Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
Nico
I wake up to the feeling of Eleonora pressed against me, her soft, warm body curled into my side.
Her head rests on my chest, one leg thrown over mine, and her breathing is slow and even. The morning sun filters through the curtains, casting a gentle golden glow across her face. She looks peaceful. Beautiful. Mine.
I can’t keep my hands off her. My fingers trace slow, lazy circles on her bare back, down the curve of her spine, over the dip of her waist. I brush a few strands of dark hair away from her cheek, letting my thumb linger on her skin.
How the hell did we get here? I’ve never shared my bed with a woman before her. Never allowed anyone to sleep in my room, let alone wake up beside me. But with Eleonora… the thought of her in another room, even one door away, feels wrong now.
She’s done something to me. She’s cracked open parts of me I didn’t know existed. Feelings I never thought I was capable of.
I lean down and press a soft kiss to her forehead, breathing her in for one last moment before I reluctantly slip out of bed. I get dressed quietly, pulling on a black shirt and slacks, then head downstairs to the kitchen.
Lea is already there, bustling around as usual. She turns when she hears me, a knowing little smile on her face.
“Good morning,” she says, handing me a fresh cup of coffee. “Sleep well?”
I take the mug, eyeing her. “What is it? You have that look.”
She smiles wider. “Nothing. I just like seeing you happy.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And what makes you think I’m happy?”
“Well, for starters,” she says, turning back to the stove, “you asked the maids to move Eleonora’s things into your bedroom. And now you’re sharing a bed with her. Having a woman in your bed seems to agree with you. It's about time.”
I shake my head. If anyone else spoke to me like that, they’d be bleeding on the floor. But Lea… she’s the only one who can get away with it.
“You gossip too much,” I mutter, taking a sip of coffee.
“Well, it’s not gossip if it’s true,” she replies cheerfully.
Before I can respond, I feel her presence behind me. I turn around and there she is, Eleonora, walking into the kitchen wearing nothing but one of my black shirts.
It completely swallows her, the hem falling to mid-thigh, sleeves too long and rolled up at the cuffs. She looks soft and so fucking beautiful it makes my chest ache.
I’ve never loved the sight of a shirt more in my life.
She pauses when she sees me, a shy little smile tugging at her lips.
“Good morning,” she says softly, a little shy.
Lea turns from the stove with a warm smile. “Good morning, dear. Coffee?”
“Yes, please,” Eleonora replies.
She walks straight to me, and I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her against my chest. She tenses slightly, glancing toward Lea.
“We have company,” she whispers, cheeks flushing.
I tilt her chin up and kiss her deeply. She melts against me after a second, hands fisting in my shirt.
When I pull back, I lean in close to her ear.
“What did you expect when you walked down here wearing my shirt?” I murmur, voice low. “You look so fucking beautiful in it. It fits you better than it ever did me.”
Lea clears her throat, amusement clear in her eyes as she hands Eleonora a steaming cup of coffee.
Just then, one of my men walks into the kitchen.
“Boss,” he says, nodding respectfully. “I went to retrieve those documents from the office like you asked. This came in for Miss Caruso.”
He holds out an envelope. I take it and glance at the name on it. It’s from her sister.
I turn to her, holding it out. “It’s from Camilla.”
Her eyes widen, as she takes the letter. I lean in and press a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll leave you to read it. I need to go speak with Marco.”
Eleonora
As Nico walks away, I stare down at the envelope in my hands, my heart beating fast. I’m so curious I can barely breathe.
I turn to Lea. “I’ll have breakfast a little later. I just need ten minutes.”
She gives me a warm, understanding smile. “Of course, dear. Take your time.”
I leave the kitchen and head toward the living room.
As I walk, I notice something different.
The guards I pass nod at me with respect instead of the cold indifference they used to show.
The maids lower their eyes slightly and offer soft greetings.
No one looks at me like I’m just a prisoner anymore.
They’re treating me like the lady of the house.
The realization makes my steps falter for a second. But I quickly put the thought aside and I find a quiet corner in the living room and sit down, carefully opening the envelope. Camilla’s familiar handwriting fills the page.
Dear El,
We’re okay. Rosalia, Daniela, and I are fine for now. Papa is too busy searching for you and Sienna to pay us much attention.
After what happened at the gala, he’s on edge. So is Gallo. They’re both wondering if Nico really has both of you.
Gallo is getting impatient, he’s already asking for another Caruso bride in Sienna’s place but we don’t know who he’ll choose next.
We hope you’re being treated well. Please stay safe. I’ll write again when I can sneak a letter out.
We love you and miss you.
Camilla
Relief washes over me so strongly that tears prick my eyes. They’re okay. My sisters are safe, at least for now.
But the fear returns quickly. If I’m not there and Sienna is gone, Gallo will definitely turn his attention to Camilla next. I can’t let that happen.
I fold the letter carefully and then head upstairs to Nico’s office. My heart is racing as I knock on the door.
“Come in,” his deep voice calls.
I step inside. Marco is there, standing when he sees me. He offers a respectful nod.
Then he turns to Nico. “I’ll come back later.”
As soon as Marco leaves and closes the door, Nico stands up from behind his desk, concern clear on his face.
“Is everything okay?” he asks. “What did your sister say in the letter?”
I walk closer, clutching the folded paper in my hands, unsure how to even begin explaining everything I’m feeling.
I stand there for a second, clutching the letter, then take a deep breath.
“Camilla says they’re okay for now. Papa’s too busy looking for me and Sienna to bother them much.
It seems they may have doubts about Sienna being with me.
And Gallo is getting impatient. He’s already asking for another Caruso bride since Sienna is nowhere to be found. They think it might be Camilla next.”
I start pacing the office, unable to stay still.
