Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
SERENITY
Being seen with my family in public and or at school is a big no, no.
Dad: We expect to see you at dinner.
Me: But Dad!
Dad: Dinner, Serenity. You’re guards know where we’re staying.
Me: Okay.
I approach the door of Luigis Pizzeria and pause.
I stare through the glass door. The Penn State football team sits around the table eating pizza.
Their boisterous laughter can be heard outside.
Barbara’s sitting in Nico’s lap with an arm thrown over his shoulders.
My fists curl at my sides, and I clench my teeth.
I shouldn’t want to claw my teammate’s eyes out.
But I do. Shifting my gaze to the left, I notice Creekwood’s football and cheer team.
Everyone’s wearing frowns or half smiles after losing the game.
Chris keeps staring at his phone. He’s probably expecting me to call or text. I dart to the SUV waiting at the curb.
Javier holds the back door open. “Serenity, are you okay?”
“Yeah. Dad has summoned me to dinner. Instead of arguing with Chris about why I can’t stay…”
He cuts off my words. “Why would you argue with him?”
My eyes dart to the ground, then meet his again. “I also prefer not to be in Nico’s presence.”
“Oh dios mio, Oh my God,” he says in Spanish, chuckling. “We both know that’s not true. Get in,” he orders.
I ignore my bodyguard’s statement and climb into the backseat. The door shuts behind me.
Fifteen minutes later, we pull through the gates of a lush estate. A mafia boss and his family couldn’t stay at a hotel. Well, not this mafia family anyway. I step into the house, and I’m greeted by my little brother.
“Serenity,” Krew shouts, throwing his arms around me.
“I missed you, Mr. Sixth Grader.”
My good-looking brother pulls back, grinning. “I missed you too.”
His curly brown hair falls gently over his honey-toned forehead.
“You’re really growing,” I comment.
“Mom says I’ll be towering over her in just two years.”
I smile. “That’s definitely true.”
We laugh softly as we walk into the dining room together.
Mom rises from her chair at the long dining table next to Dad. “Serenity, I enjoyed seeing you cheer again.”
I rush into her embrace. “I’m so glad you were here.”
Her peach-colored, form-fitting dress falls just below her calves, highlighting her curves and glowing against her warm gingerbread-hued skin. She’s stunningly beautiful.
Dad approaches, tall and striking, standing around six-two. The salt-and-pepper streaks at his temples speak to everything we’ve endured. I inherited his gray eyes. His strong, square jaw is probably exactly what my mom finds attractive. Ugh, gross.
The way my dad gazes at my mom—that’s how I want a man to look at me someday. I notice Nico watching me the same way, but it’s not genuine. He’s just obsessed.
Dad wraps me in a hug. “How are you holding up?”
“Good,” I reply.
“We have guests staying with us tonight.”
I inch back and stare up at him. “Who?”
Dad doesn’t talk to his family often, so who could it be? Is it someone who lives in Creekwood, New Jersey? Does Dad have a new associate? After all, we’d been through, Dad wouldn’t allow strangers to stay in our home.
He grips me tightly again. “You’re safe, Serenity.”
Dad pulls us all into his embrace. “You all are safe.”
Our bodies shiver against his big, strong frame. Clearly, we’re not over our trauma.
Krew and I wash for dinner, then help our chef place serving dishes on the table.
The sharp tap of stilettos echo on the tile, drawing nearer.
“Good evening,” a man greets.
I turn toward the voice as my father moves toward them.
“Good to see you, Nickulas and Azzura,” Dad says.
Glancing at the stands, I noticed Nico’s brother and sister were absent. They were probably away at college—Nick studying at Princeton and Natalia at Harvard.
I exhale, knowing Nico’s not coming to dinner because he’s at the pizzeria with his teammates.
Mom and Dad chat with Nico’s parents for a moment. I pick up my glass from the table and gulp down the water.
“Serenity dear, it’s good to see you again,” Azzura says.
I place the glass on the table. “It’s nice to see you, too.”
My eyes move to Nico’s dad. “Good evening, Mr. Pitucco.”
“Serenity, I hope classes are going well,” Nickulas smiles.
“They are.” I reply.
Nick and Nico inherited their father’s striking features. I don’t miss how Azzura always clings to him—she’s completely smitten, and it’s endearing. I recall whenever I visited their home, he was always by her side. He truly adores his wife.
Azzura exhales softly, “I thought you and our son made a beautiful couple.”
A deep voice responds, “We still do.”
My heart plummets.
Fucking Nico.
He’s wearing that cocky grin as he halts beside his mom.
