Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

AURORA

T he farther we get away from the city, the more at ease and relaxed I feel. Nico and I are alone in the car. He's driving. I'm a happy passenger princess, enjoying the breeze on my face and the clean air. I'm definitely not going to admit this to him, but this was actually a pretty good idea.

My favorite place to be is at the beach, but in the past ten years I haven't had the opportunity to visit, mostly because I've been busy with one thing or the other. Nico would not have been my first choice for a companion, but he'll have to do. This is my first vacation in a while, and I'm not about to let anything ruin it.

"Hey, isn't that the store where Lucia got that nosebleed and was so sure she had a concussion?" Nico asks, pointing out the window as we drive down a street in town.

I look toward him, smiling at the memory.

"Lucia can be so extra sometimes," I say shaking my head, my thoughts trailing to the last time I saw her.

I miss my sister. It's been a couple of months since we saw each other. She's always trying so hard to be independent, which is why she moved to New York on her own. According to her, she wanted me to be able to live a life without her constantly being a burden. Which is ridiculous because to me she's anything but a burden.

"Does she know about the wedding?"

I sigh. "No, she doesn't. She would freak out if she knew."

Nico nods at that. "You do realize she can come back. I was never going to hurt her. I'd die before I let anything happen to either of you," he says sincerely.

And I believe it. Nico might be a complete ass, but he's still the same man I knew ten years ago. The one who would have done anything to protect us. Except in that one instance where things were out of his control. I had to step up to protect us then, and I hated it so much.

That's another thing that pisses me off when I think back to the past. How dependent on him I was. Nico likes to talk about how strong and brave I am, but I only became like that after I left him.

"I know, but I think she likes it in Sao Paulo. Plus, she deserves the break."

He hums in reply.

"I'm surprised Vlad didn't put up much of a fight about us coming here alone," I state.

"Oh, he did," Nico mutters. "Which is why he and a few other guards are currently staying at a hotel in town."

"Seriously?" I ask, laughing.

Of course Nico's shadow refused to leave him alone. Vlad's loyalty to him is actually adorable. I know it's not unfounded—they've saved each other's lives so many times.

"Yeah, he said, and I quote, ‘being in your position means you're always open to attacks. You can't afford to be vulnerable'," Nico tells me, voice deeper in what I assume is an impersonation of Vlad.

"He's right, though," I say with a grin.

"I know, which is why I didn't put up much of a fight about him and the guys coming along. As long as they stay out of sight, it'll be fine."

"But they could always stay with us at the beach house," I protest. "It's big enough."

Too big in my opinion. When we would go there during summers, it would be my sister and I, and our guards, who were basically our friends. Camila and even Adrian came with us a couple of times.

Plus, I'm a little nervous about spending so much time alone with Nico. Who knows what he's planning? I don't like how hard it is to read him and his motivations.

"No," Nico replies immediately. "The next few days are for us, sweetheart."

I ignore the butterflies that swirl through my stomach at that. I am so screwed.

I've done a good job of pretending away any feelings I might have for him all this while. But my armor is only so strong. And Nico knows that. I inwardly sigh before looking away to focus on the side of the road, the familiar places we are driving past.

Soon enough, we pull up to the beach house, a luxurious, three-story mansion with pristine white paint and expansive glass windows that overlook the ocean. It sits majestically at the edge of the sandy dunes, with a grand wraparound porch that boasts elegant outdoor furniture and a stone fireplace that is perfect for cool evenings. The air is filled with the salty tang of the ocean, and I can hear the distant crash of waves.

Stepping out of the car, I take a deep breath, letting the scent of the sea fill my lungs. "It's even more beautiful than I remembered."

Nico comes around to my side, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it is."

Inside, the décor of the house is a perfect blend of modern elegance and coastal charm. The open concept living area features plush sofas, intricate rugs, and a marble fireplace. The floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, offering uninterrupted views of the ocean.

Staring at it makes me think of the beach not too far from us. My lips pull up in a small smile.

"Race you to the beach?" I ask Nico, who's standing beside me.

He arches an eyebrow. "We both know I'll beat you, Aurora."

"That's cocky and wrong," I say confidently.

He might have longer legs and more bulk, but I'm pretty fast. I make a point of going for a run in the mornings when I can. I also really hate losing.

Nico smirks, taking off his jacket. "Okay, sweetheart. Let's do it. If I win, you'll grant me a wish."

"Fine. The same goes for me when I win. On three?"

He nods, flexing his muscles.

"One," I count, my adrenaline spiking. We used to race a lot when we were little. I've never beaten him before, "Two."

I don't call three before I'm racing through the house and heading out the backdoor. An easy laugh escapes me as I hear Nico curse behind me before he starts to run as well. We take off down the private boardwalk, feet pounding against the wood. Just when I think I might actually get there before him, I feel him rush past me.

