Chapter 55 Nico #2
“Hey, man. How’s it going?”
“Weird, which is pretty normal at this point. What do you have for me?” I asked, pacing back and forth across the room. Dad and Sebastian watched me as I did.
“Well, I got my guy Randal here. He’s the alpha of these reptile shifters I was telling you about.”
“Will they help us?” My voice was almost breathless. We needed help, and if these guys wouldn’t throw down with us, I didn’t know where we’d turn next.
“He wants to talk to you before he agrees to anything. I said you were one hell of a conversationalist.”
“Okay, put him on.”
There were some rustling sounds as the phone was passed between the two men, then a deep voice spoke through the phone. “This is Randal. Are you Nico?”
“Yes, sir. You got me.”
“My friend Felipe here gave me the rundown. I’ll tell you what, this doesn’t sound like something I want to get my people into.”
It felt like I’d been punched in the chest, but I kept my composure. “I know it’s pretty dangerous.”
“Dangerous? Boy, you’re talking about the royals.
A bunch of crazy-ass humans who think they’re in control of what shifters can and can’t do.
The only good thing about them is that they usually only give a shit about wolf shifters.
I’m not really trying to get them to look our way.
We live a nice, quiet, peaceful life. I’d like to keep it that way. ”
I could feel the desperation building inside me.
“Listen, Randal. This is the mother and father of my fated mate. This is her best friend. It’s the only family she has, and I can’t fail.
I have to get them back. There’s no way you could understand how bad this is.
They’ve been tortured. I am the only one who can get them back, and I have to have help.
I’ll do anything for you. Anything. Money is no object.
Give me a price, and I’ll pay it. Gladly. ”
There was a long moment of silence on the other end of the line before Randal spoke again.
“I don’t want any money. You know, son? You sound like me in my younger days.
I have a mate of my own and children. I would go to the ends of the earth for them.
I can hear in your voice that you love her like I love mine.
“If I was in the same spot and asked for help, I’d sure as hell hope I’d get it.
I know how hard it is to ask. An alpha is supposed to be the end-all-be-all of the pack.
It isn’t easy admitting that you need assistance.
Here’s my deal. I’ll send my sons down to you.
They’re the best operational guys I have.
They can get in and out of anywhere undetected. That’s all I can do.”
I let out a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank you, Randal. Thank you. I know you said you didn’t want any payment, but I’ll tell you right now, the Lorenzo Wolf pack now owes you an incredibly big debt. You give me a call the moment you ever need it.”
“I do appreciate that. Don’t worry. If it ever comes to that, you’ll be my first call, Mr. Nico. Take care of my boys.”
“I will, sir. Thank you again.”
They swapped the phone again, and Felipe was back. “That went better than expected.”
“Yeah, how soon can you guys get back?”
“Late tomorrow maybe. We’ll leave here once they are ready.”
“All right. I’ll see you when you get here.”
I turned around after hanging up and looked at Sebastian and Dad, pumping my fist in victory. Dad gave me a relieved nod while Sebastian grinned and relaxed his posture.
I texted Luis to say that the reptile shifters were on the way and to get his ass home.
I didn’t see any reason for him to keep looking for Maddy’s birth mom.
I needed to consolidate my forces, and having him gone didn’t help.
Besides, it looked like that woman was even better at hiding than Kenneth had been.
I wasn’t sure even Luis would have been successful.
Sebastian left not long afterward, but Dad lingered. I could tell he wanted to ask me something. I poured myself a scotch and Coke to help my nerves and gestured toward the bottles. “You want one?”
Dad shook his head. “Your mother would kill me; it’s not even five in the afternoon. How’s Maddy’s state of mind? This is a lot to take in. How do you think she’s holding up?”
I took a sip of my drink, letting the burn linger in my throat before answering.
“I really don’t know. She’s stressed out, for sure.
I’m a little worried. It’s like every single day something else gets piled onto her.
I know she’s worried about her family, plus she’s found out her whole life was a lie.
Then there’re mundane things like her business being shut down.
I’m afraid she’s getting close to a breaking point. ”
“I think you’re right.”
“What do I do, Dad? I don’t think a vacation is the right thing, not with so much going on right now. She’s got too much going on to enjoy a weekend away.”
“I’ll be honest. The best thing you can do for her is to be present. Make sure she knows you’re here for her while she works through all of this.”
I nodded. “I’m trying my best, Dad. I really am. The problem is, I don’t know if my best will be good enough.”
After Dad left, I let Maddy sleep. I was sure she needed it, so I made dinner. I wanted something special for her when she got up. Maybe a bunch of her favorite things would help get her mind off everything for a few minutes.
Thirty minutes later, Maddy came down, and I saw her give me the first real smile I’d seen on her face since her laughing fit when I’d opened the fridge at Gabriella’s place. She walked up to the table and saw everything I’d made.
