Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

AURORA

B y the time we arrive in the city, it's like a switch has been flipped inside Nico. Gone is the man who whispered sweet nothings in my ear and made me feel special. Instead, I have a cold, calculating Don by my side.

I can feel the tension as we're driven into the compound. There are several cars parked outside, waiting. Nico already briefly explained what's going on, and I understand how delicate the situation is. He fixes the buttons of his suit jacket before looking up at me, blue eyes shuttered and devoid of emotion.

"Stay close to Danny, okay?" he asks.

I shake my head. "I'll stay close to you."

Nico frowns. "Aurora, things could go wrong fast, and I need to know you're safe."

"Exactly. I'll be safe by your side. Plus, isn't it a good idea to present a united front in there? I am your wife, after all."

His lips curl upward at that, probably because it's the first time I've ever referred to myself as his wife. It's still fake, but after everything that's happened at the beach house, I believe it a little more.

"All right, stay by my side. You are my queen, after all. It's where you belong," he says, a proud glint in his eyes.

I feel a rush at his words, relishing them. Vlad opens the car door, and we step outside.

He and I walk up the steps leading into the house together. We get a better view of the situation once we step inside. Adrian is holding a really fancy-looking dagger and pointing it at Camila's husband's throat, who's on his knees in front of him.

Camila looks angrier than I've ever seen her, rage filling her brown eyes. Her uncle Marco, stands beside her as they watch Lukas and Adrian. Surprisingly, the calmest person in the room right now is Sebastian, who is currently lounging on the couch, watching the interaction with a bored expression.

"What is this?" Nico asks, his tone low and foreboding.

They all look up as their Don enters. Except Adrian, who doesn't stop glaring down at Lukas, the dagger inching closer to his skin. Lukas's lip is busted and there's a bruise forming on the side of his face. I'm actually surprised Adrian was able to land a punch on the intimidating six-foot-four Russian man.

"I'm glad you're here, Nicolas," Camila speaks up. "Adrian is acting like a brute and holding my husband hostage. I want an end to it now."

Nico's eyes simmer with controlled anger.

"Rossi," he barks, finally drawing Adrian's attention. "Explain."

When he speaks, his voice still has that slow, amused drawl hiding within it.

"Welcome back from your honeymoon, Don. I hope you enjoyed it."

Nico's eyes narrow. "Explain yourself," he repeats.

"Oh, you mean this," he says, gesturing at the man on his knees in front of him. "I just came across a member of our organization in a meeting filled with snakes. I had to bring him in for questioning. Maybe kill him."

"You'll do no such thing," Camila snaps.

"I already killed all the snakes in the den," Adrian shrugs. "And he's next."

"You did what?" Nico asks, his voice growing even more menacing.

Camila's the one to reply. "He killed the men from the Bratva."

Nico takes in a calming breath. "Are you trying to start an all-out fucking war?"

"Would be nice," Adrian replies, expression growing darker.

For the first time I realize how truly dangerous he can get. He acts all charming, with smiles at the ready, but really, he's nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Let him go," Nico orders.

"He was in a meeting with our enemies," Adrian grits out.

"Yes. A meeting I fucking authorized. Now let him go!"

Considering he can't ignore a command from the Don, Adrian is forced to step away from Lukas. Camila rushes forward to her husband, helping him to his feet. She places a tender hand on his jaw. Then she's looking back at Nico.

"He has to answer for what he did," he says angrily.

"No," Nico replies easily. "Adrian reacted appropriately given what he knows and the position he's in."

"He killed some important men today," Camila retorts.

"We'll figure out how to make amends. Take your husband and go, Camila. Now."

She huffs out a breath, and after one last look at her uncle, who is standing still, she walks away.

"What the hell is going on here?" Adrian asks as soon as he's gone. "You let that traitor walk? And what do you mean by you authorized the meeting?"

"Calm down, Adrian," Nico tells him.

"We would all like to know what is happening, Ramirez," Sebastian finally speaks up. "You knew there was a traitor in our midst, and it would appear you've been cavorting with him."

Cavorting's a strong word. Nico's expression doesn't betray his displeasure, however.

"I'm working on an alliance with the Bratva, and Lukas is going to help with that," he states.

"Like hell he is," Adrian snarls.

Nico fixes him with a hard look. "Why don't you take a walk to calm down? Return in ten minutes and we'll convene a meeting of the table to discuss this."

Adrian's jaw is clenched but he does manage a small nod before walking away, heading inside the house. I place a hand on Nico's arm.

"I'll go after him," I state.

He looks like he's about to tell me not to, but I offer him a small smile.

"It'll be fine. I just want to talk to him, Nico."

Plus, Adrian would never hurt me.

"Fine, go," he says with a sigh.

I walk in the direction Adrian did, and find him in one of the smaller living rooms, balancing his dagger on a finger. He arches an eyebrow as I walk in.

"Why hello there, Mrs. Ramirez," he greets me, smiling without teeth. "You look radiant. I take it the honeymoon went well."

I perch on the edge of the desk in the room. "Actually, yes, it did."

"That's good. I'm happy for you. Unfortunately, your fake husband and I are about to have a lot of problems."

My eyes widen. How does he know our marriage is fake?

"Oh, you don't have to look so surprised, Aurora. I make it my business to know everything. Don't worry, I couldn't give a fuck about your weird relationship with Nicolas. Especially not right now."

"Why are you so angry?" I ask.

Nico didn't give me the details. He just said Adrian's family has always had a problem with the Russian mafia.

"Why am I so angry?" he muses. "It has to do with the fact that someone in the fucking Bratva was responsible for my mother's murder, and ‘til today, I had no idea who they are or why they did so. The entire organization is protecting those responsible. Which means they get to bear the full brunt of my ire together. And now what? Nicolas wants to form an alliance with them? I can assure you that's not going to happen."

