Chapter Four
NICO
E melia is hiding something from me. Or she is pulling away in our marriage. Neither are ideal and though she said sorry and reassured me a few nights ago, I can’t help but think it’s all a lie. There was a time early in our marriage where lying was something we both did with one another but that changed when we fell in love. Now, I am on my way to meet with a restaurant owner in Seattle who needs our protection, and all I can think about is what my wife is thinking. Would she leave me? Did I push her away? I have spent the greater part of my marriage now, giving Emelia some autonomy and not looking into what she does when I am not around, but that familiar hankering is sneaking its way back in.
I’ve nearly asked Giulio a handful of times today to put a watch on her outside of her personal detail. Could she be secretly tired of all the time I spend away? Is the idea of raising our boys to follow in my steps something she wishes to change? Would I be willing to change that for her? Yes, I would and that would make me as good as dead to the other outfits, but I am dead if Emelia leaves.
No, she can never leave me. I would put a bullet in anyone’s head who helped her leave, and I would then take my last breath in front of her. Living without Emelia as mine, is not an option. God damn it, I hope she is truly just as exhausted as she claims. Maybe she is pregnant again. It has taken us longer than it has in the past, maybe she is, and this pregnancy is just taking a bigger toll. Yes, maybe that’s it.
Jesus Christ, Nico, get your fucking balls back into place and square your shoulders. You have work to do, and you are not going to lose your wife. You know that she never stands a damn chance too. Pulling up to the restaurant, I step out when Giulio opens the door for me.
“I can see why they need my protection. This place is too nice for the fucking area.” The Italian restaurant is expensive looking and stands out like a sore thumb in one of the heaviest crime areas of downtown Seattle.
“Family grew up in the surrounding buildings, said they wanted to keep it close and make it special.” I huff, putting on my sunglasses. There is a glaring sun today after nearly two weeks of cloudy skies and rainfall.
“Shit. Well, money is money. Let’s go in.” I take a few steps but Giulio hurries ahead of me, making it to the door before I can, opening it for me.
“Mr. Valiente, hello sir, welcome to Risotto’s. I’m Mr. Risotto,” the older gentleman greets me. He has shorter brown hair with strands of gray throughout. He is wearing a nicer suit; I am sure to appease me and dress appropriately for my visit.
“You have had seven robberies in less than a year. I assume you are smart enough to know why that is.” I get right into it, refusing to shake his hand. I’m not an investment bank, I am Capo. A trained crime lord. Pleasantries are a waste of my time.
“Right. Yes sir. That is correct. The neighborhood is home, and we wanted to keep it here. We know it’s not a safe area.” He changes gears. I look at what I assume is his daughter and wife behind the bar, watching us and I give them a curt nod.
“Have they ever been here or hurt when these have happened?” I gesture to his family as we take a seat at one of the round dinner tables. He nods, his face dropping solemnly, looking over to them briefly then back to me.
“Yes, my daughter was closing and they tied her up. They threw knives at her and taunted her for hours.” My eyes tighten.
“I will take ten percent of last year’s sales up front, with fifteen percent going forward. The ten prior to this agreement will ensure we find the men who did that to your daughter.” The poor man looks at me like I’m some sort of saint. I’m not but in our world, at least in the one I run, women and children are off limits, we don’t just provide protection for the money, we protect the people. So long as we are paid, that is.
“Thank you, yes, we can get that to you. I can have it in ten days?”
“Make it eight, as well as any footage or information from that night, and you have a deal,” I counter.
He hesitates for a second and my face doesn’t change. Finally, he agrees.
“Eight days. Thank you, Mr. Valiente.” He stands just as I do, and he reaches to shake my hand.
“No need, Mr. Risotto. However, remember that your payment is due by the third of each month. By retaining my security, you understand my protection comes with a price, but it doesn’t protect you from me?” He swallows thickly. It’s all well when the Mafia is willing to protect you until you don’t hold up your end of the bargain.
“I understand.”
“Good, my team will be by later with a contract of sorts.” I put my sunglasses back on and leave without him getting in another word. “Giulio. I need to take the day off. I have something to tend back home.” I need to get back to Emelia and talk to her further.
“Well, we would be able to do that, sir, but Farren just let me know Emelia is at the club and is demanding you get there.” My heart rate spikes.
“What happened? Is she okay?” I set into motion, rounding the car to the drivers. Giulio will be the passenger for this one.
“James and Farren assure she is safe, but she demanded to be taken there and will not leave. They are asking if they have your approval to forcibly remove her.”
I slam on the gas and the tires screech as I cut off cars and book it for the highway. “If they put their hands on my wife in any forcible way, they will be skinned alive. She is allowed at the fucking club if she needs me. They know that!” I run my hand through my hair, my other hand controlling the steering wheel. I weave in and out of cars, nearing one hundred an hour.
“She is allowed on the middle and top floor, but sir, she is in the rooms.” My chest fucking drops. Emelia is not allowed in the rooms. Wait, is she in there with a man?
“Fuck!” I slam my hand down on the steering wheel. “Call her now!” Giulio hurries and dials her.
