 102 of Nico

“That was a stupid move,” Cassio gritted, the moment the front door closed behind Luciano, locking the women inside.

I flickered a glance his way. “I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

I wasn’t surprised Cassio found out about the message I sent to Benito. He had spies among his father’s men that kept him apprised of things. After all, the whole underworld was buzzing with the newfound news on Benito King’s daughter. If Bianca was single, she’d be a sought after commodity. As it stood, she was mine.

Luca leaned against the house. “You realize he now wants her? You might as well have put a mark on her.”

“He had a mark on her already,” I told him. “He was going to sell her to the bratva. Now he knows she is mine and can’t fuck with her. Every motherfucker on this planet knows it.”

“Fucking wrong,” Cassio spat furiously. “He saw her married yesterday. It was his confirmation he couldn’t sell her.”

“No, that picture I sent him will ensure he can't sell her. Because she is mine. It is evidence of a consummate marriage and warning to anyone I’ll come for them if they only look her way.”

Cassio let out a frustrated sigh. “Nico, he always wanted a daughter. And now he found out he’s had one all along. What the fuck do you think will happen to Bianca’s mother?”

“I took care of it,” I told him.

“How?” Luciano asked. “That woman has been his favorite mistress for over twenty-six years. He wouldn’t let her go for anyone.”

“I had Alexei get her mother. Once I had confirmation from him that he had her, I sent my message.”

“So you take his favorite woman and daughter,” Luciano replied. “His granddaughters. Did you think about them? He’ll fucking burn down cities and states until he gets his hands on all of them.”

“He will never get his hands on them,” I assured him.

Cassio’s jaw ticked and his eyes darkened. Cassio and Bianca had a few similar mannerisms, and they didn’t even grow up around each other. I’d never point it out since Cassio hated anything that made him resemble his father.

“And Bianca?” Luciano questioned. “What will you do when she finds out? You’ve seen the video, she believes her father was that man on the screen. It will do a number on her.”

“She’ll never know.”

“What the fuck, Nico?” Luca growled. “News travels. You know that better than anyone. You can’t keep her locked in your goddamn estate. ”

“She won’t be locked up. Guarded and safe, yes.” Bianca moved in different circles. I had no intention of taking her to any fucking mobster events. The men she met at our wedding would be it, and I’d beat the crap out of every single one of them if they leaked a word. Friends or no friends.

“I fucking swear, you are as stubborn as a mule when it comes to my sister,” Cassio spat out. Annoyance unfurled in my chest that we were even having this conversation. I wanted to take my family and get them home.

Bianca’s mother would be there by the time we returned. I had sent Alexei Nikolaev and his men after Bianca’s mother, to retrieve her. I didn’t want her mother to pay the consequences of my revenge. I knew it would be one thing Bianca wouldn’t forgive me.

“Fuck,” Cassio muttered. “You love her.” It wasn’t a question, but a concise and clear statement.

“What?” Luca sounded shocked. “What the fuck did you two do last night?”

I swear I wanted to punch Luca and beat his face against the blacktop.

“Nico, this seems uncharacteristic of you,” Luciano tried to smooth the situation. “You were always the methodical, reasonable one.”

“I’m reasonable, and the three of you fuckers need to back the fuck off.” Luciano shook his head and I grunted. “Isn’t that what you told everyone when it came to your wife, Luciano?”

“Point taken,” he acknowledged, tilting his head.

“How long have you loved her?” Of course, Cassio wouldn’t let it go. He and Bianca had that in common, stubbornness and a temper.

“I won’t discuss the relationship between my wife and me with you guys,” I told them. I could be just as stubborn. “I’ll keep them safe.”

From the moment I spotted Bianca, even before I learned of her connection with Benito, I wanted her. She was the only woman that ever managed to take my breath away. When life threw her my way again, I became obsessed and cursed my destiny. She was a married woman. I would have never touched her, even if I knew her husband was a cheater.

Would I have still used her in my revenge? Yes.