18. Nico

Chapter 18

Nico

After my conversation with Bella I had to get out of the office for a while. I needed to walk and get some air and clear my thoughts.

I’m not only dealing with everything that is going on between Bella and myself - but I am also trying to push my investigation with her ex forward. I haven’t been able to find out anything.

I still have no idea why the man is in New York City.

I had a message passed on to him - an offer for a business deal I thought he could not turn down. Perhaps I made it too obvious - too good to be true. Because he turned it down and with that I lost my chance to get close to him myself.

He’s here for a reason.

I fucking need to know what it is before he makes a move. He might have come here to take down my underground operations - or to get revenge on Bella for leaving. Either way - I don’t see any way he isn’t here to cause trouble.

I’m worried someone is going to end up injured - or worse - dead.

I walk for an hour, making my way through town, watching the people, wondering about their normal lives and what it is like to be like them. Somewhere deep inside me, I’m sure I was not made to live a normal life. I don’t have it in me to stay in the lines and obey the rules. I have to make my own rules and forge my path through this life.

A life I want to live with Bella.

And our son.

Why couldn’t she just answer me right away. What is so terrible about me she doesn’t want me? She made me believe the other day that she was interested in being with me and when I tell her I want the same thing she says she has to think about it. What the fuck?

It doesn’t make sense.

I sigh, picking up the pace and moving faster back towards the office.

I still need to follow up with my investigation team and all I can do is hope that they found something out about Marcus.

What I know is the name of the hotel he checked into and my man has an eye on him. At least most of the time. His security team is extensive, and we don’t want to get caught tailing him.

It would be cause for an attack.

The last thing I want is to give him any reason what so ever to launch an all-out war against me.

I’ve dealt with a lot of men like Marcus in my career. Some I avoided, some I had to take down. Some came close to destroying me.

You can’t turn your back on a man like him.

If we don’t get any concrete information tonight, I will need to make more dangerous moves tomorrow.

The longer I don’t know why he’s here the more risk for Bella, my son and my business.

Walking back into the gallery I head straight into my office. I can see Bella through the window of her office. She is sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.

Good.

She needs to be thinking right now. She needs to be making the right choice. Her time is limited.

Sitting down at my desk I phone my head of security. He answers after three rings, each ring pushing my frustration closer to the edge.

“Sir.”

“Do you know anything? Anything at all?”

“No, sir. He’s still in the hotel as far as we can tell. I’ve been asking around with my informants in the city and no one is meeting him, no one is expecting him - he doesn’t seem to be here for business. We just don’t know yet.”

“Fuck sakes, how can he be so secretive. Someone knows something.”

“Tonight, at midnight, I’m meeting with a guy who claims he knows someone in Marcus’s security team. I’ll be able to get actual information from him.”

I sigh, letting out a heavy agitated breath. “Just take backup. It could be a trap.”

“Yes, sir. I will call you if anything changes or if we get any new information.”

“Great.” I say sarcastically and hang up the phone.

My team is working hard to get information. I can’t be rude to them. It isn’t fair of me. But I’m at my wits end. So, fine. I will give them until the midnight meeting - to connect with the link who knows the guard. If that doesn’t bring me decent intel I will have to take this up a notch and things will get more dangerous - but I have no choice.

I have a family to protect.

I keep looking through my contacts, wondering if I’ve missed something. But really I’m just waiting for midnight.

Waiting for midnight and waiting for Bella to make her choice.

I hate waiting. Patience was never my strong point.

There is a knock at my office door.

I look up to see Bella standing in the doorway, looking shy and demure.

She bites at her lower lip.

“Come in, Bella.

“I just wanted to let you know I was heading home - and - um - I accept your offer.”

I stand up and walk straight to her, slipping my arm around her waist.

“You’re sure about this?” I ask.

“I am sure. I - know how I feel about you.” She grins, her bright green eyes staring into mine.

My heart skips a beat then thunders with excitement.

I am thrilled that she’s willing to be with me.

Leaning forward I press my lips against her mouth, sliding my hand up the back of her neck and knotting my fingers in her hair.

The kiss is the same, but different. Because now I know we are together. We are going to make this work.

My body is burning to be with her, but I can’t lose focus on the other things looming over me.

I force myself to step away from her, clenching my jaw because it takes a lot of control not to continue.

“I have to get back to work now - but I would love to take you to dinner tomorrow night.”

“That would be incredible. I’m looking forward to it.”

“How are you getting home?”

“I’m driving myself. My car is parked outside.”

I glance towards the glass doors of the gallery. “I think I should drive you, rather. We don’t know yet what is going on with Marcus.” I know my men told me he’s still in the hotel and they are watching him, but I still don’t like the idea of her going anywhere alone.

“Don’t be silly. It’s not even dark yet. And I live so close. I’ll go straight home I promise.”

I narrow my eyes as I stare down at her. “You promise? Because I told you to stay in your apartment and not come to work.” I chuckle.

“I promise - straight home to Dante.”

Nodding, satisfied she will be ok.

She steps away from me to leave but I pull her right back up against me.

I can’t resist it.

I could kiss her all night and never tire of it. Her lips are lush and soft and beautiful. Her skin is warm, and her body pressed against mine is divine.

She giggles and brushes her hand across my cheek.

“Get back to work or you’ll be stuck here all night. We can chat later this evening. Call me - if you have time. Otherwise I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

“Fine.” I grin, stealing one last, quick kiss.

I watch Bella’s hips sway as she walks away from me. How the hell did she get put together so perfectly. She walks out of the gallery, collecting her things at the front desk on the way out, and down the stone steps onto the street, then turns right towards where she parks her car.

I sigh, turning back towards my laptop. I have a lot to do still. And I have to wait to hear about that midnight meeting.

I would love to be driving her home, going inside with her, eating dinner as a family and then carrying her up to her bedroom. That sounds like the perfect night to me - not this shit that I have to deal with because that asshole ex of hers showed up for no reason.

But there is a reason. He’s here for something.

I just need to focus my resources and find out what it is he wants.

And in the meantime, I have also been preparing my forces in case what he wants is Bella - or me and my business.

I slump down into my office chair, pushing my fingers against my temple. It’s a long way to midnight. But I’ll get a few more things done here - then head home and carry on working from there.

A smile spreads across my lips.

Bella and I just became official.

I don’t even get to celebrate it with her tonight - but it is happening.

My heart spins with excitement. But it is tainted by the presence and danger of her ex being so close. Once it is resolved, I will relax - and focus on her.