Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
NICO
My fiancée tried to kill me. I stalk down the hallway to my bedroom.
“Nico, what’s the plan?” Miff asks as I step over the threshold.
Halting in the middle of the room, I glance at him as water drips from my clothes onto the carpet. “About what?”
His brows bunch together. “Nico, Serenity tried to kill you.”
She couldn’t even try to kill me right. The amount of poison was enough for a stomachache. Not enough to kill me.
“Does she have any idea what you’ve done for her?” He asks as I pull dry clothes from the dresser.
“No,” I mutter.
“We lost men,” he shouts.
My gaze snaps to his. “You think I take that lightly? I never wanted anyone to die other than my fucking enemies,” I yell.
His gray eyes go wide. “They’re her enemies, Nico.”
Silence falls between us.
“The first time I laid eyes on Serenity, I knew I was done for.” My brows lower. “Her enemies are my enemies,” I roar.
He inches closer. “The hardest thing I ever had to do is hide the truth about you from the world. No one other than your grandfather knew you were on your deathbed.”
I palm his shoulder. “Thank you for your loyalty, Miff. After the wedding, I’ll come clean to Serenity about the wars. And that I almost died,” I choke out.
He visibly swallows and nods.
“Tell Reacher he’s in charge today. Go home. Be with Lasheia”
“She knows what she signed up for. I can wait until the war is over to see her,” he adds.
“Send her to one of the safe houses. Spend time with her now. You of all people know we’re not promised tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” He sighs before storming out of the bedroom.
Miff is overprotective. Takes his job very seriously. He deserves to have happiness, too.
Once I’m wearing dry clothes, I touch base with my house staff, then make my way toward my personal salon that will double as a tailor shop.
“Hey little brother,” Nick says, biting into an apple.
“What’s up, big bro?”
“Kinsley’s upstairs talking to Serenity.”
I arch a brow. “Not sure how well that’s going to go over. Serenity might feel like a trapped bird.”
“She needs to talk to a woman who’s been through hell and back. It will help.” He hooks an arm around my neck.
“Little brother, you’ve been carrying a burden alone. You never had to. I’m always here for you.”
My brother came to Natalia, and me and told us we were going to war over Kinsley. We had a discussion, and we went to war. When it came to my wars, I didn’t go to my siblings.
“This is my fight. For my woman,” I grit out.
He halts his steps. “I’m not asking anymore, Nico. As the boss of this family, I’m in.”
Nick’s the older mafia boss between us, so he’s trying to include himself.
My brows lower. “You’re pulling rank now?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me everything before the wedding.”
I blow out a breath. “Fine.”
My brother is about to be pissed I left him in the dark this long. But he’s right. It’s time to let him in.
Forty-five minutes later, after our tuxedo fitting, Nick and I sit in my man cave where I bring him up to speed on the last fourteen years of my life.
My brother’s hand curls around the crystal glass tightly. “You almost died, Nico.” It’s not a question. It’s a statement.
“Yes.” I sip the glass of water.
“Our parents don’t know either?” He asks.
“Nick, listen. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I’d do anything to protect her. Even fight her war.”
Nick is silent for a moment. “I get that.”
He stares at me for a second longer. “You pretended to be so unaffected. Didn’t give a shit about love. But in reality, you’re fucked up in the head when it comes to her. Following her around New York like a lost pup.”
I shake my head. “You make it sound like I’m pussy-whipped.”
He chuckles. “Clearly, you are.”
Nick rubs his forehead. “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”
“Yes, but after the wedding.”
“Fine. Let’s go over the security details for the wedding,” he says.
I meet his gaze. “Thanks, big brother.”
“Don’t you ever hold out on me again. I’d die for you, little brother.”
I know he would. That’s why I didn’t tell him. If he died trying to help me, he wouldn’t have found happiness with Kinsley.
“I won’t.” I offer a small smile.
“Also, Serenity tried to kill me this morning.”
“What?”
“Yeah, she tried to poison me.”
He runs his fingers through his hair. “Damn, she tried to kill you before the wedding. What did you do to her?”
“It’s nothing I did. It’s all about what she’s trying to protect.”
My son.