Page 61 of Nico

“Okay, everyone out,” Grace ordered. “Except for Cassio.”

My eyes darted around, looking for any way out. “Maybe I could jump out the window,” I mumbled to myself, heading in that direction.

“Whoa, whoa,” Cassio took my hand, stopping me from making another step. “We are not taking a shortcut through the window. I’m pretty flexible but not that agile. We’ll walk down the stairs, if you don’t mind.”

I raised my eyes and met his dark gaze. He smiled and something about it, soothed my panic. So I absorbed it, needing that calmness right now.

“Nico is the best one of us all,” he deadpanned. He meant to comfort me, but it didn’t sound very comforting. Grace must have thought the same.

“That is not helping, Cassio,” she scolded him. “Bianca, trust me on this. With these fucked up men,” she pointed to Cassio who narrowed his eyes on her, “including my husband in that statement, you can count on one thing. They’ll make sure you are and your girls are safe. No matter what.”

She believed it, I could tell by the honesty in her eyes. But there wouldn’t be any saving my girls or me once Benito King came to collect.

I nodded, because there was nothing else I could possibly tell them.

“Good, now let’s go get you married before Nico blows up my phone,” Cassio announced, grinning.

“I have never seen a man so eager to get married,” Grace chuckled. “A good sign for the start.” The house was empty as we made our way downstairs, Cassio being a perfect gentleman and helping me, along with Grace. “Your twins will be little flower girls,” Grace continued, explaining the ceremony I knew nothing about since it was thrown my way at the last minute. “I hope you don’t mind but Hannah made Matteo a flower boy,” she winced at that.

“I don’t care,” I told her. “Hannah probably doesn’t want him out of her sight.”

All three of us chuckled. We were in the living room, heading for the large French doors that sat open, the view of the backyard completely done up and looking unrecognizable. The large yard overlooking the bay was turned into a luxury outdoor wedding. The open view of the bay spread in the distance and it helped to calm my nerves.

There weren’t as many people here as I initially thought, but more than I’ve ever had over at my house. There were around thirty people here, and I never had so many guests here before.

“Ready?” Cassio asked.

I gave him a side glance. “If I say no, will it matter?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure I want to know what Nico and you got into,” he muttered. “But I can tell you one thing, Bianca. He is not letting you go. He’ll turn every city upside down to find you.”

“Wonderful,” I murmured. “Just what I needed. Another psychopath.” I forced myself to take a step over the threshold and onto the patio. I allowed my gaze to search out my future husband and my breath hitched.

There he was.

Nico Morrelli, the king of the Maryland and D.C. underworld.

Waiting for me.

The music filled the air, “Pachelbel’s Canon” in D Major. My heart drummed against my ribs so hard it hurt.

Stuck in my place, I stared at this man. In a short amount of days, he had shaken my entire world. Tilted my universe. He stirred something inside me that scared me. I have never physically gravitated to a man before. This was too intense, too hot, too dangerous.

Yet, it felt right when he held me.

Nico and I stared at each other, his gaze pulling me forward, demanding me to continue walking. It was as if the entire universe halted, leaving me alone in the world with him. My body wanted to obey, but my mind rebelled, resisted… I didn’t know.

Cassio gently tugged me along, urging me to move.

One step. Another. And another.

Red rose petals covered my path and were squashed under my shoes, burying into the dirt. I couldn’t quite decide if it was romantic or ominous.

My girls and Matteo walked in front of us, and if I was honest with myself, the wedding, the kids, and the groom were perfect.

I hoped for a hero in disguise.

I got a deceiver.