Chapter 24
EMILIA
Christmas music radiated through the halls of the house.
Camilla had played them nonstop since she'd gotten to the house, the cheerful melodies a stark contrast to the tension simmering beneath the surface.
"Well, Mrs. Venosa, what can I get you for breakfast today?
" She grinned at me as I plopped down on the chair.
"Just coffee, please," I grumbled. The woman nodded, and a cup of steaming elixir was placed in front of me. The wafting scent was almost enough to wake me up, but today it needed to be coursing through my veins. My eyes felt like sandpaper, my body heavy with exhaustion.
"Late night?" She asked as she turned back to the massive stove.
"Yes, but not because of anything good," I answered as I lifted the cup to my mouth. The ceramic was warm against my palms.
"I'm aware. My Ronaldo was still sleeping when I left this morning. You were quick on your feet last night; things could have been very bad." She set a plate of eggs and fruit in front of me. Steam rose from the perfectly scrambled eggs.
"Ronaldo?" I asked, not sure who she was talking about. This was the first time I'd heard her speak of a man in her life.
"You'll know him as Walter."
"Walter is your husband? But he's young." The words were tumbling out of my mouth faster than I could stop them. Walter, the head of Nico's security, couldn't be more than forty-five.
Camilla's laughter overshadowed the music in the kitchen, rich and warm. "Well, he's a little younger than me, but only by three years. Damn, man doesn't age." She shook her head, affection clear in her voice.
"I'm sorry, Camilla, that was incredibly rude." Looking at the woman, she reached across the counter and patted my hand.
"Dear, you made my day." She grabbed her cup and took a seat across from me. "Are you ready for everyone to be here for Christmas?" She asked.
"Christmas hasn't been pleasant in my family for a long time, so I don't even know what to expect." I twirled my mug on the counter, watching the liquid swirl. The entire feel of the room plummeted into despair. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." I shook my head.
"Darling, you have a new life and new memories to make.
Let this crazy family in, and you won't even remember those times.
" She took a deep breath and stood. "I’d better get back to work.
" Her smile made me almost believe that I could forget.
That the years of cold, silent Christmases could be replaced with warmth and laughter.
His large hands slid over my shoulders, and the light kiss on the back of my head made me know he'd heard it all.
Over the last few weeks, I'd found out that he was everywhere, and he heard everything I'd revealed without me knowing.
I loved that he didn't press me for information about my life or my family.
He let me share in my own time, on my own terms.
"I need to talk to you in my office before my family gets here." He said quietly. Camilla would have heard, but as usual, she didn't turn or even acknowledge that we were talking. Nodding, I grabbed my coffee and followed him to his office.
Nico opened the door, ushered me into the large room, and pulled me in.
Staring out the big window as he settled behind his desk, I watched the snow sparkle under the pink light of the rising sun.
It was beautiful, pristine and untouched, but I could feel the cold seeping into my bones again.
Something was wrong; I could see it in his eyes.
The way his jaw was set, the tension in his shoulders.
"I've got more intel that your father has the backing of the Espositos that didn't meet your wrath the night we met." A slight smile crossed his face, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"How does he justify working with them after they killed my brother?" I took a seat in the chair across from him. A quick rap on the door before it opened, and Antonio walked in, his face grim.
"Sorry, I'm late." He handed Nico a folder before sitting beside me. "I guess you taking over has made him irate, and he is willing to work with anyone to get to you." Antonio looked over at me, his eyes filled with concern and anger.
"So, I'm worse than the people who killed his precious son?
" I flopped back in the chair, unsure how to process this information.
All my life, I'd been told I wasn't worth anything, and Marco was the family's saving grace.
But I had no idea his hatred of me had run this deep.
"What am I supposed to do?" I whispered.
Over the last two years, I'd never felt fear, but today I was afraid for my life.
Afraid I'd never get to grow old with the man sitting across from me.
I'd just gotten him, and I didn't want to let him go.
Staring at the grain of the wooden desk, I couldn't hear anything but the thoughts rolling around in my head.
The room felt like it was closing in, the air too thick to breathe.
Nico's powerful hands cupped my cheeks. "Emilia, where'd you go?" His face was inches from mine. He was kneeling at my feet, and we were alone. I hadn't even heard Antonio leave.
