Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

NICO

M y mind wanders in the shower, leaving the topic of my plans for the outfit and falling onto the woman who has plagued my dreams for years. Her brown eyes show up in my mind, the flecks of green in them more pronounced as she stares up at me. My cock hardens as I imagine Aurora in front of me, her nails raking across my flesh.

I groan softly before grabbing my cock, needing some release now that the picture of her naked is in my mind. A hiss escapes me as I pump myself once before rubbing the bead of arousal at the tip. My mind conjures up a series of sounds Aurora would make. The way she would scream her name as I fucked her from behind. Her breathy moans as my tongue stroked against hers.

Each tug against my cock sends a shot of heat down my spine. It's easy to imagine what would happen if I had her, willing and wanting. I think of her on her knees in front of me, taking me in her mouth with a few slow licks up my shaft.

The pace of my hands over my cock increases, and it doesn't take much to push me over the edge after that. Heat spreads through my veins and I let out a shuddering groan. My cum splashes against the tiles in the shower before being washed down the drain.

My breathing is ragged by the time I'm done. I run a hand through my hair in frustration, wondering why it's so impossible to get her out of my mind. But knowing without a doubt that I'll never be able to stop until she's mine.

Unfortunately, the person who'll fight the hardest is Aurora herself. Which means I need to proceed with caution. Soon enough, I'll get what I want.

I stare intently at the cube in my hand, its colorful squares a chaotic mess. The bright reds, blues, greens, and yellows blur slightly as I focus, my mind already mapping out the patterns and sequences needed to solve it.

Starting with the top layer, I twist it to the side, aligning the reds. My fingers move with practiced ease, each turn deliberate and precise. I shift the middle layer, my thoughts aligning with the movements. Patterns emerge, strategies form. There's a rhythm to this, a dance of logic and intuition. I can almost hear the ticking of an invisible clock, pushing me to solve it faster, more efficiently.

The greens start to fall into place, followed by the blues. Each correct alignment sends a rush of satisfaction through me. It's a small victory in a larger battle. My fingers fly over the cube, the movements automatic, muscle memory taking over. I smirk as I rotate the last layer, feeling the final pieces click into place. The cube, once a jumble of colors, is now perfectly aligned, each face a solid block of color.

Once I'm done, my gaze moves toward the digital clock resting on my desk. Satisfaction washes over me. Two minutes. I just beat my last record. I place the cube on the desk, a rare sense of peace washing over me. It's a peace I'm only able to achieve after successfully solving a Rubik's cube. I'm hit with a burst of clarity, an assurance that no matter the complexity of any problem, I'll find a solution.

And right now, I have a host of problems to deal with. Starting with my wife to be. She called me at eight p.m. and I slowly twirled a pen in my hand as I listened to what she had to say.

"What do you mean you don't want to cancel your lease?" I ask slowly once she's done.

"Did I accidentally speak in a language you're incapable of understanding?" she questions. "No, I'm pretty sure I was speaking English when I told you I have no interest in giving up my home!"

I grit my teeth at her tone. It's like she's on a personal mission to figure out the many different avenues it'll take to successfully press all my buttons.

"So, what's your plan?" I ask flatly.

"My plan is simple. I'll move into the compound with you for the previously agreed period of four months. And after those four months are up, I'll move back into my apartment. After all, I will need somewhere to live when all this ends."

All this ends?

It's slightly adorable that she thinks it'll be that easy for her to walk away from me. But I'm going to let her keep on believing it, because I have no interest in a fight that will inevitably end with her losing.

"Aurora," I start, trying to reason with her. "What do you think is going to happen when someone from the outfit finds out that you still have a home somewhere else? We're already tricking everybody by having a fake wedding, and now you want to complicate matters even more?"

"I don't care about your stupid complications. I like this house," she says stubbornly.

I rub the bridge of my nose before sitting forward in my chair and tightening my grip on the cell phone.

"Tell you what? Once the four months are over, I will personally make sure that a new contract is drawn up and your apartment returned to you, if you still want to live there that is."

"Where else would I want to live?" she asks.

In the home that's your birthright. With me.

Of course, I can't actually say that to her. I barely even believe it myself.

"All right, fine. I'll cancel the lease. But you better get it back for me."

"Of course, mi vida ."

She mutters something inaudible under her breath before saying good night and abruptly ending the call. I shake my head as I place my phone on the desk. There's a knock at my office door, and I call for whoever's on the other side to come in.

Mona offers me a small smile as she walks inside the office, carrying a tray holding a cup filled with ice and a bottle of whiskey. I get to my feet and accept the tray with a grateful smile.

"Who were you speaking to, honey?" my housekeeper questions.

Although housekeeper might not be the right title for her, it's what she likes to be called. I've known Mona since I was a little boy. She worked in Valerio's compound as one of the cooks. And during the time she did so, she gathered a couple of kids in similar positions to mine and practically adopted them as hers. Vlad and I were two of her kids. She was the mother we all didn't have, taking care of us when we were ill and providing us with advice.

There aren't a lot of people I care about in this world. But Mona's definitely one of those people. She's in her sixties now, older and yet stern and unwilling to let us relieve her of work. I've been trying to get her to retire for years with a promise to take care of her. But she insists on working.

A couple of years ago, I convinced Valerio to let her come work for me in my home. And she's been here ever since.

"Aurora," I say in reply to her question. "She was calling to lodge a complaint. It's a very hard task, pleasing a princess."

Mona laughs, the sound melodious and warm. Her chocolate-brown eyes rest on mine as she speaks.

"You do everything to make sure she's happy, okay?" she asks.

Apart from the orphans in Valerio's compound, Mona was also instrumental in raising the Maranzano princesses. Aurora's not really her favorite at the moment though, considering she did disappear for a decade. I'm not sure Aurora has any idea just how many people she pissed off with that decision.

