Chapter Two
HUDSON
THE PAST SIX MONTHS had been both heaven and hell.
Nico and I finally had the life we wanted, both together and with our beautiful woman, Gabriella. She was perfect for us and proved it most nights, even if it was with all of us just cuddling in bed together. Until now, I hadn’t been one to just lie there with someone in my arms, but it felt so natural with Gaby. She may have been my Angel, but she was far from that in the bedroom.
It had been difficult for me to see Gino in our space. I knew we had all spoken about the suggestion of bringing him into our exclusive relationship, but I still had my doubts. I really wasn’t sure if it would work between the four of us, or if I would lose both of the people I cared most about. I had seen how much pain Gino was feeling when he spent time with us. I hadn’t mentioned it to Nico or Gaby, but I was sure they had seen it too.
I could see how she tried to lighten the mood in the room whenever I noticed Gino looking down or upset. I knew that was all down to Nico and I and the way we were together; however, we were in our own space and had never reacted differently around him. He had been one of the first to know about us being in a relationship, and at the time, he had seemed to be happy for us both. When I looked back now, though, I could see the hurt in his eyes when we told him.
Although that was a niggle in the back of my mind, it wasn’t what I was worried most about. My main concern was Vincent. He seemed to have disappeared off the face of the Earth. I hoped that meant that he was completely out of our lives, but I suspected that wasn’t the case. However, knowing that Viktor was on our side and was actively seeking him out helped.
He visited us regularly now, keeping both Nico and me updated on what he had found or heard. Unfortunately for us, it wasn’t much. What had amazed me, though, was the relationship he had now built with Gaby. Being older than both Nico and me, he had become almost a father figure to Gaby, one that she had sorely missed in her life. He would always spend time with her before our meetings, making sure that she was okay and checking if there was anything he could do for her. He knew we could provide for her, but he still took that time. At least I knew that should anything ever happen to Nico or myself, she would have someone to turn to and look out for her.
I was pulled from my thoughts suddenly when the door to my office opened and Nico walked in. I knew it would be him, as even Gaby would knock before she entered my office if the door was closed.
He walked over to where I was sitting on the couch and sat in the chair next to me, looking tired and worried. I knew, despite Viktor’s assurances, that Nico, Gino, and his men had all been searching for Vincent. Gaby and I had both tried to get them to stop, and he’d told her he had, but I knew him too well to think he would give up that easily.
“What’s up, babe?”
He sighed heavily before he looked up and met my eyes. “Gino has asked if he can meet with me this afternoon. I can only think of two reasons why he would do that: either he has found out some information about Vincent, which I highly doubt, or he’s going to tell me he is heading back home.”
I was confused for a minute. His home was here in New York, in the apartment below us. Why was that an issue?
Then it hit me. When Nico said home, he meant Sicily. I knew neither of them had been back to their homeland in a very long time. Nico had no reason to return. He never spoke to any of his family, as they didn’t accept him for the man he was. I knew, though, that Gino spoke to his parents and sister regularly.
“Will you let him go?”
I watched as he looked down at his hands, unable to look at me. I was wondering for a moment what the hell he was going to say next and was slightly relieved when he spoke.
“I don’t suppose I have a choice. Just because I’m his boss, the mafia isn’t like the old days where you’re a mob member until you die. Plus, our family isn’t like that and you know it. But he has been with me since we came to America. He has always stood by my side against everything and everyone. He is more like a brother to me than my own brother. I just don’t want to have to face that.”
I realized then that I had to put all my worries aside about Gino. If he was going to leave, I would do everything to convince him to stay. Even if he didn’t admit his feelings to Nico today, we were going to all be talking about it tonight.
I placed my hand over his. “Just wait there a minute.”
I got up from my seat and walked to the office door. I opened it to find Gaby still sitting at her desk, working away as usual.
“Gaby, can you come in here a moment? I need to discuss something with you and Nico.”