"I'm sorry about your mother, Adrian," I say sympathetically.

I don't remember much because we were so young, but I know Adrian's mother died a few years after mine. I didn't realize she'd been murdered.

"I don't need apologies. I want justice," he grits out.

"You can still get it," I assure him. "Look, one thing about Nico is that no matter what, he always has a plan. And I'm sure he took into account what happened to you when he decided to work towards an alliance with the Bratva."

"Meaning what?"

"Instead of getting angry, negotiate with him. Tell Nico you want your mother's murderer brought to justice."

"I doubt he'll be willing to accede to that after my actions today," Adrian points out.

"Yeah, you might have jumped the gun on that one," I admit. "So just bide your time. Say yes to whatever the Don is planning, and then later, when the air is clearer, and things aren't as chaotic, you can strike. You've waited a long time for your revenge, Adrian. You can wait a while longer."

He smiles once I'm done talking. It's a genuine one I think.

"I'm impressed, Aurora. I can finally see why he wanted you at his side. You're good at this."

The compliment doesn't fill me with any form of happiness. I don't want to be good at this. It shouldn't be who I am. Adrian finally sheathes his knife, sliding it into an old-looking scabbard.

"That's a cool dagger," I find myself saying.

"It's one part of a set," he murmurs. "A family heirloom. My favorite weapon for murder."

"Oh, how charming," I say dryly.

He grins. "Come on, princess. Let's go back to your husband before he sends the guards after you."

When we return the air in the house is calmer. Nico and the other men already moved into the room where table meetings occur. After one last smile directed at me, Adrian heads over there as well. I would have liked to be present, but wives have no place there. And I think it's in my best interests to be as far away from all that as possible.

One of the maids in the house approaches me once I'm left alone.

"Welcome back, Mrs. Ramirez," she says.

I have to fight very hard not to frown at the name. At this point, even I am unsure what my last name is. I was born with the name Maranzano, but when my sister and I left, we changed it to Kent for anonymity and now everyone knows me as Aurora Ramirez.

It's a wonder I have any sense of identity. All this change is bound to give me whiplash.

"Hi, Corinne," I greet the brown-haired woman. She's been a great at helping me get situated since I started living at the compound again. "How are you?"

"Very well, ma'am. I wanted to ask if you would like us to move your things into the Don's room, or if you'd like them to stay in your room."

I hesitate before replying. When I moved back here, I immediately chose my childhood bedroom because it was, and still is, the most comfortable room in the house. It's the place I feel most at ease. But now that Nico and I are in a good place, I don't want to be separated from him. It's how distance grows between couples.

I wish we'd spoken about it. No one would care that much if we used separate bedrooms, despite us being a married couple. But I feel like it's a conversation we should have together as far as whether we'd like to share the same space.

"She will be staying in the same room as the Don, of course," someone answers for me in a clear voice.

I turn around and gasp at the sight of the older woman with graying black hair and a stern expression in her brown eyes.

"Oh my God, Mona!" I scream before rushing forward and wrapping my arms around her.

I'm starting to realize I left a lot of people that I cared about when I decided to leave with my sister. Mona's one of those people. I missed her so much.

"I was starting to think you were staying away on purpose. Nico told me you were around here somewhere, but you didn't come and see me," I state, pulling back to look at her.

She offers me a warm smile. "You've grown up so much, Aurora."

"You grew up too. Look at your hair," I say softly, reaching up to touch the gray strands.

She slaps my hand away, and I pout, rubbing the area.

"Boundaries, child. I see that still hasn't changed," Mona notes.

I grin. "Only with you."

"How is your sister?"

"Lucia's fine. She's away right now, but I know she'd love to see you."

Mona nods. "I hope you took care of her. After all, you did take her away from us all without a word."

The bitterness in her tone is impossible to ignore. Mona was like a mother to most of the kids who lived at the compound growing up, including my sister and me.

"I'm sorry, Mona," I say softly.

She huffs. "It's all right. I'm just glad the both of you are okay."

"It's really good to see you."

Mona turns to Corinne, who is still standing around waiting for her orders.

"You can move all of Mrs. Ramirez's stuff into the Don's bedroom."

"Mona," I protest, a little annoyed she's making the decision for me.

But I'm also a little glad. When Nico asks why I moved into his space without asking me, I can just say she was responsible. He always did have a soft spot for Mona.

"I will not have you and your husband staying apart, young lady. It's not proper," Mona says sternly.

Oh well, that's was that then.

"All right, fine. Do it," I say to Corinne. The maid nods once and then leaves to get things ready.

Meanwhile, I wrap my arm around Mona's, leading her toward one of the sofas.

"You have to tell me everything that's happened while I was gone, Mona. What was it like taking care of all the boys on your own?"

I spend the rest of the day talking to Mona. Nico's meeting runs late, and I don't see him until later that night when he comes into the bedroom. He doesn't blink at the sight of me seated in the middle of his bed with a book in my lap. I had been reading before he walked in.

"Hey, baby," he greets me easily.

I arch an eyebrow. "I've been moved in," I decide to inform him, pointing at the opened closet, which has been filled with my things.

Nico looks in that direction and nods like that's perfectly normal before looking back at me.

"What do you mean moved in?"

"Mona forced me into it," I state. "I wasn't sure if you wanted me here."

He smiles, taking off his jacket before coming to sit beside me on the bed. He places an arm around my shoulder and strokes it once, twice.

"Mona made the right call. Your place is here, Aurora. Right by my side."

I let out a soft breath. Maybe if I hear that enough times, I'll finally start to believe it.