12. Nico

Chapter 12

Nico

When Bella opens her door and lets me into her apartment, I see how terrible she looks. She’s as white as a ghost, a gloss of perspiration on her skin and a look of pain in her eyes.

Guilt seeps through me for thinking she lied about being sick.

She looks really sick. Sick enough that I am convinced I need to get her to a doctor.

She doesn’t take the flowers or the box from me, so I set them down on her open-plan kitchen counter. She walks with heavy steps, swaying.

“Bella, you look terrible. Are you ok? Can I maybe take you to a doctor?” I ask with concern.

She swallows hard, still avoiding looking at me. Her shoulders are hunched forward.

“Nico - we need to talk. And you should sit down for this.” She says slowly.

“Um - ok.” I say skeptically. “I came here to talk.”

I didn’t expect her to be so serious and down about it. She looks like she’s about to tell me someone died.

I can’t get over how pale she is. The color has left her cheeks and her eyes seem heavy with worry - or maybe it’s a terrible flu. I have no idea. All I know is that the glow of her skin and the shine in her gaze is missing.

Sinking down into her sofa I lean forward with my elbows resting on my knees. “What is it, Bella?” I demand.

I am the type of person who likes to get straight to the point - especially when the situation looks as bad as Bella does right now. If she’s sick, I need to take her somewhere where they can help her.

Bella sits opposite me, her back rigidly straight as though someone has shoved a steel rod right into her spine.

Her eyes are focused on me.

Her hands are folded in her lap.

She takes a slow breath and starts.

“Nico, I first want to say that I’m really sorry about how I acted last night. I know we are not in a relationship - so whoever you are sleeping with or - whatever - it has nothing to do with me. My outburst was uncalled for. It is my fault that I let myself get carried away with the idea that we are or could be more than a casual fling.”

She pauses, gathering her thoughts.

Her words are stinging and biting into my heart. She still thinks I am a player and messing around with other women. I can see this hurts her. But I don’t want to interrupt. She needs to say everything she needs to say - I will try to explain myself.

“I have two important things to tell you.” She closes her eyes for a second. “The first is that I saw my ex, Marcus, when I was out at a coffee shop down the road. As far as I know he didn’t see me - but I can’t be sure. The shock - when I saw his face - I - I—” she stammers, losing track of herself for a moment and I can see how terrified she is.

My immediate instinct is to protect her. This is why she looks so terrible. Its fear.

“He shouldn’t be in this city. In terms of territory agreements, he shouldn’t be here.”

I stand up, pulling my phone from my pocket. I have to make sure Bella is safe. If Marcus is around - it can’t be for business. If it’s business, it’s going to be terrible for me - if it’s not - it’s for Bella. Either way it’s bad and I have to deal with it right now.

The first person I call is my head of security. I tell him to put a team together to investigate what the hell is going on.

I turn towards Bella who is watching me, wide eyed and heavy with silence.

“Bella, you may not leave the house for now. You’ll have to put in leave at work. It’s not safe for you to be out there. We can get a doctor's certificate or something so the gallery isn’t suspicious. I’ll get security for the building and I’ll make sure—”

“That will draw too much attention to me. Its best if I stay the way I am. Keep my routine and keep a low profile like I have been doing for over a year. I know how to look after myself, Nico.”

“No, it’s not good enough. Marcus is dangerous. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. There is a reason he came to this city and we need to find out.”

“Nico.” She interrupts, speaking a little louder.

For a second I’m thrown off. “Huh?” My thoughts are racing is seven different directions. There is so much I need to do. I still have to call other people. I wonder if he knows the gallery is mine. Does he know I was the one who kidnapped Bella - did he follow me here to find her?

“Nico sit down. We can deal with that in a minute. I said there were two things I need to tell you - you have to listen. Put your phone down.”

I shake my head, getting ready to dial someone else. This is not the time to be slacking. “I have to get security, Bella.”

“ Put your phone down. ” She says. I’ve never heard her speaking so forcefully before.

Her voice is so commanding that I sit down, dropping my phone onto the sofa next to me.

“What is the second thing?” I ask, terrified about what could be worse than finding out Marcus is in this city. Is she sick? With what?

“Wait here.” She says, standing up and walking out of the room.

I sit, fidgeting and tense, not sure what to do with myself, until she comes back in carrying her baby boy wrapped in a soft blue blanket. I can see his little legs and arm kicking around as he wiggles.

She walks straight over to me, biting her lip, worry traced across her eyes.

“Nico.” She hands me the baby. I take him in my arms. The last baby I held was my sister, right after my parents died. I stare down at his rosy little cheeks and he gurgles a smile at me. “Nico, this is Dante — your son. ”

I brush my thumb across his cheek. “Hey little guy - Dante.”

What ?

Every cell in my body clenches.

Did I hear that right?

My chest hitches as my breath becomes heavy.

“Bella—”

“Your son.” She nods and sits down opposite me, as rigid as before.

I look back down at the tiny baby boy in my arms and everything in my entire world changes.

In a second.

One second.

Everything is suddenly different.

I can’t tear my eyes off him.

He is my son? My blood? My family?

She knew all this time and didn’t tell me a thing. And all the time we’ve been working together in the gallery - why would she keep this from me?

What am I supposed to do now?

And now Marcus in the city - does he know about my son?

My mind is racing, churning and flooding and exploding. I can’t get a grip on a single thought in order to find clarity in the chaos. My heart is pounding, and it’s like my lungs can’t hold air. The room is too small. The entire apartment - the walls are closing in.

I blink, over and over again, telling myself to calm down.

But I’m angry.

My hands are shaking.

My entire body is shaking.

Rage or shock - I can’t tell.

I stand up and take a step towards Bella.

Without a word I hand her my son.

She looks at me with so many questions in her eyes - questions that I can’t answer because I’m drowning in my own thoughts.

“Do not dare leave this apartment.” I growl at her and turn away and walk out. I can’t be here anymore.

I have to get away and figure out what the fuck happened.

Ignoring the elevator I take the stairs because I need to move. The world is still spinning around me, like a carnival ride, out of control and too bright.

I am a father, I have a son. I’ve got an heir. That is so much to lose. And so much to love. And I do not know who else knows about this.