Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

AURORA

I plan to turn over a new leaf. And in pursuance of that goal, I decide that I'll answer Sabrina honestly and tell her everything she needs to know today. I'm waiting for her in the lobby of one of the hotels in my company's neighborhood. We're regulars at the lounge in here, so it was the best place for us to meet up.

As soon as Sabrina appears, I can't help the smile that breaks out on my face. She's wearing a green sundress that hugs her waist and has a slit running up the side. Her red hair is in light waves and there are black sunglasses on top of her head. She looks amazing. I watch as she takes slow steps toward me. I'm unable to gauge her expression because her face is blank.

"I know you're still pissed, but I haven't seen you in more than a month, so I'm going to hug you, okay?" I say before pulling her into my arms.

She sighs softly before hugging me back. "I missed you too, Aurora."

"Okay, that's promising," I state, relieved. "Come on, let's go."

I lead her into the lounge, a little upset about her blasé attitude but confident that I'll penetrate it soon enough. We take our seats, and I order us cocktails. Once I'm done speaking to the waiter, I turn to look at my best friend.

"You're going to have to talk to me, Sab. You can yell at me if you want. I'll apologize, explain, and then we'll hug it out and cry over ice cream at your apartment."

She rolls her eyes. "At least you still have your spark. And you're not dead yet."

I smile. "Did you think I was going to die?"

"Well, yeah, you told me you were part of an organized crime syndicate," she says, lowering her voice. "Of course I thought you were in some danger."

"I guess I technically was. But it's okay now. I'm safe, Sab."

"Are you sure? Because I know people, Rory. I have a friend who's a cop, and she's pretty cool. I guarantee she can help you if you need it."

"Trust me, Sab. There's nothing one cop is going to be able to do when faced with the might of the Cosa Nostra. I promise, I'm safe."

"Aurora, you have a bodyguard," she points out, gesturing at Danny, who's found a place to sit in the lounge while still keeping an eye on me.

"Okay, maybe not safe," I amend. "I'm the Don's wife. I need protection."

Sabrina's green eyes widen. And she practically chokes out her next words.

"You're what?"

Oh shit. I meant to ease her into the information.

"Okay, just relax, breathe. I can explain," I say slowly.

"Holy shit!" Sabrina exclaims. "That's why you were wearing that ring on your finger? It's the same one I saw that night. You know I really wanted to ask, but I was so upset with you that I decided to let it go. What the hell, Aurora? You're married? To who?"

I exhale a soft breath. "Nicolas Ramirez," I tell her.

Her expression turns confused. "Nicolas Ramirez? As in that intense guy who showed up at your apartment? The one you apparently don't like, who you called an asshole?"

"Yeah," I mumble.

"Okay, you need to start making sense. And fast."

"It's not a real marriage. We made a deal. It's all extremely complicated, Sab," I tell her.

Our cocktails arrive at that moment, and she thanks the waiter, grabbing hers once it's on the table.

"Don't worry, as long as you keep the drinks coming, I'll listen to anything you have to say," she assures me, taking a sip of her drink. "Now go on."

I huff out a breath before trying to explain exactly how Nico and I ended up married.

"Damn. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but it kind of sounds like this guy forced you into a marriage."

"No," I'm quick to protest. "Like I said, Sab, we made a deal. I would marry him, and he would guarantee my freedom. I know it's hard to believe, but that's the way things are in the outfit. Marriages are alliances meant to strengthen one's position."

Sabrina nods. "Yeah, I get it. If it wasn't for the crime aspect, you'd be like normal rich people. Instead, you're rich people who engage in marriage contracts in order to successfully get enough power to rule over a crime organization. Is that right?"

"Basically."

"So your ‘husband'," she says, putting air quotes around the word, "he's Don now?"

"Yes. Nico's in charge of the entire outfit."

"And in four months, you'll fake divorce him and it'll all be over?"

A soft groan escapes me in response to that question. Sabrina smirks like she has me all figured out.

"Let me guess, you have feelings for your ‘fake husband'," she states.

"How do you know that?"

