Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
SERENITY
My fingers thread Nico’s as we stroll through the farmers market. We stop at a smoothie stand. Nico orders what he thinks I’ll like. He doesn’t meet my gaze to get my approval. I smile. This man knows me so well. He orders a smoothie packed with blueberries, strawberries, mango, and peaches.
I blurt out. “Make that two.”
He glances at me. “I wanted the banana and kale smoothie.”
“Yeah, but you’ll complain later about your stomach hurting.”
He chuckles. “You remember that, huh?”
I lean into his arm. “I do.”
Nico had one of his bodyguards pick up the ingredients and bring them to my home when he stayed over. I’d watch as he’d rub his stomach later and then head for the bathroom.
It appears I paid attention to him as well over the years.
Our bodyguards are not too far behind us as we walk through the market. I purchase cute clothing items along the way. I see a hat that would look cute on Madden.
“Nico, check out those sunglasses.” I point.
He steps over and tries on a few pairs. While he’s distracted, I purchase the hat for our son. It reads: Don’t let the cute face fool you.
Sometimes Madden can act just like his dad. It’s wild to think about how similar Madden is to Nico.
I pay cash for the hat and bracelet and shove the items into a bag I already have.
Nico turns to me. “What do you think about these?”
They are gold aviators with a navy tint.
I slide my tongue across my lips. “Sexy.”
He smirks and glances at the vendor. “I’ll take them.”
Nico pays for the sunglasses. The woman wraps the item and places it in a bag.
I stretch my hand out. “I’ll take the bag.” I grin.
I’m careful and put the sunglasses in a bag with the t-shirts we recently purchased. I’ll be sure to put the hat in my carry-on once on the jet.
Can’t believe Nico and I are married. We’re getting along. No arguing.
Mullins takes our bags.
I’m deep in thought as we walk toward the beach.
How will Nico react when he learns about Madden?
Will he yell? Will he punish me more severely than last night?
My ass still hurts from his heavy hand smacking it.
Will this betrayal be what finally takes him over the edge and causes him to hate me?
Shit, I’m probably pregnant with his second child.
I visibly swallow at the knowledge. Will my husband and I become enemies?
I glance at my security detail. They all know about Madden. But their job is to keep their mouths shut.
I blink a few times, trying to pull it together. Now that we’re married, holding this secret is getting harder. I’m truly in love with Nico. And I feel terrible about keeping our son from him, even if it was to keep Madden safe.
“Princess, get out of your head.”
I curl my arm around his and snuggle into him. We look so good together. Nico’s wearing a yellow short-sleeve shirt unbuttoned, a pair of navy swim trunks, and sandals. A lavender mesh cover-up hides most of my upper half, leaving my legs on full display.
“That’s hard to do,” I reply honestly. “My enemies are after me.”
“Us,” he corrects.
“Us,” I whisper.
Halting, I remove my sandals and push them into my oversized beach bag.
I crouch down and take Nico’s off his feet.
There’s that look again, like he can’t believe I really care about him.
Hopefully, one day he’ll believe I really do.
I toss them in the bag. The sand on my feet makes me feel like one with the earth.
“The warm sand between my toes feels so good,” I moan.
“I want to do whatever is going to bring you peace.” His deep voice hits my heart and core at the same time.
My smile widens. “You bring me peace, Nico.”
Tilting his head to the side, he takes my lips. It’s so sensual. I can feel his love. I’ll always remember this special time with my husband. The only man I’ve ever loved.
The moment the jet takes off, I squeal. “We’re headed to Fiji.”
Hearty laughter rumbles in Nico’s chest.
“I’ll make dinner,” I say.
His brow raises.
“Miff can run his test, of course.” I press a kiss to his lips.
“When we return home, I’ll cook recipes I learned from my grandmother while I was away.”
His eyes widen. “If we’re eating authentic Italian every day, I’ll need to ramp up my workout routine.
I smile. “Trust me, that’s what I had to do to slim down to this curvaceous frame.” I gesture a hand down my body.
“You’re perfect just the way you are. I love all your curves.” He squeezes my hip.
I smile against his lips. “I know you do. I’m so fortunate to have a husband who loves me the way I am.”
“When I first saw you, I didn’t want to look away. I knew if I kept staring the way I was, you would’ve thought I was a fucking creep.”
I laugh. “You were staring like a creeper. A hot creeper.” My lips trace along his bearded jawline as my fingers grip his hard cock in his slacks.
“Keep rubbing my dick like that and you’ll never make it back there to cook dinner,” he warns.
I pull back, smiling. “After dinner, I want to join the mile-high club.”
“That can definitely be arranged.” He winks.
The illuminated seatbelt sign above indicates that I’m now free to move about the plane.