"Emilia, talk to me."
"He married me off to you; I foolishly thought that would be the end of it." I wasn't a crier, but the sting in my nose and my quivering chin were proving the opposite. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.
"Are you regretting being married to me?" His voice was low, his eyes boring into me.
I scowled at him. If he'd asked me that a month ago, I would have said yes, but now, the words slip easily from my lips.
"No, Nico. Marrying you is the best thing that's ever happened to me.
" I pressed my forehead to his. I wanted to tell him I loved him, but it was too soon, not the right moment. He’d think it was just to save my skin, even though it was the truth.
The words felt heavy on my tongue, desperate to be spoken.
"I'll keep you safe." He moved his hands to my thighs, and we sat like that for a few moments. His thumbs traced small circles, soothing and grounding.
When he finally broke the silence, I wished we could have gone back to sitting in silence together. "I need to know everything you know." He stood and walked back to sit behind his desk. Grabbing the phone off his desk, he focused on it for a moment before setting it back down.
The door opened, and Antonio returned, carrying a notepad. "I'm bringing you in, Emilia. We won't be able to do this without you."
For the next two hours, I talked almost nonstop about all the families I had information on.
Every alliance, every weakness, every piece of leverage I'd collected over two years of operating in the shadows.
Every so often, Nico would look at Antonio and frown.
It was like I had more knowledge of things than he did.
"Wait, are you saying the Ajello's and the Cardone's work together?" Nico asked. He had his hands folded behind his head, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes. Neither family has enough power to be a player, so they decided to join forces. Juliet Ajello was a Cardone. She married Fernando's youngest son, Leo."
"How did we not know this?" Nico asked Antonio.
"It was very private. I don't think anyone knew until it happened. Everyone was buzzing about our wedding, and nothing else mattered." The entire underworld had been focused on the Venosa-Carminatti union, missing everything else happening around them.
"How did you find out?"
"You might have been holding me prisoner, but the mafia princess pipeline can penetrate even the highest security," I smirked. In reality, it was my sisters telling me.
"Alessia and Giana." Nico arched his brow, waiting for my response. "They were the only people you were allowed to talk to other than Trixie and Letty."
"A woman doesn't share all her secrets." I crossed my legs and watched his eyes follow the movement.
"Amore," he growled, waiting for me to talk.
"Yes," I huffed. All this man had to do was growl his pet name for me, and I caved.
Some threat I am. "It was my sisters. They told me all about it when I was getting ready.
I would have found out sooner, but my phone had been confiscated, and I wasn't given access to my laptop.
" Leaning back in the chair, I draped my arms over the armrests.
"You talk too easily, Mrs. Venosa." He sat up and rested his arms on the desk, smirking at me. The phone on his desk rang, and I turned my attention to Antonio.
"Is your dad accompanying Cecilia?" I tried to avoid eavesdropping on Nico's one-sided conversation.
"He is. They don't go anywhere without the other." He smiled and shook his head. "It'll be good to see him." He smiled at the thought of his father being here. The affection in his voice was clear.
"The Cardonés are making a move tonight. Antonio, round everyone up." The man nodded and left the room, already pulling out his phone.
"Your family is arriving today." I pouted. Yes, I was pouting. Tell me what you would do if you found out your father wanted to kill you for making him a wealthy man.
"Just because my family shows up doesn't mean my work stops, baby.
We will figure this out. Having Lorenzo here might be helpful, even if he doesn't come with us, at least I know he'll be here watching the house.
" I wondered if nights like this made him miss his own father even more than he usually did.
He didn't talk about him very often, but knowing his father was murdered in front of him, I didn't press the issue.
I'd heard stories about Constantine Venosa, how he was ruthless but kind.
Which was a rare trait in this life, but one Nico had inherited.
The resemblance between the father and son was uncanny, and I wished I'd been able to know him.
To see where Nico got his strength and his sense of honour.
"I'm going to get ready for their arrival.
" I stood at the same time as Nico. He cleared the space between us in a few quick steps.
His hands rest on my hips and pull me to him, and he slips them around me.
Being wrapped in his arms made me feel safe and like no one could get to me as he engulfed me.
His heart beat steadily against my cheek.
"I'll keep you safe," he whispered into my ear. And for the first time in my life, I believed someone when they said it.