Page 118 of Nico (Belles & Mobsters 2)

“Another mistress,” she said, her eyes devastatingly empty. “We were close.”

Jesus Christ. How many women did that man keep?

I swallowed. “Were?”

“Benito killed her yesterday.”

God, this silence was deafening. And the buzzing in my ears refused to ease.

“A-are you sure, Mom? Maybe someone else sent the message to Benito.” I lowered my gaze, ashamed. I was desperately hoping, against all odds, Nico wouldn’t have been so cruel.

“Yes, baby.” Her voice was even. “Nico Morrelli told Benito you are his.”

There was no hiding from the truth. I let a man who betrayed me in the worst way possible into my bed, and my heart. The criminal who was no better than Benito.

My husband.

My deceiver.

My sweet demise.

I couldn’t even find the anger within me. A sour taste in my mouth mixed with sorrow.This hurt, I had to admit.

There goes my hope again.

“Greece is nice this time of year,” Mom whispered so low I wouldn’t have heard it if she wasn’t sitting right next to me.

“Yes, the skies are blue and the seas are stormy,” I responded on auto-pilot, my voice low.

Looking back, I should have known he would have dug it up. After all, he owned Cassidy Tech. He even told me himself when he went after something, he never eased up until he succeeded.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” I croaked. I felt a piece of me die. “I’ll get us out of this.”

It was my turn to care for her.

* * *

I stayedup waiting for Nico, as usual. I didn’t want to change my routine or raise any flags.

He worked late. He and Cassio had to get ready for the ambassador’s event that was coming up. That was perfect, because I had to prepare for my own event.

I sat in one of his one seater sofas, my knees curled up and a book in my lap. I was still on the same page as earlier. It was pointless to try and read today. My mind was too wound up, but it helped to keep my hands from picking my nails apart.

“Hey Cara Mia,” his deep, raspy voice reached me, and I followed its direction. There he was. My beautiful manipulator. I presumed you had to be to survive in the mafia.

My father killed his sister. Nico knew I was Benito’s daughter. It seemed appropriate he would use me in his revenge.Jesus Christ!The words of Nico’s father on our wedding day made complete sense now. I couldn’t even blame Nico for scheming up his revenge plan against Benito. Though I wasn’t sure that Benito was the one suffering now.

Forcing a smile on my face, I greeted him. “Hey. Long day at work, huh?”

The look he gave me made me wonder if he saw through my pretense. If he did, he didn’t say it.

“Too long of a day without you and the girls,” he answered, as he strode over to me, lifted me off the seat, then sat himself in it with me onto his lap.

I could almost believe his deceit.

My body warmed at his closeness. To be in his arms… damn, it felt like home. My one hand supported against his shoulder, I reached up to cup his cheek. A stubble felt rough under my palm. Just like this man. Rough, ruthless and… not mine.

“My mom spoke today,” I told him.

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