“What if Papa decides to give Camilla to Gallo to save face? I need to see her, Nico. I need to make sure she’s alright. I can’t just sit here knowing she might be next.”
He watches me, jaw tight. “No. You can’t go see her, it's too risky.”
I stop pacing and turn to him. “What about Sienna? Can I at least go with you when you meet her? I just want to know she’s safe.”
“No,” he says firmly. “You’re not going anywhere near Sienna right now. We’re keeping our distance on purpose. The last thing we need is to lead your father or Gallo straight to her. She needs to stay hidden.”
My frustration boils over. “So I’m just supposed to sit here and do nothing while my sisters might be in danger? That’s not fair, Nico. They’re my family!”
“I’m not risking you.”
We stare at each other for a moment, then his expression softens just a fraction as he goes back to sitting.
“Come here,” he says, quieter now.
I hesitate for a second before walking over. He pulls me onto his lap, wrapping his strong arms around me. I sink into him, letting his warmth calm the storm in my chest.
“Things are going to work out the way I planned,” he murmurs against my hair.
“Before your father has the chance to hand Camilla over, the deal will be done. I’ll find a way to stop it. I promise.”
I close my eyes and lean my head on his shoulder, breathing him in.
We're silent for a moment. Nico brushes a strand of hair from my face, his touch lingering.
“Why do you always have this need to save everyone?” he asks quietly. “Taking your sister’s place to marry Gallo, damning the consequences… always protecting them. You’re not even the eldest.”
I look down at my hands for a moment, then back at him.
“Because no one protected us,” I whisper.
“After my mother died, my father… he changed. Or maybe he was always like that, and her death just made it worse. He never wanted daughters. He reminded us constantly that we were disappointments. Bargaining chips. He’d get drunk and say things like ‘I built an empire and all I have to show for it are five holes waiting to be filled.’”
My voice cracks.
“I became the shield. Rosalia was the first to be married off, and after that, I made sure the others were okay. I took the punishments so Sienna, Camilla and Daniela didn’t have to.
I stood between them and his rage. I learned how to read his moods, how to distract him, how to take the hits so they wouldn’t break.
Because if I didn’t protect them… who would? ”
Nico’s jaw is tight. His hand on my waist has gone still, but I can feel the tension in his body. He’s angry, not at me, but for me. It makes something warm bloom in my chest.
I swallow hard. “So, when Sienna came to me crying, saying she couldn’t marry Andrea… I couldn’t let her go through that. Not when I could take her place. Not when I could give her the one thing none of us ever got. A chance at love.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through all that.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. And then I ask, “And why aren't you in a relationship?”
He quirks a brow. “You want me to be with someone else?”
“I meant before me. You're hot, handsome and rich, I'm sure getting women would be easy.”
As the words leave my mouth, I realize I don't want to picture Nico with another woman but me.
He smirks. “So, you think I’m hot? Keep going.”
I roll my eyes. “Just answer the question.”
He looks into my eyes and says, “Because I never wanted anyone else.”
The way he says it, I want to ask if he does now, but I don't think I'm ready for whatever answer he might give, so I change the subject.
“Why do you hate my father and Gallo so much? What did they do to you?”
He hesitates for a second, then helps me to get on my feet, and he starts pacing.
“You don't have to tell me if you don't—”
“Years ago,” he cuts in, “your father and Gallo's family worked together to destroy a rival family. They didn’t just take their territory. They made an example of them. They tortured the don in front of his wife and son. Made the wife watch as they killed her husband, then killed her too. The son, which was me, was able to escape, after they shot and left him for dead.”
I let out a soft gasp when I realize he's talking about his family.
Tears pool in my eyes. “I'm so sorry Nico, I had no idea.” How could my father have been so heartless?
Nico walks up to me and thumbs my tears away. “Hey, you don't have to feel sorry for me.”
He brings his forehead to mine. “Please don't cry.”
The room falls quiet as we both stare into each other's eyes. The air between us feels heavier now, charged with everything we’ve both laid bare.
Nico leans in slowly and kisses me.
It’s not the hungry, desperate kind. This kiss is deep, slow, and almost reverent. His hand cups my face as his lips move against mine, tasting me like he’s trying to memorize every second.
I melt into him, my hands sliding up his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart under my palm.
Nico groans into my mouth, his hands gripping my waist as he kisses me back just as fiercely, tongue stroking deep, claiming me.
We stumble backward until my hips hit the edge of his desk. Papers scatter to the floor, but neither of us cares.
He lifts me onto the desk, stepping between my thighs, never breaking the kiss. My hands tremble as I reach for his belt, fumbling with the buckle. He helps me, unzipping his pants and pushing them down just enough to free his cock.
His hand slides between my legs, fingers gliding through my slick folds. “Fuck,” he growls against my lips. “Always so ready.”
I moan as he plunges a finger inside me, curling them perfectly. But it’s not enough. I need more.
“Please,” I beg, breaking the kiss to look at him.
He doesn’t make me wait. He pushes in slowly, stretching me open inch by inch.
We both groan when he bottoms out, fully seated inside me. He starts moving, slow, deep thrusts that make me feel every inch of him. His forehead rests against mine, eyes locked on me as he fucks me.
One hand grips my hip, the other cups the back of my neck, keeping me close.
“You’re mine,” he growls against my lips, voice rough with need.
“I’m yours,” I gasp, wrapping my legs tighter around him.
“Again.”
“I’m yours, Nico,” I moan louder, my nails digging into his shoulders.
He fucks me harder, deeper, hitting that perfect spot with every thrust. His hand slides between us, rubbing my clit in tight circles.
I come hard, soaking his cock, screaming his name like a prayer. Nico follows right after, burying himself deep with a low, guttural groan. I feel him pulse inside me, filling me with his release.