6. Nico

Chapter 6

Nico

Business has been going so well - my illegal smuggling has been going too well - well enough to attract attention.

That is why I purchased a brand new art gallery in New York city.

I fly there a few times a month for work and I needed a new front to launder my income through.

It’s the best cover.

I've made sure it looks so legitimate that not even the best detective in the city could sniff out what is really going on behind the scenes.

The employment agency I hired has set me up with a manager, acquisitions specialist and - well, everyone I need to run an art gallery.

I also focused on strictly new talent. More experienced artists might sniff around and ask too many questions. New talent will be grateful to have a gallery showing their work.

It really is the perfect cover for my smuggling business.

And because I’ve had them hire very efficient staff - I don’t need to worry about anything. The grand opening is at the end of this week and I haven’t had to do a thing. The new curator set up the entire event.

I’m looking forward to the event because it will be the first time I get to see the space I purchased. I haven’t even been there. I had a property manager scout the area for me and purchase the building. I’m rather interested to see what they’ve put together.

I stand up from my desk, closing my laptop and rubbing my eyes to ease the dryness away. I’ve been sitting here staring at the screen for too long. It was another late night, organizing shipment routes and liaising with clients.

It’s time to head home.

I need to catch up on sleep and pack for my trip to New York.

In the car, on the way home, as I drive past the bright pools of light beneath each streetlamp I think about her again.

She’s on my mind often.

I wonder how she’s doing and what kind of life she’s living. I wonder if she’s happy and if she’s met someone and fallen in love? I hate thinking about that. Even though I want her to be happy - the idea of her with someone else cuts me.

It’s been about a year since I saw her, but her face is still fresh in my memory.

Bella sneaks into my thoughts all the time, and whenever my mind is quiet. It’s so strange to me how I only spent one night with her - but she crept into my soul - I won’t ever be able to forget her.

I sigh, turning left at the stop light and into the underground parking of my building.

As I climb the ground floor steps toward the elevators that lead to my penthouse apartment images of her flash through my mind. That night we spent together. The intense connection I had with her.

I get melancholy when I day dream about Isabella. It annoys me. I hate focusing on things that can never be. It makes my heart heavy and I don’t need that distraction.

As I unlock the door of my apartment, I push her from my thoughts.

The grand gallery opening is the only thing I should be focused on. The media will be there, it’s going to be a massive event. It’s incredibly important as it is the cover to everything else.

New York has a certain smell to it.

When I arrive in the city, it’s like my second home.

I went straight to the penthouse I own here, and now I am on my way to the grand opening party of my gallery.

Finally.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what they did with the place.

When I climb out of the car outside the wide steps leading towards the gallery entrance, I’m already impressed.

The curator has set it up so that it looks like you are walking into an Oscar ceremony. Red carpets, red rope, reporters standing on either side of the steps and men and women dressed like this is the event of the year.

I smile, but keep my head down, ignoring the camera flashes. I’ve never been one to enjoy having my face splashed across the front page.

I have arrived fashionably late, and the place is already crowded with people. High energy, good music and a very exclusive vibe are what I was hoping to see, and the curator did not disappoint.

They’ve done an incredible job setting this place up and arranging the event.

I’m more impressed than I expected to be.

“Hello, welcome to Darko Dakota Gallery.” A colorfully dressed young man greets me as I walk in the door.

“Evening.” I reply. “Can you please point out the manager for me?”

“Of course, sir, is there a problem? Is there something I might assist with?”

“Who are you?” I ask.

“My name is Killian. I am Bella’s assistant.”

“Bella?” It’s not an unusual name, but hearing it makes my heart flip. I push the flutter of nostalgia aside. I can’t be thinking about her tonight. I need to focus on this new business venture.

“Yes, sir. Bella handles all of this.” He gestures around the gallery and the event. He looks proud.

“Killian, my name is Nico Vitale. I am the owner of this gallery.”

Killian’s jaw drops open and his eyes shoot wide.

“The ow - the - oh - oh my goodness. Sir, it is such a pleasure to meet you. Please, follow me and I will find Bella straight away. I know she has been waiting for you to arrive.”

I follow him as he walks flamboyantly through the gallery, politely slipping past the guests.

“That’s her over there, sir.” He points towards a woman who has her back to me, her long blonde hair half pinned up in an intricately braided style that looks almost Viking like.

My heart stops and starts in my chest. The way she moves.

No. It can’t be.

“Bella.” Killian calls out, and she turns towards us.

I am frozen in place.

She looks even more beautiful than I remember her.

Her bright green eyes drift onto me and the smile on her face freezes half way - I can see the shock in her eyes. The tension in her breath as her chest heaves.

“Nico.” She whispers my name.

“Bella, this is Nico Vitale, the owner of the gallery.” Killian says, oblivious.

She keeps looking up and down over my body as though she can’t believe I’m real. She reaches out and touches my chest.

“Nico.” Her eyes are scrunched, then wide again. A broad smile suddenly spreads across her face. “How are you?” She asks, seeming to pull back into herself.

My heart is still hammering at the sight of her.

“Do you two know each other?” Killian asks, confused.

“Nico is — an old friend.” Bella smiles.

“You look as beautiful as ever, Bella.” I say.

“Um - I am going - I’ll get you two a drink.” Killian says, sensing he is caught in a moment he isn’t welcome in.

He walks away and Bella tilts her head to the side. “You own the gallery?” she asks, frowning.

“Yes.”

“Did you hire me on purpose?” She seems confused.

“I didn’t do the hiring. I left that to the agency. I did not have a clue - you are the last person I expected to bump into here.”

I can’t look away from her.

My entire body is alight with memories of the night I had with her. One night - that was all it took to take my breath away.

“Nico - I - I don’t know what to say.” She stammers.

She is lost for words. So am I.

I chuckle. I grab her arm and pull her around one of the back walls in the maze of art work. I want to get out of the public eye for a moment. I need a second to grasp what this means.

I made sure that Bella was safe, and that she escaped the mafia world and now somehow she ends up right back in it - running my gallery which is only a cover for a much larger business.

Someone walks past and I step closer to her, seeking even more privacy.

Her back is against the wall and her eyes are on me.

Neither of us is speaking, but I can feel the current of electricity running between us.

She lifts her face towards me, and I lean closer.

Our lips are inches away from each other.

I forget where I am.

All I see is her.

Our lips brush against each other and -

“Here you go—” Killian’s voice makes me take a large step away from her in a hurry. “I got two champagnes, I hope that’s alright. Otherwise I can go back and get something else - oh - sorry did I interrupt something?”

He notices the awkwardness between us.

“No, I was discussing the success of the opening with Bella.” I say, forcing myself to tear my eyes away from her and towards Killian.

“It’s turned out brilliantly.” He nods.

“Yes, it has exceeded my expectations.” My eyes are back on Bella.

This is going to be a problem.

Because I am setting up in New York, I will spend a lot of time at the gallery - and around Bella.

The magnetism of our connection is blatantly obvious. It isn’t fair of me to get involved with her though. She doesn’t need to be dragged back into my world after changing everything in her life to escape it.

How am I going to resist her?

I can’t even stop myself from staring at her.