“Stupido,” she grits out.
“If my son wouldn’t have fucked it up.” She smacks him upside the back of his head.
“Che dimine, Mom. What the heck, Mom?” Nico bites out.
I snicker under my breath.
Low laughter sounds around the room.
Hands behind my back, I inch closer. “Do you feel my punishment fits the crime, Nico?”
“N-,” he starts.
I raise a hand to silence him. “You planned to humiliate me in front of the entire school.”
“Serenity, you had my arm broken so I couldn’t play football.”
A smile lifts my lips. “Precisely.”
Azzura chuckles. “Well done, my dear.”
We exchange knowing grins. I can tell his mother doesn’t take a man’s shit. I like her a lot.
I sink into a chair across from my brother. The chair beside me scrapes the tile floor.
“Princess, blood is dripping from your fangs.”
I smile to myself. I hate and love that he calls me princess sometimes. He places a glass of wine in front of me and a whiskey neat in front of himself.
Our parents stare at us.
“Come on, Dad, just one drink. We’re with family and friends, completely safe. Isn’t that right?”
He eases up. “Yes.”
I beam. “Thanks, Daddy.”
Nico catches his dad’s eye across the table and lifts his glass.
His father raises his own. “Great game, son.”
A broad smile spreads across Nico’s face.
Chatter picks up between our parents. My brother plays his handheld video game under the table.
“I understand you came to Luigis but didn’t enter. Why is that?”
I chuckle as I bring the glass of white wine to my lips. “You know why.”
He prepares my plate and his, which is unnecessary. I don’t want our families to think we’re friends or a couple.
I sit my glass down and take my plate from Nico.
“I want to hear you say it, Serenity.”
“If I were to come in, you and Chris would’ve gotten into a fight.”
He sips his whiskey before digging into his meal.
“Is that all?”
I glare at him. “It’s clear you want me to scare or hurt every woman who comes in contact with you.”
He stares down at my lips. “I get a massive hard on whenever you do.”
“Stop interfering with my relationship,” I warn.
Nico chuckles. “Careful Serenity, I’m not afraid to slit one’s throat.”
His cold, brown whiskey eyes tell me he’s not playing.
“I don’t want Gloria, and you know that.”
I roll my eyes. “Barbara.”
He shrugs. “I came to Creekwood to win a game and spend time with you.”
“We’re nothing,” I whisper.
“We’re definitely not nothing.”
His mother stares at us with a knowing smirk on her lips, behind her glass of wine. Her eyes cut to my mother’s, and they laugh about something only they’re privy to.
“Why didn’t Natalia and Nick come to the game?” I ask stabbing a roasted potato.
“I told them to stay at school. Natalia’s partying with her friends. And Nick.”
He stares at his plate for a beat. “He’s no fun anymore. Ever since he had to walk away from Kinsley, all he does is torture and kill,” he whispers.
“Dad is sick and shouldn’t be here. He said he wouldn’t miss my game.”
I consider reaching for his hand to comfort him. But I don’t.
“Will he get better?” I ask.
His somber eyes meet mine. “No.”
I grip his thigh under the table. “I’m so sorry.”
He jumps to his feet. “Another glass of wine?”
“No,” I whisper. “My dad will lose it.”
Nico strolls to the bar, anyway.
“The Pituccos are staying with us tonight,” Dad announces.
The tiny hairs stand on the back of my neck. My eyes move around the table, and I swallow around what feels like a glob of food in my throat.
“Will we be safe? You know having two businessmen under one roof?”
By businessmen, I mean mafia bosses.
“Yes, Serenity,” Dad assures.
I run my clammy hands down my cheer skirt.
“Hold it together,” Mom mouths across the table.
“Guards are walking the perimeter?” I ask.
The silence makes me uneasy.
Dad holds my gaze. “Yes, around the clock.”
I exhale. The second Nico sits down, I pick up his whiskey and take a healthy sip.
I’m holding on by a thread. Nico’s parents don’t look at me like they’re surprised, but like they feel sorry for me.
Would Azzura still think I’m good for her son if she knew what I did?
I place his drink down and count as I bring a slice of chicken parmesan to my lips. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.
I count in an effort to calm myself. To push down the images that plague my dreams from time to time.
I stand to my feet and the chair skids backwards.
“Serenity, what’s wrong?” Nico asks.
“May I be excused?” I give my dad pleading eyes.
“Yes,” he responds.
I scurry out of the dining room. Nico’s deep voice rattles my heart. “Serenity.”
He can’t know. No, this is my secret. Later tonight, I’ll beg him not to pry, or our arrangement will be over.