"Because you, my friend, are the most cliché kind of cliché to ever walk this earth," she says with a smile. "Don't worry though, I get you. The man looks like a Greek God. How's the sex?"

My eyes narrow. "Really? That's what you're choosing to focus on?"

"Aurora, your entire story is blowing my mind. I'm being hit with new information left and right, so yes, I will be focusing on the part that makes the most sense to me. You being attracted to him. I could tell when I saw you both that day. The tension was palpable!"

"That's because we were fighting," I mutter.

"Not really. I saw the way he looked at you. That man stared at you like he was going to devour you. I'm guessing he has," she says suggestively.

My cheeks heat as memories from yesterday rise up unbidden in my mind. I rub my palms over my face.

"Seriously, Sabrina. You're not helping!"

She laughs. "Okay, fine. You'll give me the details later. I have serious questions now," she says, leaning forward in her seat and clasping her hands together. "When did all of this start? You said the two of you have history? How did you meet?"

"Yeah, we've known each other since I was twelve. Nico was fourteen when we met. And we sort of grew up together. He was an orphan my father took in, and he was basically groomed to be a part of the outfit."

I tell her all about the first time we met and the circumstances that led to Nico coming to live in the compound.

"That sounds awful," Sabrina says softly. "So you saved his life?"

"Yes, and after that, we just grew closer. He was sort of my best friend growing up," I admit.

"Okay, and when did the feelings start to make themselves known?"

"I started liking him when I was maybe fifteen or sixteen. And according to Nico, he started liking me around the same time as well. We just never got around to confessing our feelings until years later."

Sabrina nods in understanding. "After you confessed your feelings, then what happened? Did you guys date?"

I shake my head. "Not really. It wasn't that simple. Nico was one of my father's capos. And at the time, he was barely tolerating our close relationship. You know how fathers are—protective. In the outfit though, it's multiplied times a hundred. If we ever got together, my father could have killed him."

"Oh, I see. So it was like a forbidden love type of situation?"

I laugh. "Yeah. I hated it, though. I turned eighteen, and I still liked Nico, so I decided to do something about it. I confronted him, and we...umm…hooked up one night."

"Hooked up like, had sex? If that's a yes, then you lied to me about something else. You said Charlie was the first guy you ever slept with," she says accusingly.

"I didn't lie," I state. "Charlie was the first guy I ever had sex with. And lower your voice. I don't want Danny hearing us. Anything he hears will most likely get back to Nico."

"Sorry," Sabrina whispers. "So, in what category are we slotting this hook-up?"

"We almost had sex but didn't get far enough. Something happened that night. And after it happened, everything changed."

"What happened?"

My chest tightens. "Sab, I really want to tell you everything, but in this one instance, can I just keep it to myself? I promise I'll find the strength to say it one day, but right now, it hurts too much and I don't think I can."

Her green eyes soften, and she nods. "That's all right, darling. You don't have to say it if you're not comfortable."

And that is why I love her so much. She's the most understanding person I've ever met.

"I can't believe you stayed away for so long," I say suddenly.

Because I realize how much I've needed her in the past few weeks. And I hate that she wasn't there.

"I'm sorry, Rory. I just needed to get my bearings. And I didn't want to see you again while I was still angry. Just in case I said anything I'd regret."

"I understand. But you're here now?" I ask, reaching for her hand. She slips her hand itno mine and smiles.

"Of course. You're never getting rid of me again."

"Thank God," I say, releasing a soft breath. "Now, your turn. I think we've gotten through what's been going on with me."

"Okay, I have news, too," she says excitedly. "But first, let's recap your stuff. You have a fake husband, who you have feelings for, but it's complicated, and your relationship has a timer that runs out in four months?"

"You summarized that perfectly," I murmur.

"What happens after the four months are up?"

I take a huge sip of my drink, feeling an ache in my chest.

"I wish I had an answer to that, Sab. Just tell me your news," I prompt, curious to know what's causing the rosiness in her cheeks.

"Okay, I'm…" she pauses for dramatic effect, "married too!"

I nearly spit out the drink in my mouth. "What?"

Sabrina breaks out in laughter, clutching her stomach. "Relax, I'm messing with you. At least now you know how I feel with all your revelations."