I watched her get up from her seat and walk across from me, a worried expression on her face. I closed the door behind her as she walked into the office. She took one look at Nico and rushed over to him. That was exactly what I had hoped she would do. She was always the better of the two of us at cheering Nico up. She immediately sat down on his lap and put her arms around him as he buried his head in her neck.
I couldn’t help but smile at the picture in front of me. The big, hard mafia don was really a soft, cuddly teddy bear when it came to Gaby. In fact, most men were around Gaby, including Viktor. One flutter of her eyelashes, and you would have done anything for her.
I chuckled to myself as I walked over, poured us all a drink, and sat back down on the couch opposite them.
“Here you go. One’s not going to hurt you.”
Nico looked up and took the glass from my hands, his fingers grazing mine causing tingles to run up my arm. I smiled, hoping it would ease his concerns. He gave me a sad smile back, but he did seem better now that Gaby was here.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong, Nico?”
Nico proceeded to tell Gaby everything he had just told me. His voice seemed a lot sadder the second time around. I wasn’t sure if that was because I missed it the first time, or if his pain was increasing from having to mention it all again. I could see the tears starting to appear in Gaby’s eyes as Nico explained. I knew then that what I was going to propose was right.
We all sat there in silence for a moment. I decided that it should be me to break it.
“So, with all that being said, I am going to suggest something. I know we said that we would wait for Gino to say something to one of us, but the truth of the matter is that Nico and I have been together for years and he has never said a word. Therefore, I am sure he never will. Nico, if you are correct and Gino says he is going to go home, you have to tell him the truth. You have to tell him how you both care for him. Then invite him to our place tonight for dinner so we can all sit down and talk.”
I wasn’t sure how Nico would take that. It had taken him enough to admit his feelings to me, and he still hadn’t said the words to Gaby, even though she knew. So, asking him to actually admit it to Gino was a shot in the dark. It didn’t surprise me when Gaby was the next to speak.
“Nico, you have to tell him how you feel. It’s doing none of us any good hiding our feelings from each other. I can tell you that for a fact. All the time I was falling for you, but thought it was wrong, ate me up inside, probably as much as it was you two hiding your relationship from me. Not that I didn’t notice the signs. I just couldn’t put two and two together until you told me. Please be honest with him. If you want me to be there, I will be.”
He buried his head in her neck again and rested there for a while as Gaby gently stroked his hair. As I sat there watching their interaction, one thought popped into my mind. Gaby was going to make an amazing mother at some point. We had all agreed that she would come off birth control and should it happen, it would happen. We weren’t going to plan for it. We were just going to let nature take its course, and if it didn’t happen within the year, then we would investigate. However, looking at her right now, I hoped it would happen soon.
“I know I have to tell him, Hud. But what if it doesn’t change his mind? What if still decides to go home?”
I could almost hear the tears as he was being torn apart inside. I hadn’t realized up until this moment just how important Gino was to Nico, and not just as his underboss.
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it. What time are you meeting with him?”
He gave me a slight nod before he spoke. “About three o’clock at his place. He said he didn’t want to meet me here in case anyone saw him. I wasn’t sure why, so I didn’t ask.”
Well, at least I knew if everything did go wrong, Nico would only be downstairs.
“Okay. I can drive us home if you leave your car. You can take mine if you want.”
His eyes lit up at my statement. He knew because it was summer, I had gotten my Aston Martin out of the garage. I only used it in the summer and when I didn’t have any meetings planned outside the office. I had brought Gaby to work in it today, but something told me Nico needed that little bit of fun.
“Thanks, Hud. And thank you, Rosa, but I think it’s best if I speak to Gino alone. I’m really not sure what kind of mood he is in, and I wouldn’t want to put either of you in a situation where you say something you might both regret.”
I could see Gaby was worried about Nico just from the expression on her face as she sat there looking at him. I gave him a quick chin lift when she wasn’t looking at me, and he turned to look at her.
“I promise I’ll be fine, principessa.”
He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers, but not deepening the kiss. I was truly grateful for that because I was already holding myself back while watching the two of them.
“You see that you are, or you will have me to answer to,” she said.