Page 69 of Nico

“You did it by yourself?” My mother’s voice was full of awe.

“Well no, not by myself,” Bianca explained. “John, my best friend,” she tilted her head in his direction, “and William, my husband.” Sadness crossed her face but she quickly recovered. “My late husband. He died.”

I was glad she didn’t mention her twins. I instructed Bear to keep the children away as much as possible while my father was around.

Bianca smiled at my mom. “Would you like a tour?” she offered. “It’s not grand or anything, but I can tell you the spots where I threw a hammer and screwdriver at my best friend.” My mother's laugh rang through the backyard, and it was a sound I haven’t heard in a long time.

“Sure, why not?” My mother accepted.

“How about you hold on to my arm?” Bianca offered. “The lawn has uneven spots.”

Deep down, the parts that had hardened thanks to my upbringing, cracked seeing how gracefully Bianca handled my mother. I didn’t discount the hardship my mother had to endure since she married my father, but she had more power than to let him do whatever he wanted and use his children in his hunger for power. I knew my mother suffered too, but I couldn’t forgive her for letting Father hand Nicolette over.

She should have told me. She should have warned me.

I would have burned the goddamn city to ashes to keep my sister safe.

I will burn down cities and countries to keep my wife and our daughters safe.

ChapterTwenty-Four

BIANCA

Isensed Nico’s mother watching me, as if deciding whether she should like me or not. I didn’t really care either way. She was drunk, very drunk, but I sensed sadness and heartache surrounding her. I felt sorry for her because it was evident her husband was an asshole.

It was creepy how he leered at me, his calloused thumb rubbing over my pulse. It made me want to have a shower to erase his touch.

“Here, watch your step,” I warned her, holding her hand as we climbed the patio stairs.

“Thank you, dear.” Her voice was soft, and now that we weren’t with her husband and her son, I felt like her posture kind of slumped. As if she kept appearances around those two. Or maybe it was just her husband.

She was a beautiful woman. I tried to pinpoint her age but couldn’t quite figure it out. Maybe early sixties, though she could pass for being in her fifties. Her hair was colored chestnut brown with lots of auburn highlights and she had beautiful gray eyes that somehow reminded me of her son’s. Nico might have resembled his father, but he had his mother's eyes. Nancy’s dress was very exquisite but you barely noticed it with the diamonds she wore around her neck, wrists, and ears.

“The house might not be grand,” she said softly, glancing around at the bay. “But the view is worth a million bucks.”

I stopped and gazed in the same direction, soaking in the horizon. The weather was beautiful, despite it being October.

“It is, isn’t it?” I agreed. “I wouldn’t care to tent here, as long as I could keep this view,” I told her.

She chuckled softly. “Nico won’t allow you to tent. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have your entire house rebuilt.”

I rolled my eyes. “As long as he doesn’t touch my kitchen.”

Both of us chuckled. “I gather you like to cook.”

I gave her a sheepish smile. “I do. Cook and bake. I also make homemade ice cream. It’s my stress reliever,” I admitted. “Probably not good for my figure and will eventually catch up to me.”

“Nonsense, you are beautiful and just the kind of woman Nico needs.” My head swished in her direction, seeking out her eyes. She had to be joking. I was pretty much only a homemaker, and I enjoyed it. I loved taking care of kids and making a home out of a house.

“You seem surprised,” she remarked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not exactly ambitious and haven’t accomplished much.”

“You bought and built this house,” she offered.

“Not exactly,” I told her. “My grandmother and dad helped with the down payment when we bought the house. I put some sweat equity into it, but it wasn’t all me. You know?” It wasn’t something I accomplished all on my own. Besides, I was enroute to losing the home if it wasn’t for Nico. Yes, he blackmailed me into marrying him because William stole from him, but then he poured more money into me by saving my house. It didn’t make sense.

Arianna and Hannah ran over to me, along with Matteo. Ella and Grace trailed behind them. Bear was right behind them too.