I clutch my racing heart. "Don't do that to me, Sab."

She giggles. "But seriously though, my big news is that I'm dating someone."

"Really? Who?"

Sabrina dates even less than me, and I don't date at all. She has a hard time trusting people, so anyone who manages to capture her heart should consider themselves a very lucky man. She's a romantic at heart, but when it comes to dating, countless situations have made her less than trusting.

"You don't know him. I met him a week after our fight, actually. I was in a bar, and he was kind enough to listen to me trash-talk you."

"Glad I could help," I say dryly.

Sabrina grins. "Anyway, he's a really good guy. At first, I didn't think he was my type. You know I have a problem, and I'm only ever attracted to the bad guys."

"Ditto," I say with a sigh.

"But Ben's not like that. He's genuinely kind and attentive and sweet."

"Ah, so he's the opposite of your type," I note with a smile. "He makes you happy?"

"Yes, he does. We've been taking things slow the past few weeks, but I care about him."

"I'm glad. And I can't wait to meet him."

"Oh, I know. We should go on a double date."

I try to imagine Nico seated at a table for four and trying to make conversation with a guy he barely knows. The image is so ludicrous that I let out a snort. But I'd pay good money to see that, so I nod in agreement.

"I think that's a great idea, Sab. Just don't be mad at me when Nicolas intimidates poor Benjamin," I tell her.

She smiles. "I'd like to see him try."

"Oh, you sweet summer child."

She has no idea what he's capable of.

I return to the compound later that evening, feeling a little tipsy. Sabrina wasn't kidding about keeping the supply of cocktails coming. We blitzed through a couple of glasses, but my alcohol tolerance is nowhere near her level.

As soon as the car comes to a stop, Danny steps around to open the door for me. It's not necessary, and I've told him several times to stop, but he's not a very good listener.

"Thank you," I say to him.

"Sure thing, boss lady," he replies. "Good night."

He offers me one last charming smile before walking off in the direction of the smaller houses in the compound. He never listens to me, but he's good company. Nico made the right choice picking him to be my bodyguard.

When I step into the house, Corinne approaches me.

"Welcome back, Mrs. Ramirez."

"Hey, what's up?" I ask her.

"The Don has requested your presence in the private cinema upstairs, ma'am," she informs me.

I arch an eyebrow. "Nico's asking me to come up to the cinema? That's…weird. He doesn't even watch movies."

Corinne shrugs. "He asked me to send you up as you arrived, ma'am."

"Okay," I say with a nod. "I'll go up. Thank you, Corinne."

The private cinema in the mansion is a recent addition. I'm not sure how recent, but it certainly wasn't there ten years ago. I was surprised when one of the maids told me about its existence a while ago. Apparently, Valerio got bored and made some renovations to the mansion before he died.

This house is entirely too big with way too many empty rooms. It's no wonder he got bored and decided to change things. But he also surrounded himself with enough people that it doesn't ever feel that lonely. I climb a flight of stairs to the third floor.

But when I reach the landing, I pause. The hallway stretches out before me, bathed in soft, golden light. There are alcoves along the walls, each housing some sort of statue or an intricate vase. I take in a shaky breath as I realize my art studio is also on this floor. I can't believe I forgot. I wonder if my things are still there. I find myself torn between wishing they were and wanting more than anything for someone to have gotten rid of them all.

I consider going back, but Nico's waiting for me. So, I continue down the hallway. My heart skips a beat as I pass the door and then my steps come to a stop. It's just a normal black door. But it holds the key to my past, to who I used to be before everything.

My breathing turns erratic as I just stand there. A part of me wants to open the door. My hand reaches toward the knob. It would be so easy to turn it. To enter, to be back there again. I remember the last time I was in front of an easel. The last time I attempted to paint or draw something personal.

But it didn't work because all I could hear was the silence. All I could see was a body falling to the ground.

My hands shake and my heart starts to race even faster.

"Breathe, Aurora. It's just a door," I whisper to myself.

Eventually, I start to relax. I close my eyes and count to ten and the nerves fall subside. Maybe one day I'll finally find the strength to go through that door, but it won't be today.