Nico

They had spent a few extra days back in his hometown at Toni's insistence. They stayed at a local hotel, even though she wanted to stay at his parents' house. Toni had called his mother and set up a lunch for the four of them to sit down and discuss things like rational adults, or at least that was how she put it. Nico hated the idea of having to deal with his dad again so soon after storming out of his house like a complete child, but when it came to his father, Nico didn't think rationally. His mother usually chalked it up to the both of them being cut from the same cloth, as she liked to put it, but he wasn't so sure. His father was hard-headed and when he set his mind to something, he became an immovable force. Although, when he tried to explain all of that to Toni, she just giggled and nodded, much as his mother usually did.

He agreed to go back home to appease Toni and to announce they were engaged. He owed his mother at least that courtesy, but facing his father again wasn't something he was looking forward to. Toni promised to make this little side trip worth his time and effort, and God, he was hoping she meant what he thought she did. His little vixen hadn't let him out of bed in days. After she announced she was in love with him, they couldn't seem to get enough of each other. Each day pieces of her memory were coming back, and he reveled in every little funny story she remembered from their past year. His Toni was coming back piece by piece and he felt like the luckiest man on earth.

When the afternoon came to sit down with his parents, he was nervous as hell. He wasn't quite sure why that was, but he knew it had to have something to do with his sexy-as-sin future bride sitting across the table from him looking so hopeful about the outcome of the lunch. Toni and his mother planned every last detail, including his and his father's favorite meals, prepared especially for them. The women in his life were devious planners and both were up to no good.

"Toni and I wanted you two to give this one last try," his mother said. It was an order disguised as a request and Nico couldn't help his smile. "If you decide you both just can't settle your differences, we will part ways and you won't have to see each other again." His mother nodded, seeming satisfied with her speech, but he didn't miss the sadness in both her and Toni's eyes. They had everything riding on this lunch and the least he could do was try to put his best foot forward. Plus, the thought of never seeing his father again made his heartache. He might not always see his father's side of things, but he wanted a relationship with him.

"I'm willing to try, Dad," Nico stuttered. Toni gifted him with her gorgeous smile, and he felt immediately at ease.

His dad sighed, and for just a minute Nico thought he was going to get up and leave. Instead, he stood and crossed over to where Nico sat. Nico slowly stood, not knowing quite what to expect from his dad. His father pulled him into his arms and hugged him close. Nico exhaled.

"I want to try too, son," his father whispered. They patted each other's backs and returned to their seats. Toni and his mom were smiling as though they had won a major victory, and who knew, maybe they just had.

"Wait, that's it?" Toni asked. She looked confused and Nico chuckled. His girl was thinking he and his father were going to have a long, drawn-out chat about feelings and crap, but it just wasn't their way. Hell, she should be thrilled with the man hug they shared, that was a giant leap forward in their relationship, but he wouldn't tell Toni that, not yet at least.

His mother patted Toni's hand as if trying to soothe her. "Actually, dear, that was quite a lot of sharing for them. They'll be just fine," she assured. Toni looked around the small round table as if his family and he had just lost their ever-loving minds, and they all laughed.

"You are one messed up bunch of people," she whispered, causing them all to laugh harder. Nico stood and crossed to where Toni sat, pulling her up from her seat, and into his arms.

"Thank you for this, baby, all of it. I would have never had a chance to admit I acted poorly the last time I saw my father or that I want him in my life." Toni looked between Nico and his father and sighed. His dad had started eating salad as if Nico hadn't just spilled his guts about his feelings, and poor Toni just didn't seem to get the way things worked between them.

"Then why are you telling me all of this and not your dad?" She pointed to where his father sat, still eating his salad, and Nico shrugged.

"He heard me," Nico dramatically whispered.

His father looked up from his almost finished salad and nodded. "I heard him," he confirmed. Toni made an adorable, frustrated growl that Nico muffled with his mouth, covering hers. He broke their kiss and took her hand into his, turning them both to face his parents.

"Toni and I have an announcement to make," he said. His mother clapped her hands and smiled at the two of them as if she knew exactly what was about to happen. Hell, his father even put his fork down to listen to their news. "We're getting married. Toni has agreed to be my wife." His mother stood and pulled them into a hug that felt more like a physical attack. She was bouncing all around and pulling them along with her. His father stood and shook Nico's hand and hugged Toni, welcoming her into their crazy family.

All in all, his announcement couldn't have gone better, and he counted himself lucky that Toni didn't run for the hills after they all laughed at her earlier. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking about the wedding and Toni promised his mom she could help plan it. His parents promised to visit them down on the Isle of Palms and he and Toni promised to visit Boston more. Nico left the meeting even more in love with Toni and he didn't think that was even a possibility.

The next day, Toni stood half-naked in the middle of their hotel room and announced she was ready to go home, and Nico told her it was an awful idea. He spent the next two hours trying to scientifically prove to her why it was a fucking awful idea, but Toni refused to listen to reason.