It rings and nearly goes to voicemail, but she answers before it does.
“Nico.”
“Emelia, fucking Rene. What in the hell are you doing in the rooms!” I scream into the phone, exiting the highway.
“What everyone else is here for. What you used to come here for.” She sounds so calm, yet I’m ready to burn that goddamn place to the ground.
“You are playing with fire, Emelia, get out of the room. Are you alone?” I take a sharp turn down the street of the club and she giggles.
“I guess you will have to see. See you soon, il mio re ,” she purrs.
“Don’t you fucking hang up on me, Em?—”
The call ends and I let out a string of profanities. The last time I felt genuine fear or an acid like feeling rising in my body was the day her father almost killed her. I read this all wrong. How long has Emelia been up to this? Has she lost her fucking mind.
Screeching to a halt, I barely put the SUV in park before I am out and running. I undo my jacket and reach in to pull my gun from its holster. I will not hesitate to put a bullet in the brain of anyone in that room and Emelia will watch it. How fucking dare she do this to me.
I forgo the elevator and take the stairs down two at a time. Throwing open the door, I point my gun at made men and anyone already there for happy hour. “Out! Get the fuck out!” I yell.
The women leave to the powder room and members all rush to follow my orders. Happy hour is limited to less than thirty people making their departures easy. They split elevators and stairs, all ready to get the hell away from the barrel of my gun and the devil wielding it.
“Which fucking one!” I find James and Farren standing in the hall.
“Room one, sir.” Farren points.
I throw that damn door open with my arm stretched and tightly gripping my glock. I look around and see no one but Emelia. She stands in the middle of the room with nothing on but there is no one else there. I turn and point that gun at Farren and James.
“Get the fuck out! Now!”
They never raised their heads after I opened it. I’m sure it was intentional, that way they wouldn’t get a glimpse at my wife’s body.
“Nico, put the gun down,” she whispers.
My back stiffens, still turned away from her. I tilt my chin side to side, cracking the air out of my joints.
“Put the fucking gun down?” I snarl. I turn, and her eyes are wide. Good, she knows she fucked up.
“Nico, why are you so upset? I am here for you.” She is shaking violently.
I haven’t ever been this upset with my wife. These rooms are made for clients to watch and some to touch and fuck and my wife wants to know why I am upset?
“You are in my club, in a room where any goddamn member could come in and watch you! Could fucking touch you!” I pivot my outstretched arm to the side, and I shoot the mirror. The loud noise has her covering her ears and crouching down.
“Nico!”
“Not a damn word. Get your ass dressed! Now! We are going home, and I will handle the rest then.”
“No!” She stands, now thrusting her chest out and straightening her shoulders.
“Emelia,” I challenge her.
“You heard me. You come in here literally guns blazing and you’re angry at me because I wanted to explore this place with you! Because I wanted to try out new things. What? Maybe you’re the one who is pulling away from us!”
With that, she leans down, grabs her slip-on dress and marches out. Thank God no one is there as she makes her way to the powder room. I follow her.
“ Principessa , I didn’t—” Fuck, I read this all wrong.
“No! Do not follow me in here where there are dozens of naked women that you have fucked. Unless that’s what you are wanting to see.” Her eyes well with tears and all the rage drains from my body and it’s replaced with heartbreak. The other night and every second sense, I have worried that maybe I am not enough for my wife, or thought she has grown tired of me, but here she is, stating something that isn’t even remotely fucking true.
“Emelia,” I plea and she shakes her head, opening the door and leaving me there standing. I curse and start pacing the hall, waiting for her to come out. Ten minutes later, she comes out dressed in her silk slip dress. It’s meant for day wear but it somehow looks erotic and enticing on her generous curves.
“Let’s go home and talk about this.” I stop her, standing in front of her and she shakes her head.
“It’s pointless, I just wanted to try new things with you. To replace your past with me. I wanted to see if I enjoyed these things on my own, but clearly, no matter how far we have come in the decade we have been in love, will I truly be allowed to be myself.” With that she moves around me, and I stay stuck in time. Her words are like a knife to my chest. The dig sounding elevator snaps me into the here and now and I watch her disappear. Pulling out my phone I call Farren and James.
“Sir,” James answers.
“Get my wife home. I will be there as soon as I can. Do not let her leave, do you understand me?”
“On it, Mr. Valiente.”
Ending the call, I look around for one minute longer and think of what I am going to do. I fucked up, worse than ever and I don’t even know how we got her so abruptly. She wanted to explore herself and me in ways we haven’t and like that, I shoved my insecurities down her throat. Great going, Nico. Bang up fucking job.
“Giulio!” I holler, knowing he is waiting somewhere around here.
“Sir.” He walks out of the stairway hall.
“I need the kids out of the house for a couple hours. Please make sure you, Farren, and James keep them safe. The aquarium should hold them over for the time I need.”
“Will do. Do you want Vito to come with you for protection?” I shake my head.
“No. I will be heading there. I will need my Maserati brought from the private garage down the street.” He nods and leaves me. What now?