Page 70 of Nicoli

“Yes. There is.”

“And what’s that?”

“Protect her.”

“Is that not what I’ve been doing?”

“It is. This is just my way of saying that whatever decision you make when it comes to protecting your wife, you have my support.” He looks at Maximo and then back at me. “But I have to agree with Maximo.”

“About what?” Have these two fuckers been talking behind my back?

“We both agree that this is good,” Alexius says simply.

“What is?”

“That you finally decided to stop fighting it and love her. Yes, I understand your reasons for keeping your distance, but trust me when I say that being with her and loving her the way you want to love her will only strengthen your bond. And that bond is what will save her should the truth ever come out.”

I’m still getting used to the fact that Alexius knows everything, which means I’m super uncomfortable whenever he talks about it. Fuck, I’m always uncomfortable talking about it because it forces me to think of a day I hope to God never comes.

Alexius rolls his shoulders, rubbing the back of his neck. Tired lines form grooves on his forehead, and from this angle, I can see some dark circles under his eyes. He really does need a break.

“Are you getting enough sleep, man?” I ask, studying him.

“Both the twins are sick with the flu and haven’t been sleeping at all. Leandra refuses to have the nannies help when the twins are sick, so we’re up all fucking night.”

“What good are nannies when you can’t use their services?”

“My sentiments exactly.”

“Where’s Leandra now?”

He looks down at his wristwatch. “My guess is she’s trying to get them down for a nap. She agreed to accept help while I’m stuck here with you assholes.”

“Here’s an idea. You stay here, close the door and get some sleep—even if it’s just an hour.” I get up and gesture to Maximo to do the same. “If we run into Leandra, we’ll just say you’re on some super private call with some president or something.”

Alexius leans his head back, closing his eyes. “It’s a stupid fucking idea, but I’m too tired to give a shit.”

“Then it’s settled.” Maximo and I walk toward the door. “Enjoy your beauty sleep, brother.”

We walk out the front door and stand by my car parked in the driveway. I want to fucking burn it. All I see when I look at my Maserati is Mirabella’s cheek planted on the hood, her back bent, and that fucker’s hands all over her. I don’t see the image of Mira and me fucking in the rain against the side of the car. I don’t think of how good it felt to finally be inside her, after all this time of wanting nothing else. That motherfucker erased it all, tainted it, ruined it, and managed to change a whole lot around here even though he’s no longer breathing.

I light a cigarette and take a long drag, savoring how it fills my lungs. “Get rid of it.”

Maximo lifts a brow. “The car?”

“Yes. Get rid of it. Strip it. Burn it. I don’t care. Just get rid of it.”

“Will do. Listen,” he crosses his arms and settles in front of me, his black leather jacket all shiny and shit in the sun, “we haven’t had a chance to talk about…you know, the fact that you are now my brother-in-law.”

“Ew, God. How is it that you make everything sound gross?”

He smirks. “All jokes aside. This might all be staged and planned, or whatever. But I’m glad it’s you.”

I let out some smoke, watching it disappear into the air.

“I know you’ll protect her, Nicoli. You’ve been doing it since the day Mirabella and I arrived here, and I know you will until the day you die.”

I look him dead in the eye and nod. I’ll fucking die for her, and we both know it. I live for that woman. Always have, always will.

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