"I have a plan," she exclaimed.

"I don't care what the plan is, I don't like it," Nico grumbled back at her. She hadn't shared her plan with him yet, but Nico hated the fucking plan. He could honestly say he didn't like one blasted part of it. It was a horrible plan, full of holes, that would probably end up getting them both killed.

"How can you say that to me when you haven't even heard my plan yet, Nico?" He sighed, knowing this screaming match wasn't going to get them anywhere.

"Fine, let's hear this fantastic plan. That way I can tell you no and we can continue with my original plan, which is to keep you as far away from that fucking lunatic as possible." There was no way he was letting Toni anywhere near Zac ever again. He and Jace were in constant contact, and the local authorities were working on every lead they could dig up on Zac. It was only a question of time before he fucked up or did something that would land him behind bars. They just needed to be patient and wait him out.

From the determined look on Toni's face, she wasn't about to sit patiently by and wait for Zac to fuck up. Toni was a take-charge kind of person, something Nico always admired about her, but now that side of her scared the shit out of him. It was time Toni accepted just how dangerous Zac was, and if Nico had to scare her into steering clear of danger, he would.

"Well," she said, "my plan is simple. You drive me back to the island and I take back my father's company." Toni smiled up at him and he crossed the small hotel room to sit next to her on the bed. He didn't want to tell her she was crazy for wanting to go back to the island, but she was. Nico was going to have to find a kinder way of telling Toni no, though.

"Honey," he started, but Toni held up her hand, stopping his next words.

"I wasn't finished," she calmly added. "After we get back home, I call a press conference to let the entire world know that not only am I alive, but I am also the heir to my father's company and trusts, as his only living blood relative."

"No," Nico barked. "Not going to happen, honey. We won't announce to the entire world that you are alive and well. And publicly challenging Zac for control of the company is a horrible idea." Toni climbed onto Nico, straddling his lap. She pushed him back against the mattress and as far as distractions went, it was a good one. Nico needed to keep his wits about him and remember he was trying to prove a point, although at the moment, he couldn't remember what that point was.

"Honey," he warned as she kissed her way down his naked chest. He should have told her to stop, but he liked the way this whole argument was heading.

"Nico." She smiled up at him, licking her hot little tongue over his nipple.

"Don't play with me, Toni. This is serious," he growled. He watched as she worked her way down his body in just her lacy bra and panties, holding his breath as she dipped her hands down into his boxer briefs. Toni found his cock hard and ready and smiled up at him as if she had just found his secret.

"Ton—" he hissed, just as she sucked his shaft into her mouth, effectively stopping the rest of his coherent thoughts and the ability to make words. Toni sucked him in and out of her mouth, taking him to the edge and he knew that if he didn't take back control, he would agree to just about anything she wanted. Nico pulled her up from his cock as she tried to hold onto him, licking and sucking her way up his shaft. He finally popped free from her mouth, and she groaned. He chuckled, although he was pretty sure he felt the exact same way as she did about having to stop her.

"What are you doing, sweetheart?" he asked.

Toni shrugged. "I thought we were negotiating, but I guess I was wrong." She pouted and he was pretty sure it was the cutest thing he had ever seen.

"We can't negotiate with sex every time we have a disagreement," he said. Although, he couldn't believe he was saying those words to her while she was sitting on his lap, so willing and ready. Toni sighed and rolled onto the mattress, and Nico followed her over and covered her body with his own.

She refused to look at him, turning her head to the side and closing her eyes shut tight, like a defiant child. He chuckled against her neck, kissing his way to her mouth. "Toni, look at me," he whispered against her lips. She refused to do as he asked and even gave him a little head shake, just to drive her determination home.

"Please, baby," he begged.

"No, not if you're going to tell me I can't do what I know is right," she grumbled.

"Are we still talking about the blow job here, or have we moved back to the whole wanting to go home thing and putting yourself in danger?" Tony opened her eyes and looked at him, and a part of him wished she hadn't. Her glare told him everything he needed to know. His girl wasn't about to give up on her scheme to bring down Bierman and she would go through him to do it. He wanted to be on her side because there was no way he'd go up against her. Nico would bet on her winning every single time.

"Fine," he conceded. "We can go home." Toni pushed at his body to get off hers and sat up in bed once she was free. She looked about ready to get up and pack their belongings and he knew she wasn't going to like this next part. "We don't leave for a few more days. I need to make sure we're not jumping into a trap or worse. If your father's letter is correct, and Zac did try to kill you, I won't take the chance he won't do it again," Nico growled. He hated thinking that anyone was capable of taking Toni away from him, but the possibility of losing her was made all too real by the threat Zac posed.

Toni looked as if she were working everything out in her head and finally, she agreed to his terms. "All right," she said. "That actually gives me time to get a few things into place." Nico moaned at the thought of Toni having time on her hands to scheme about her next move. Zac Bierman better be on his A-game because judging by the wicked look in Toni's eyes, she was about to rock her ex's world.