Il Re del Ghiaccio

Three weeks later….

(Unless told otherwise, know that the Romano family communicate in Italian.)

Niccolo Romano wiped his bloody fist with a small towel, then looked down at the man in front of him. The man’s face was a bloody mess and Niccolo smiled, satisfied with his work. This bastards own mother won’t recognize him and I'm just getting started, he thought.

It always gave him a thrill to beat his victims till he disfigured their faces. At least all the hours he spent in the gym were put to good use.

“Are you ready to tell us where your boss is hiding?” He asked the bloodied man

“Fuck you.” The man mumbled through his broken jaw.

Niccolo grinned. He had hoped the man would say that, he was enjoying himself and didn’t want the fun to end yet. He signaled to one of his guards, who handed him a pliers from a nearby table lined with torture instruments.

“Perhaps loosing a few nails would make you more respectful when you talk to Il Re del Ghiaccio.” He smirked.

The man began whimpering as a guard seized his hand and Niccolo came nearer with the pliers.

"Loose nails will definitely loosen your tongue." Niccolo laughed.

“Boss?”

He turned, frowning in annoyance at the guard who was holding a phone to him.

“I know you asked not be bothered boss, but your mom is on the phone. She insists on speaking to you.”

“Tell her I’m busy!”

“She is insisting boss.” He said fearfully.

Niccolo cursed quietly and took the phone. As tough as he was he dreaded his mom’s anger.

“Hello mom-“

“Nico! I have been calling you all afternoon. Why aren’t you picking up?” She demanded.

“Sorry mom I am really busy.”

“Whatever you are doing should wait. Come home immediately.”

“Why? Is everything okay?” He asked alarmed.

“Come home and find out. Now.” She hung up.

Niccolo began to grumble, just like his mom to interrupt him when he was having fun.

“Clean the bastard up. If he is alive we will continue on Friday.” He ordered his men then left with his bodyguard.

While being driven home he wondered what was going on to make his mom so excited. Burning with curiousity he called his cousin. Her phone rang unanswered. Just as he was about to lose his temper she picked up.

“For fuck sake Nick what is the emergency that’s making you blow up my phone?” She asked exasperated.

“If you had answered on the first ring Alora I won’t have to blow it up.” He snapped. “Mom called sounding excited, do you know why?”

“Why not ask her?”

“Because I choose to ask you, now answer me!”

“I can't. I’m not at home so I have no idea. Now leave me alone. I have a dick here waiting to be sucked.”

She hung up and he rolled his eyes. Someone needs to put that sex crazed animal on a leash, He thought amused. Despite their tense exchange they loved each other like siblings, even though Alora was a much younger cousin. He and Leonardo has been very close too, until…

He clenched his fist and tried to control the sudden rage that hit him. Calm down, he told himself, you are Il Re del Ghiaccio, showing childish emotion is beneath you.

He took deep breaths, trying to calm down. Romano’s don’t get mad we get even, he reminded himself and he had been thinking of ways to get even, ever since he had discovered the betrayal. So far none of his ideas had satisfied him. They won’t hurt them enough. He needed them to feel the pain and humiliation he had felt.

The car pulled up in front of the mansion and without waiting for his bodyguard to open the door, he jumped out and rushed inside.

His mom and Leonardo were in the living room talking and laughing with two women. They all looked up as he entered and Nick recognized the women, it was Mia and her mother Helena.

Niccolo felt another rush of anger seeing them but again he controlled it.

“Nico come and sit down. You are just in time for lunch. Leonardo is joining us too and the Conti’s are here to see us. Mia isn’t happy, you have some explaining to do.” His mother joked.

“Yes Nick you haven’t been taking my calls for a long time. If I didn’t know better I’d say you were avoiding me.” Mia pouted.

Niccolo resisted the urge to throw something at her. He forced a smile.

“Sorry Mia. I have been so busy that’s why.”

“You better slow down, we have a wedding to plan remember?”

“I hope you aren’t getting cold feet bro?” Leonardo teased.

“No. I am really looking forward to marrying Mia and having you as my best man on that day.” Niccolo said coldly. "Where is Dad?”

“Still at work. He would have come but he is in a meeting. ” Leonardo explained.

“We are planning an engagement party for you guys on Saturday. Sit down and let’s talk about it.” His mom said.

“We don’t need an engagement party mom.” Niccolo said sharply.

“We do. The whole world must know a Romano is marrying a Conti.” Mia insisted.

“I agree. You and your bride should have a party Nick.” Helena added.

"I said no!"

Everyone jumped at his sudden roar. Ignoring them he marched upstairs and slammed into his bedroom, boiling with anger. The nerve of the two backstabbing bastards to smile at him and act as if nothing had happened. They will pay. Both of them.

He was going crazy with anger so he did the only thing that now kept him sane. He opened his wardrobe and took out the jacket and face cap he had worn the night he escaped The Brothers Bar. He hadn't throw them away because they reminded him of the angel who had rescued him. He sighed sadly as he remembered receiving the awful news that the angel had been murdered.