Emotional

chapter seventeen

Tiffany

R acing through the hospital with Marcus and Jake on my heels, my heart has yet to slow. The thought of the man I love being hurt or worse, dead, has me on the verge of having a nervous breakdown.

I stop at the nurse’s station.

“I need the room number for Niccolo Basille?” I ask the woman behind the desk.

“Are you a relative?” she asks, looking me up and down.

“I’m his fiancée,” I say through gritted teeth. I know she is only following protocol, but anything that delays me from finding Nico pisses me off.

She taps away on her computer in slow motion, causing my patience to slowly ebb further away. The phone rings beside her, and she stops what she’s doing to answer it.

“For fucks sake,” I shout.

“Tiff, calm down,” Marcus says coming up behind me placing a hand on my shoulder. I pull away from him. Before I could reply, Roc—Nico’s personal bodyguard—calls my name.

“Ms. Best, he’s in here.”

“Thank goodness,” I say running toward him. “What happened?”

“Saint. Apparently, he’s figured out Niccolo has been keeping you protected. I guess he attempted to eliminate the problem.” He holds the door open for me.

I rush inside. Not knowing what to expect. As soon as I see Nico sitting up in the bed with a bandage above his eye, and an Ace bandage around his left wrist, I burst into tears.

“Come here, Angel,” he says holding his arms out for me. I walk straight into them climbing in the bed with him.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I repeat as I cry in his chest. All this is because of me. I thought I’d be able to get my happily ever after, but it seems like Saint won’t let that happen.

Nico pulls my face from his chest and stares down in my eyes. “What are you apologizing for?”

“It’s because of me you were shot.”

His head is shaking before I finish my sentence. “This isn’t your fault. None of this is.”

“He could’ve killed you, Nico.”

He chuckles. “Baby, I wasn’t shot. Most of this damage was done because that big muthafucker tackled me like I was a receiver in the NFL.” Nico says tossing his head at Roc.

The other guards in the room chuckle. However, I didn’t find any of this shit funny.

“Maybe we should call the wedding off. At least until they find this guy. I don’t want to risk your life again.”

“Whoa,” Nico says sitting back on the bed. “You and I both know we’re not calling off this wedding. No one, and I mean not a soul will keep me from making you, my wife. Do you understand?”

“But.”

He places a kiss on my lips to stop me. “Do you understand?”

Letting go of that stupid thought, I finally nod my head. “I understand.”

“Good, now stop crying before you upset my baby.” He places his hand on my belly. For a quick second I forgot I was with child. My only concern was Nico.

“You’re pregnant?”

Both Nico’s and my head swing in Marcus’ direction. I completely forgot he was here. Jake told him to catch an Uber back to his car, but Marcus was determined to go the hospital with us. I didn’t care, I just wanted to get here.

Climbing out of the bed with Nico, I tug at my skirt.

“Yes,” I reply, placing a hand over my stomach. “I’m two and a half months.”

Marcus laughs but it lacks humor.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?” he says, glaring at Nico. “You took everything away from me.”

I turn to look at Nico and he looks just as confused as I do.

“Marcus, what are you talking about?” I ask.

“Tiff,” he pleads walking toward me. However, the guards in the room step forward making him stop. “I can’t let you do this. I can’t let you marry this weak ass dude,” he points to Nico lying in the hospital bed.

Admittedly, my man does look a bit vulnerable in this predicament. However, I wouldn’t call him weak.

“Baby,” Marcus calls out getting my attention back. “I love you. I never stopped loving you. I know that shit I did with Saint was out of pocket. But that was the old me. Let me love you the way I know you need to be loved. We were meant to be together, you and I both know that. Don’t do this.”

My eyes fill with tears as I watch the man, I used to love from the depths of my soul, plead for me to take him back. Swiping away the tears, I square my shoulders.

“Marcus, I will always care for you. I spent a large part of my life loving you, but,” I turn to look at Nico and his eyes are fixed on me.

In that gaze alone I feel so much love and passion. In his eyes I find my peace and my safety. Turning back to Marcus, I say. “I love Nico, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him.”

The room is silent for a moment, only the soft hum of the hospital air conditioner can be heard.

Eventually, Marcus shakes his head. He looks over to the bed where Nico is lying. “I won’t let it happen. I was her first and I’ll be her last. I promise that.” He turns to me, and his face softens. “I’ll never stop fighting for you.” With those final words, Marcus turns and walks out the door.

Although tears threaten to fall, I don’t let them. What Marcus and I had is over. He should have loved me right when he had me. I won’t let him ruin my happiness. Nico, my sweet loving, kind, gentle lover deserves to have all of me.

Taking in a deep breath, I let it out along with all the residual feelings I had for Marcus. It’s time I let my past go. Turning to my future, I climb back in bed with him, and lay my head on his chest.

“I won’t let him ruin us,” I whisper to Nico.

He chuckles. “Marcus is just talking out of emotions. How much do you want to bet, you’ll never hear from him again.”

I pray Nico’s right.