Page 87 of Nico

I took her hand in mine and squeezed it gently. “She cares about you. Anyone with two eyes can see that.”

She swallowed, and I could see her eyes glimmer with unshed tears. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I was lucky to have a good father and grandmother growing up. And even though Mom couldn’t be with us physically, she was always part of our lives.”

ChapterTwenty-Nine

BIANCA

My nerves were shot. I knew what was coming next. I knew this man was somehow using me for revenge. And yet, my body didn’t seem to care about any of it. Just the fact that Nico Morrelli would touch me again and bring me pleasure.

Dumb. Dumber. Dumbest.That would be me.

He still held my hand in his and it was comforting. It didn’t make sense, there was no logic in finding safety with a mobster but he felt like… home? There had never been a man that walked this earth to have my temper flare like Nico. Yet I didn’t worry that he’d retaliate like Benito would if my mother didn’t want to do something he wanted.

I watched him smoothly change lanes, passing cars on our right, his fancy car unlike any other I had ever driven in. My Honda Pilot would look like an old clunker next to this vehicle. And I loved my Pilot.

The silence in the car was killing me. There were so many things that happened today, and I wanted answers. If he answered my questions, would it mean I had to answer his questions too?

“Your mom is nice,” I ended up saying.

He nodded. “She’s an alcoholic.” It didn’t surprise me, though I noticed she didn’t drink at the party. “Today has been the first time I’ve seen her refrain from drinking and it was thanks to you.”

Truthfully, I felt sorry for Nico’s mother. Her life couldn’t have been easy. Morrelli Sr. didn’t hesitate to flirt with me in front of his wife. He was a sleazebag and I couldn’t imagine how many times she had to endure humiliation like that. At least, Nico wasn’t like his father. We agreed on remaining faithful to each other.

He wouldn’t lie about that, right?

“You look like your dad,” I muttered because I had nothing nice to say about his father. “Just better, I suppose. With your mother’s eyes.”

“You suppose?”

“Well, he’s much older.”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure if you meant that as a compliment or an insult. To me. I don’t give a shit about him.”

He glanced at me briefly before returning his attention to the road.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” I told him softly. “Nico?”

“Yes?”

I swallowed hard, then cleared my throat. “Your father… ummm, he’s unfaithful to your mom.”

His jaw clenched so hard the muscles in his neck strained.

“Yes, he is.”

My heart squeezed - in sympathy for her and fear that Nico would do that to me. Taking a deep breath in, I just had to spit it out. “Does our discussion about…. well, about fidelity in marriage.”

Bu-bum. Bu-bum.

“I’ll murder any man you touch,” he growled and I stiffened. “You can murder any woman I touch.” I wasn’t sure how to take that. “Though in full disclosure, I have no intention of touching anyone beside you. You are my wife and I want you.” Oh my gosh! His possessive tone actually made me swell with warmth. I liked how he laid claim and offered me to do the same with him. “I’m not my father, Bianca.”

I smiled softly. He didn’t strike me as his father at all.

“He seems-” I searched for the right word, but I only had one. “He seems cruel,” I finally said. I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to say. After all, the men of the underworld were ruthless.

“He is. He competes with Benito King for the top spot in cruelty.” I stiffened at the mention of him. “Except my father is weak and easily distracted by women and drugs. He can’t quite keep up with the sharks.” Nico’s voice was pleasant, calm, devoid of any emotion.

I wondered if there was a secondary reason for that confession. I waited, staring at him hoping he would give me more but he had closed down.