“You made me spaghetti and meatballs? That’s my favorite!”
I bobbed my head back and forth. “Well, when we were at your parent's house, I may have stumbled across your mom’s recipe book and taken a picture of this one. She’d written Maddy’s fave in the margins. So, I’d love to say I was good at guessing, but that would be a lie.”
“Wait. This is my mom’s actual recipe?”
“Yup.”
“Oh my gosh. Get me a fork. Now.”
I laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
Over dinner, Maddy opened up to me about how she was feeling. It was exactly what I’d thought. She was fully overwhelmed by everything.
“I feel like my entire life is balanced on a razor’s edge.
Nothing seems to relieve the stress. Even when I go to sleep, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll have some crazy dream or hellish nightmare, so there isn’t even any respite there.
That envelope sitting there in my room isn’t helping.
We’ll have to open it, but I just mentally can’t.
Not today. God only knows what’s inside that thing.
Who knows, maybe it’ll make things even worse. ”
“Whatever you decide, I’ve got your back,” I said, putting a hand over hers.
Maddy put her fork down and gave me an appreciative smile. “Thank you.”
She leaned over and kissed me. Her lips lingered on mine a moment longer than necessary.
Hunger exploded inside me, and I slipped my tongue into her mouth, flicking across hers.
Maddy moaned and deepened the kiss. Things became more passionate.
One of my hands found her thigh and slid up until it was on her waist, then I was lifting her into my arms. We stood, dinner forgotten, and moved toward the stairs.
Our kiss finally broke as we started climbing the steps. I held her hand and led her to the bedroom. All I wanted to do was take her mind off everything. If I could take away her stress and worry for even ten minutes, I would.
I pulled her close, staring into her eyes as I began to undo her pants, letting them slide to her pants.
I tugged her T-shirt over her head and slid my hands across the bare skin of her shoulders down her collarbones, then I slipped my fingertips onto the smooth flesh of her breasts.
Her breath caught as I circled her nipples.
Maddy bit her lower lip and unzipped my pants, sliding her hand inside and tugging my cock out.
I let out a sigh as she stroked my shaft, her cool fingers as soft as velvet.
I pushed her onto the bed, and she bounced on the mattress.
Maddy giggled as she pushed herself up to give me room.
I tugged my pants and socks off, then threw my shirt across the room.
I climbed onto the bed with her and rolled her onto her stomach.
I began to massage the knots out of her shoulders, and Maddy gave a surprised and happy little groan.
I prodded at the muscles and worked my way down to her lower back, digging into the tense muscles as I went.
When I reached her ass, I rubbed at the muscles there, making her moan in pleasure.
My cock was throbbing. I couldn’t keep this up for much longer.
I spread her legs apart as gently as I could.
Her breathing became heavier as my fingers slowly moved closer to her pussy.
I massaged her inner thighs, moving higher and higher.
My thumbs slipped across her lips, and she sucked in a breath as I slowly circled her clit, making her hips move against my hand.
Maddy pressed her face into the pillow and groaned as I slipped a finger inside her. My free hand continued rubbing her clit while my finger moved in and out of her.
“You’re so wet. Do you want me to fuck you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Uh-huh. Fuck me, Nico. God, I want you in me.”
Without another word, I raised myself onto my knees and put my hands under her hips, lifting her ass toward me.
I lowered my face and slid my tongue across her pussy, then moved forward, sliding my cock into her, all the way to my balls.
Her pussy was so warm and wet that I moaned and held her there for a moment, enjoying the feel of her.
“Holy shit,” Maddy said in a breathy whisper. She slid her hand down and started rubbing her clit.
I pulled almost all the way out, then slid back in, slower this time, taking my time. My hands were on her hips, and I could feel her shaking ever so slightly, overcome by pleasure.
“Jesus, Nico. You’ve got to fuck me. Please.”
I leaned down close to her ear, my cock completely inside her. “How do you want it? Slow? Hard?”
“Hard,” she growled.
I gripped her hips and grinned. My thrusts came fast and rough, but not too rough.
The sound of our breathing filled the room.
I was gasping as I got closer to climaxing.
Maddy was clutching the sheets in her hand and grunting in pleasure with each thrust of my dick, her free hand rubbing furiously between her legs.
“I’m gonna come. God, oh god…” Maddy started to shudder beneath me.
She stiffened beneath me and cried out as I continued to slam into her.
Her pussy clenched tight around me, and I felt myself go over the edge, the explosion of sweet ecstasy erupting from within me.
My body went warm, and I could feel tingles through my balls as I finished, grinding myself against her.
We collapsed onto the bed. I wrapped an arm around her and gently cupped her breast. Maddy reached back behind her and ran a hand through my hair.
“I needed that,” she said. I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Glad I could be of assistance.”