“I’m going to make dinner.” I stand to my feet.
“Serenity, you don’t have to cook. It’s our honeymoon.”
I shrug. “I want to.”
Sauntering toward the galley kitchen, I take in the flight attendant.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Pitucco. My name is Vera. Can I get you anything?”
“No. I’m cooking for Nico and I. Check on our security staff, please.”
She smiles. “Right away, Mrs. Pitucco.”
I watch as she approaches Miff, then I reach under the counter and retrieve two pans.
“What?” I hear Miff ask.
I place the pans on the stove. I then reach into the fridge for a few items I need.
“You’re cooking dinner for Nico?”
The scowl on his face tells me how he feels about me.
“Yes. Test as much of the food as you’d like.”
His eyes darken. “Did he tell you what happened to him?”
I can see the hurt in his gaze.
I close my eyes briefly. “Yes. I know he almost died for me. I won’t try to kill him…again.”
“He loves you too much,” he tells me.
“We love each other,” I whisper.
“I told Nico this is my war. He won’t hear of it. Nico married me so I couldn’t tell him it was just my war.”
“I lost my best friend,” his voice cracks. “And I nearly lost my boss, who fell for a girl with a troubled past.” He offers a faint, bittersweet smile.
“You don’t know what it was like. I wasn’t sure if he’d wake up.” He gestures with his hands. “There were all these tubes coming from his body.”
I notice the streaks of gray in his beard and around his temples. Nico’s brush with death has aged him. Miff must be pushing his late thirties.
He pulls out his phone, taps the screen a few times, then places the phone in my hand.
I stare at the first photo of Nico lying in a hospital bed, unconscious.
He looks so vulnerable. It’s one thing to imagine what Nico looked like.
It’s another when you see it with your own two eyes. I swipe to the video.
“Nico, you have to wake up.” Miff grips Nico’s hand. “If you want to see Serenity again.”
A few beats of silence, and Nico’s fingers flex. My hand flies over my mouth.
“That’s how much my boss loves you,” Miff adds.
A hand caresses my waist. I peek at Nico.
“It’s a hell of a sight, isn’t it?” Nico asks.
The sadness in their eyes wrecks me.
I return the phone to Miff, rise on my tiptoes, and wrap my arms tightly around his neck.
Nico’s jealous growl rumbles from behind us.
“I’m truly sorry for the loss of your best friend,” I say, my voice thick with sincerity. “And I can never thank you enough for looking after Nico.”
“The boss and you are family. I’ll always protect you both,” he responds softly.
I step back slowly.
“You will take the night off when we arrive in Fiji,” Nico says.
“Boss, I don’t need a break.”
“We insist, Miff. Actually, start now.” I smirk. “Go upstairs and kick it with the rest of the team,” I order.
He smiles. “All right.” Miff grips Nico’s shoulder before walking away.
Nico sinks onto the sofa in the kitchen area. “I’m staying right here while you cook.” He picks up the TV remote off the wall. “What movie do you want to watch?”
“Pick an action movie.” The smile widens on my face. “Nico, I missed our time together.”
“Me to Mrs. Pitucco. You’re my best friend.”
My heart swells. It’s at that moment I decide to let the stress roll off my back for the rest of the honeymoon. No negativity.
“What would you like to drink?” I ask.
“A mojito.”
I nod. “Sounds good.”
I flip through the drink recipe stand on the counter until I find the mojito. I move to the fridge to obtain the fresh mint. I notice a charcuterie board on the bottom shelf.
“We have a charcuterie board,” I say enthusiastically.
He chuckles. “Serenity, you’ll find everything you desire everywhere we go.”
I flash a devilish smirk over my shoulder at him. “You are certainly everywhere I go.”
“Keep it up and I’ll fuck you right there.”
I retrieve the board and place it on the table.
“As much as I want your dick, I don’t want our food flying everywhere because I’m trying to hang on.”
He laughs. “Noted.”
Nico and I snack on the items that fill the beautiful charcuterie board while I finish preparing our cocktails. I glance over my shoulder at the TV while I cook dinner.
“The mojito is perfect, Serenity.”
“Thanks,” I say before sipping my cocktail. He’s right, it’s delicious.
Nico’s engrossed in the movie while I cook.
After I put the pasta in the oven, I sit with Nico and get lost in the movie.
Vera, the flight attendant, remains upstairs, working out of the other kitchen.
Miff hasn’t come down to check the food for poison.
Maybe he finally trusts me. Hopefully, he’s getting some much-needed rest. When dinner is done, I prepare our plates.
I make a show of eating off both plates to let him know it’s safe to eat.
He shakes his head, then digs in. His eyes squeeze shut.
My heart is in my throat as I wait for his response.
“It’s delicious.”