Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
NICO
MY WEDDING DAY
My wife. My wife. My wife. Serenity is finally my wife.
The woman thought she could escape me. If I had to chain her to the bed and have an officiant, marry us, I would’ve.
Bringing the glass of whiskey to my lips, I smile as I watch Serenity interact with the mafia wives.
Colby Jack has gone underground. I’ll continue my search for him when my wife and I return from our honeymoon.
Serenity has initiated exactly three kisses since returning to the U.S.
That’s unlike her. It shows she’s trying to make our relationship work.
Guess my brother was right; Kinsley’s talk with Serenity went well.
I think back to standing across from Serenity at the altar.
She looked like a trapped fawn searching for a way out.
I hate how her trauma claws at the surface, trying to drag her under.
I wouldn’t let her dark past hijack our wedding.
I am the man who will protect my wife as I have done throughout the years.
Our first kiss as husband and wife brought me a new level of peace.
My first love and the woman I betrayed is Mrs. Pitucco.
She should’ve become my wife five years ago.
Our child wouldn’t have been raised outside the country.
Honestly, with all my wars going on, it was for the best. What matters is that she’s here now. Soon my son will be too.
When I stood behind her at the bar and told her she kept something from me, I could see the tension in her shoulders. My wife kept her cool. She deserved to feel a bit of unease.
Our reception wasn’t the place to tell her I knew she kept our son from me.
The time is coming. When Reacher informed me he took Serenity to see Lucinda, I couldn’t wait to watch the security footage later.
Nothing gets my dick harder than hearing from my wife’s sexy lips how she put Lucinda in check.
All I want to do is get my wife to the island where I’ll have her all to myself.
Nick’s heavy hand comes down on my shoulder. “How does it feel?”
“What?”
I love fucking with my brother.
He shakes his head. “Marrying the woman you love?”
“It feels bittersweet. She still needs to pay.”
His brows raise. “Nico, what?”
“Yes, my wife and I have a lot to work out in our marriage.”
I wag a finger at Dillon. “That reminds me. You and I can talk about my wife’s security detail and anything else she’s discussed with you.”
Dillon chuckles.
He’s playing coy.
“Dillon, it’s my responsibility to keep my wife safe. It’s no secret she’s not a fan of our lifestyle due to what happened to her when she was younger.”
His serious Godfather face is on display. “Do you plan to tell her what you’ve been up to?”
“Yes,” I reply.
“When she’s brought into the loop, the three of us will talk.” Dillon gulps the rest of his whiskey.
I blow out a breath. “Fine.”
After my wife and I cut the cake, we feed each other. Then she shoves cake into my face, making a mess.
“You think you’re funny,” I grit out.
She throws her head back, laughing. I endure the discomfort to bask in her joy. I lean in and kiss her, getting cake on her pretty nose and lips.
“Nico,” she whines.
This woman drives me crazy.
An hour later we’re wheels up and taking off from a private airport in New Jersey.
Serenity reclines in the plush black leather seat and peers at my side profile. “Are you ready to talk?”
“No. Take a nap. You’ll want to feel refreshed for the upcoming conversation.”
“How can I sleep? Knowing our conversation will be a screaming match.”
“You walked away from me. All you had to do was stay, Serenity.”
She exhales, then closes her eyes.
That’s enough to shut her down.
My lids lower too.
Three and a half hours later my eyelids pop open when the pilot instructs us to buckle because we’re landing.
“Welcome to St.Croix,” the pilot says.
“Wake up, Serenity.”
Her head rests on my chest and her hand slides over my abs. “No,” she grumbles.
“I’ll let you sleep a little longer.” Once the jet comes to a stop on the tarmac, I unbuckle my wife and scoop her up into my arms. She nuzzles my neck.
“Nico,” she whimpers.
My name falling from my wife’s lips gives me a new sense of pride.
I stalk off the plane and down the steps. Miff opens the rear passenger door and I lower my wife onto the seat. After I buckle her in, I close the door, round the vehicle, and climb in beside her. If she thinks she’ll sleep through the night, she has another thing coming.
Twenty-five minutes later, after Miff and Reacher carry our luggage inside and sweep the villa, I carry my wife over the threshold.
“Wake up, Mrs. Pitucco.” I lower her to her feet.
She inches closer with her back to me. “Unzip me, please.”
“No,” I growl.
“Nico, I need to change into my lingerie.”
“No, you don’t.”
She throws up her hands in frustration. “Fine.” Serenity grabs her toiletry bag from the dresser and storms into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
“And take your hair down, too,” I call after her.
I hear her smack her lips. I drift over to the minibar in the corner, taking note of the selection as I loosen my bow tie.
The blinds are drawn back, revealing the pool outside.
Sliding the door open, I let the warm air wash over me.
I retreat to the bar, pour three fingers of whiskey into a crystal glass, and take a slow sip before sinking onto the bed.
The bathroom door opens, and Serenity steps out, looking refreshed.
I drink her in. Her long, straight strands sway around her shoulders and fall down her back. I was furious when she cut her hair in Italy—glad to see it had grown back now—her silky brown and golden blonde locks cascading gracefully.
“You look beautiful.”
She smiles. “Thank you.”
Serenity closes the distance between us.
I lock eyes with her, sliding a hand down one side of her head, savoring the smoothness beneath my palm. “Did you ever love me?”
She snorts out a laugh. “You’re kidding, right?” Crossing her arms over her chest, she glares at me. “Yes, Nico. I fell in love with you in high school, then you broke my fucking heart.”
“Serenity, I had no plans of embarrassing you. I did what I had to do to keep the other guys from going after you. You were mine. I couldn’t let anyone touch what was mine. I’ve loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
I stretch out a hand for hers. She stares down her pretty nose at my hand, sighs, and takes it.
“I’ve been in love with you all this time.”
A tear slips down her cheek. “I never stopped loving you. I’ve tried so many times. You make me crazy, Nico.”
I stand and pull her close. “We make each other crazy.” I press a kiss to her temple.
“I just don’t understand why you left,” I breathe against her hair.
Serenity steps back, takes the drink from my hand, kicks off her stilettos, and walks outside. I’m on her heels.
She stares into the dark, star-filled sky before bringing the glass of whiskey to her lips.
I lower onto one of the six teal lounge chairs.
“I considered making us work. You know, being a real couple. I-I wanted to, Nico. But my past. It reared its ugly head. It wasn’t fair to make you wait for me. I knew I could never get married, start a family, and be normal.”
“Baby, we aren’t normal.”
“Nico, I know. But watching that asshole kick my mother’s stomach again and again until.” She takes a step back.
“Until.” Another step.
Tears now shimmer in her gorgeous gray eyes.
“Until my baby sister was dead,” she howls like a wounded animal.
I hop up and pull her from the edge before she falls into the pool.
The sorrow in her gaze stops my beating heart. “You are the strongest woman I know. I understand what those bastards stole from your family. That’s why I had to step in.”
Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open.