Page 46 of Nico (Belles & Mobsters 2)

I couldn’t force a single warm word out of my mouth for either of my parents. The only thing my father respected was greed, money, power, and fear. And let’s not forget his ever-changing mistresses. It was the only reason my old man worshiped me, because I got more power and money than he could have ever imagined. He even overlooked the fact that I pushed him out of every business, legitimate and illegitimate. I would never forgive him for letting Benito King get away with what he had done to Nicoletta. The image of her violated body and dead eyes was seared into my mind.

Since my sister’s brutal death, my mother only respected her bottle and her pills. It was her reprieve, though a weak one. My father couldn’t even bother to remember my sister, while my mother couldn’t forget her. Although she tried to do so with drugs and younger men. While women’s infidelity wasn’t tolerated, my old man tolerated my mother’s. Because without her, he would lose access to all her Cassidy fortune. She didn’t inherit any of the businesses, but she didn’t need to because her financial wealth was substantial as the only daughter of my grandfather. And I was her only executor. My grandfather was a smart man making me the executor so my father couldn’t manipulate my mother into handing it over to him.

I watched this beauty in front of me, a breeze in her hair. She looked way too young to be a widow and a mother. Way too young and innocent to pay for her father’s sins. It wasn’t fair, but this fucking world wasn’t fair. By the time Benito realized Bianca was his daughter, it would be too late. She’d be in my world, my wife.

Did I use my power and money to get her, just like Benito did with my sister? Yes. Maybe I wasn’t much different from him, but at least Bianca would stay alive. Unlike my sister who was mutilated. The only ones I worried about were Cassio and Luca King, unsure how those two would react once they learned they had a sister, and I forced her into marriage.

“How is the event going?” Her question broke the silence. “Everything ok?”

She nervously chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes anxious.

Why was she nervous?

ChapterSixteen

BIANCA

The moment I mentioned my father, Nico’s whole posture changed. I should have insisted on a detailed job description, instructions, or list of expectations to come with this marriage contract. Maybe he only cared about my body and didn’t want to hear about my father or learn about my daughters. Though my gut feeling was telling me it was something else entirely that had Nico tensing.

“Everything ok?” I asked him hesitantly.

“Yes,” he replied. “You and your father were close?”

“We were. He was the best,” I admitted softly. “He was incredible. Taught me everything, from riding a bike to changing a tire to even shooting a gun.” Nico raised his eyebrow in surprise and I chuckled. “He was a modern kind of father.”

“I’ll have to lock my guns up,” he joked.

“Maybe you should,” I teased back.

A gentleman came behind Nico, his eyes darting between Nico and me. He was older, but the silvery, white hair didn’t make him seem any less dangerous than the man I was about to marry in a week. What have I gotten myself into?

“Nico,” he had a heavy Italian accent. “I came to say goodbye before I left.”

“Ambassador, thanks for coming.” Nico shook his hand and then reached out to me, pulling me closer. “I haven't had a chance to introduce you yet. This is Bianca, my fiancé.”

I had the urge to glance behind me, but I stopped myself.Duh, that’s me.

Reaching out my hand, I smiled. “Nice to meet you, Ambassador.” The older man’s eyes watched me carefully, and I wondered what he was looking for. “I’m guessing you are an Italian Ambassador?”

He nodded. Why wasn’t it surprising Nico had ambassadors in his pockets too? Probably all Italian and U.S. politicians too.

“That is a beautiful name,” he commented. “Italian?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “My grandmother threatened to kill my dad if he didn’t give me her mother’s name. He was scared, so he caved in.”

The ambassador’s laughter echoed on the small balcony. “I don’t blame him. Italian women can have quite a temper.”

I nodded in agreement. My grandmother had a temper, so did I. Somehow it slipped my mother’s genes. I couldn’t decide if that was good or not. It left her too vulnerable to Benito. But if she fought him, she would have probably been dead by now. But what kind of life did she really lead? I wished there was a way to get her out… somehow.

“Do you speak Italian?”

“I’m a bit rusty,” I told him. I regretted not practicing it, but life kind of got in the way. “After my grandmother passed away, I didn’t have a chance to practice it much. My dad wasn’t Italian, so he didn’t speak any.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” His words and smile were compassionate, but somehow didn’t reach his eyes. “You and Nico should come to our upcoming annual celebration of US-Italian mutual relationships at the embassy. You would enjoy it and maybe even get to practice some Italian.”

Smiling, I opted to let Nico answer that one. I had no idea whether that invitation should be accepted or not. It didn’t seem like something a mobster would attend, but then I didn’t expect to see an Ambassador here either.

“Thank you for the invitation. We would love to,” Nico answered, surprising me.

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