"No!" I yell when Nico overtakes me, reaching the shore before I do.

A vast expanse of golden sand meets the endless blue of the ocean. The waves roll in gently, their rhythmic sound soothing and hypnotic. Seagulls call out overhead, and a gentle breeze ruffles my hair, carrying with it the promise of relaxation and renewal.

I can't even find it in me to be upset, not when something so beautiful stretches out in front of me. Breathing heavily, I stare at the sea and the setting sun on the horizon.

"Cheater," Nico says, a playful glint in his blue eyes.

I shrug. "You still beat me. I guess I owe you a wish," I say grumpily. ‘What do you want?"

"I just want us to try to enjoy the next few days, mi vida ," he tells me, blue eyes meeting mine. "You think we can do that?"

My lips pull into a smile. "Yeah, I'd like that."

I kick off my shoes, letting my toes sink into the soft sand. "I love it here," I say, more to myself than to him.

"Why do you like the sea so much?" he asks.

I consider the question for a moment before replying. "Because it's this vast, open limitless amount of water, unrestrained and strong. And it's really beautiful."

"So are you, mi vida ," Nico says softly.

His eyes are already on me. There's a softness there, an openness that I haven't seen in a while. For a moment, we stand in silence, the ocean's symphony filling the space between us. It's peaceful, almost surreal, and I can feel the tension of the past months start to melt away.

"You did what?" Lucia screeches in my ear.

It's the next day of our "honeymoon". Nico's outside the house, standing on the patio and having a conversation with someone over the phone. We've actually been getting along okay. We haven't spoken much, but after our moment at the beach, things have seemed easier. Like it helped us to remember exactly where we came from and what we used to be to each other. We were out there for a while, sitting in silence on the beach and watching the sunset. I would have stayed there for longer, but Nico insisted that it was getting late and we'd had a long day. We ordered some food for dinner, ate, and then we went to bed.

It's hard to believe that just yesterday I was getting married to him in a church. It was fake, but the reality of it is impossible to ignore. To so many people outside this little bubble I've built around myself, I'm his wife now. I thought I would hate it. But I find I don't mind as much as I thought I would.

Maybe because it's not real.

When I woke up this morning, I decided to call my sister and finally deliver the news. It's safe to say she's not taking this well.

"I got married to Nico," I repeat, intentionally leaving out that it's fake. She's already shocked. I can't explain all of our machinations to her right now.

"Please tell me that's a joke. I'm about to be sick. Aurora. You've done a lot of insane things, but doing something like this without informing me, is next-level, batshit crazy. How could you get married before telling me?"

I smile. "Would you calm down? It's not really like that."

"So what's it like?" she retorts.

I take the time to explain the specifics of the whole thing, finally letting her understand that it's all just a fake arrangement.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Lucia questions once I'm done.

"Well, yes. In four months, this will be over, and things will go back to normal."

"I would be inclined to believe you if the man you fake-married was anyone other than Nico."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I mutter.

"You know, sorella , I love you, but you have a tendency to get delusional when it comes to things like this. Let's assess the situation, okay?" she starts. "Number one, Nico isn't just some stranger you met on the street. He's a man you grew up with, the first man you ever really had feelings for, and the only one who's ever successfully broken your heart."

I grit my teeth. "That's beside the point."

"Number two," my sister continues, ignoring me, "he's also apparently the Don of an organization filled with men who consider their women to be their possessions. I know Nico's not like that, but there's no denying how protective he gets over what he considers to be his. Ergo, you, in this situation."

"I'm not his," I protest, even though he's said so himself to me. Multiple times.

My heart starts to race in my chest.

"And finally, number three, you two got married in front of every single member of the Cosa Nostra. All the people of consequence in the outfit watched the two of you tie the knot, in a church of all places. Do you really think letting them see all that, that their supposed leader is going to turn around in four months and be like, ‘oh about my marriage, it was actually fake and not legally binding, oops'. Come on, Rory, there's no way in hell that's going to happen. You just got played. Nico set a trap, and you fell right into it. He was never going to let you go."

My mind whirs as I consider everything my sister has just said. Because she might actually be right, and I've been too stupid to see what was happening right in front of me. Nico walks into the house then, and my eyes meet his immediately. He comes to a stop once he takes in the look on my face.

"What's wrong?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I take in a few calming breaths as I think of what to say to him.

"Give him the phone. I want to speak to him," Lucia suddenly says in my ear.

It's a testament to the torrent of emotions running through me that I don't argue or refuse. After expelling a harsh breath, I thrust the phone toward Nico before taking a seat on the couch.

He shoots me one last confused look, before placing the phone on his ear.

"Hey, Luce."