I'm not one of them, though. Pissed off would be an understatement for how I felt when I suddenly woke up one day to find her gone. Without a fucking word.

"Might be a little hard considering she hates my guts, and the only thing that would make her happy is being far away from me," I say, my tone bitter.

Mona's expression turns sympathetic. She places a warm hand on top of my palm comfortingly.

"I have no doubt that the two of you will work out your issues, Nicolas."

"Doubtful, Mona. But your optimism is certainly refreshing."

"Someone has to provide some to counter your constant grumpiness," she teases, drawing a smile from me.

"Are you ready for the move?" I ask her.

Aurora's not the only one that has to leave her home. I've lived in this place for five years with my men. It's served as the base of my operations. But since I'll be taking over my position as Don soon, the house isn't going to work out anymore. While the three-story home has served me perfectly over the past few years, it's too small to cater to the requirements that'll come with my new position. The Maranzano compound is much bigger and more efficient, and it's the first place that felt like home after my parents' death.

It's where I'm meant to be.

"Of course. Although I do feel a bit weird moving back to the compound after so long away," Mona replies.

"I'm sure you missed it," I tell her with a small smile.

"It'll be good to have all of you boys back there once again," she agrees.

"When I'm Don, I'll make you the head of staff. You'll be in charge," I assure her.

She waves a hand through the air, "That's not necessary, honey. I'll be fine working in any capacity you see fit."

"Yes, but you deserve the position, so I'm giving it to you. You can't refuse a request from the Don."

"How about you wait until you're Don first before making requests?" she retorts.

I chuckle. "All right. When I'm Don, then."

"I'll anticipate that day with bated breath. The day you fulfill your heart's desire and finally get that position, is the day I get to breathe easier. I'll be glad to see you achieve what you've been working so hard for all these years, Nico."

I nod, feeling a tightening in my throat.

Mona notices, of course, but she doesn't comment on it, simply smiling before stepping away from my desk.

"I'll leave you to work. Try and get some sleep, okay?"

She doesn't expect me to reply. She knows very well I'd be lying if I told her I would. She's walking out the door when someone appears in front of her. I arch an eyebrow as Adrian offers her a bright smile.

"Hi, Mona," he greets her.

"Here to cause trouble?" she asks, her voice stern.

"Always," he replies, shooting her a wink.

I roll my eyes as the old woman walks away, muttering under her breath. Adrian walks further into my office unprompted, shutting the door behind him. I arch an eyebrow as he approaches my desk.

"I've been seeing you way too often recently. You must have a lot of time on your hands, Rossi."

"Or maybe I just like to make time for my best friend."

I stare at him blankly. "Who?"

"You wound me, Nico. Of course I'm talking about you," he retorts.

"We're not friends," I say dismissively, picking up a file on my desk.

"One of these days, you're going to admit it and I'll enjoy it immensely when you finally say the words."

"Not fucking likely. What do you want now?"

He takes a seat on the chair in front of me, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What makes you think I want something?"

Because the asshole never shows his face without a good enough reason. Plus, I've come to realize that he always wants something. He's constantly trying to gain something. I'm just not sure what.

"Speak if you want to speak. If not, get out," I state.

"Fine. I want information. Tell me what deal you've got going on with Camila."

I lean back in my seat, amused. "And why the hell would I do that? You don't need to know everything, Rossi. Stay out of my fucking business."

"Au contraire," he drawls, "Information is the most valuable weapon in our world. And I like valuable things a lot."

Of course he does. His family home practically sits on top of heaps of money and other valuable items.

"You'll find out what's going on in due time, Rossi. Stop bothering me."

He's the last person I'd want finding out until I've made adequate preparations. Adrian's family has a rough history with the Bratva. Which is one of the reasons I need to approach all of this cautiously.

"Fine," he says, crossing his arms over his chest. "If you won't tell me that, at least tell me how you plan to deal with Sebastian."

My eyes flick up to his. "Anyone ever tell you that you're annoyingly nosy?"

"Once or twice," he agrees. "Now, tell me the plan."

"The plan is simple. A good old-fashioned threat will do the trick when it comes to Sebastian. He's the least of my problems right now."

"Let me guess. You're going to threaten him with a closely guarded secret of his. It's the only thing that'll work on a man like Sebastian."

The look in his eyes is mischievous and annoying. I let the file in my hand fall on my desk as I observe the brown-haired man sitting across from me.

"You know," I state.

"Of course I know. Information is the same as money, Nico. And I happen to be a very wealthy man."

"If you have such a clear understanding about things, then what are you bothering me for?" I ask, slightly irritated now.

I'm glad he's at least not aware about the situation with Camila and her husband. That's a secret I can't afford to expose until I'm officially Don. It could lead to a lot of problems if too many people find out about it. For now, I have to keep it under wraps, biding my time until I'm in a position where no one in the outfit will be able to hurt me.

"I told you, we're friends," Adrian says, a little more forcefully than is necessary.

My eyes meet his hazel ones. I'm not sure why he cares so much about such a ridiculous concept, but I decide to give him some leeway. After all, he has been a huge help to me over the past couple of weeks.

"All right, friend ," I state. "Any chance I could get you to leave me alone now?"

He smiles before getting to his feet. "Your enthusiasm could use some work, Nico. But we're getting there.

He throws me a little backward wave as he walks out of my office. There's finally peace and quiet, which I've been craving all evening. I pick up the file once again, poring over the information we have on the known members of the Chicago Bratva. It's all Vlad has been able to dig up in the past couple of days, and while it's not a lot, it's a start.

They might want to strong-arm me into making a decision, but that's not how I work. I won't be dancing to their tune until I'm absolutely sure they don't plan to stab me in the back. The one thing I can't stand is betrayal.