Chapter-6 Past (Part 1)

Gianna

Nico wasn’t coming to dinner.

I don’t know why I wasn’t surprised when he dropped me a text letting me know that some urgent work had come up and he wouldn’t be able to make it. The way he ran out this afternoon, that kind of made his absence pretty clear. His urgent work was to avoid me for as long as possible. And I was glad about that because I didn’t want to face him either, not after the way he abandoned me.

“This was Nico when he was two,” Vittoria smiled fondly. I peered at the grainy photograph of the little boy holding a toy car, looking glum and bored.

“He looks adorable,” I smiled. “Though he doesn’t look a very happy kid.”

“He wasn’t,” Vittoria answered, shutting the photo album and taking a long sip of her wine.

After she and I had dinner, Vittoria asked if I would like to see photographs from Nico’s childhood. She seemed so excited at the prospect that I couldn’t say no even if all I wanted was to go to bed. I guess I wanted to make up for her son’s absence.

“Nico has always been closed off,” she muttered. “The poor boy barely ever had friends and no siblings to give him company. It was just him on his own. That was until Amara came along and he finally found someone, though they both were the same. Glum and serious and all business. Amara even more.”

“I guess that’s why they make such good friends,” I smiled. Amara was my brother Leonardo’s wife. From what I know, she grew up with Nico’s family as a child after her parents were killed when she was just five. Her father used to work for Nico’s father and the two had known each other for years. I adored Amara. And she has always spoken very highly of Nico. It made me wonder if she ever saw this dark side of him or if he was different with her.

“Both Amara and Nico had it rough,” Vittoria said. “I remember how messed up the little girl was when she came to us. And Nico’s father was a monster. He took away his childhood and innocence from him.” I frowned at her.

“How so?” I demanded. Vittoria turned her hazel eyes toward the life-size painting of Alessandro Baldocchi, Nico’s father, hanging on the wall and I noticed how they darkened with resentment and hate.

“He started training Nico when he was just six years old. A little boy, forced to watch his father slaughter innocent people right in front of him. Forced to hold guns and knives when he should have been playing, and beaten if he refused. And worst of all, he had to watch the man who was supposed to protect him beat me his mother repeadly. to death. That wasn’t a childhood. That was a nightmare,” she said softly. “And unfortunately…”

“Unfortunately?” I probed.

“I couldn’t do much,” she said, her voice laced with regret. “I tried to stand up for him, but it never ended well for me. Eventually, I think Nico realized that. And to protect me, he just… stopped. Stopped crying, stopped resisting. One day, he was an innocent little boy, and the next… he wasn’t. As the years passed, that child disappeared. My sweet little boy was gone.”

My heart ached for Nico, and suddenly, everything about him made sense. I understood why he was the way he was. This was how our world worked—I had always known that. My father had been no different from his, treating my brothers, Leonardo, and Xavier, and even my mother the same way. But I had been just a baby then. By the time I was old enough to understand, my father was gone, and Leonardo had taken control.

And though my brothers—especially Leonardo—were feared as some of the most ruthless men in the country, they had done everything in their power to shield me from this darkness, going above and beyond to keep me untouched by the cruelty that shaped them.

“That’s so wrong,” I murmured. Vittoria nodded in agreement before turning to me. And I sure as hell didn’t like the look in her eyes as she took my hand in hers.

“Yes, it indeed was,” she said. “My Nico deserves to be happy and loved. So when he told me he was getting married to you and when I met you for the first time, I knew that maybe it was finally time for him to receive the love he never had. You are exactly what Nico needs, Gianna.”

She was so deluded.

“I…I highly doubt that,” I muttered under my breath.

“No, don’t,” Vittoria said. “Don’t judge him just yet, please. Give Nico a chance and once you get him to trust you and open up, you will see what a wonderful, loving person he is. He needs your love Gianna so please…don’t give up on him.” I peered up at her beautiful face and wondered if she knew her son was in love with someone else. Should I ask her? Maybe she can tell me about the woman who captured Nico’s heart and then broke it?

“Vittoria…” I began. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” she nodded. “What is it…?”

“Do you know that Nico….” Before I could complete it, the sound of footsteps distracted us and we turned around to find Nico standing behind. His face was impassive as always but he certainly did look a mess. And much to my annoyance, my heart skipped a beat as his dark eyes fell on me and lingered until I averted my gaze.

“You are back,” Vittoria smiled, looking relieved for some reason as she reached out to hug him.

“Yeah. I am sorry I had to skip dinner, Mom,” Nico muttered. “I know you were looking forward to it.”

“That’s okay. Gianna more than made up for your absence,” she smiled brightly at me. I reciprocated with a weaker one, sensing Nico’s gaze creeping up my back. “She is wonderful.”

“Yes she is,” he agreed with a nod. There was something about the way he said that but after this afternoon, I was so not going to try and read between the lines. “We should get back now. Gianna had a long day today and so had I. We need some rest.”

“Of course,” she nodded. “I will let you two leave now. But do pop in now and then to greet your old mother. I don’t live too far away.”

“I will mom,” Nico nodded. “I promise. Gianna?” He held out his hand for me but I effectively ignored him and reached out to hug my mother-in-law instead.

“Thank you for dinner. I had a lovely time,” I smiled at her.

“The pleasure was all mine, sweet girl,” Vittoria said. “Now go, get some rest.”

I didn’t say a single word to Nico as we headed back even though I could feel his eyes on me all along, silently trailing behind me. And it wasn’t until we got to our bedroom that he finally felt like opening his mouth.

“Thank you…for keeping my mom company,” he murmured, lingering by the walk-in door as I searched for my night clothes. I was still getting accustomed to things here, so it really was a hassle to find anything.

“No need. I was happy to spend time with her,” I answered, grabbing my satin night dress and the matching robe. I grimaced at the lack of decent nightwear and realized I needed to go and buy something that didn’t make a spectacle out of my boobs or my ass or in some cases…my crotch. Who the hell packed my bags?

I inwardly shook my head and before Nico could say anything more, I quickly scooted to the bathroom and shut the door…somewhat on his face.

I wasn’t angry at him, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him either. So I took my sweet time to freshen up, brush my teeth, pull on that sleazy night dress that landed several inches above my knees, and gather enough courage to walk out and face him.

Nico was on a call, standing by the glass wall leading to the beautiful terrace garden, his back to me and a glass of dark liquid in his hand. He responded in grunts and hmm’s to whoever he was talking to. And since he didn’t know I was standing behind him, I took that opportunity to savor his beautiful naked body on display. He wore just his gray sweatpants and as he shifted, the strong muscles in his back bunched and rippled, making my mouth go dry.

It was covered in tattoos, each one a story etched into his skin. A pair of wings stretched across his upper back, framing a figure in the centre, and just above it, the word BLESSED stood out in bold ink. His arms were the same—a wolf on one side, a scattering of symbols and words on the other. One tattoo near his ribs caught my eye, something written in a language I didn’t know. I so wanted to get closer, to trace my fingers over the ink and feel the warmth of his skin beneath my touch.

My breath hitched as he raised a hand to his hair, his triceps flexing, every movement effortless, powerful. I shouldn’t have been staring. I knew that. But how could I not? He was raw masculinity.

Heat coiled low in my stomach as my mind betrayed me, letting forbidden thoughts seep in. What would it feel like to have that body pressed against mine? To feel those strong arms wrap around me, holding me in place—unyielding, inescapable. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. He would be solid and warm, his rough hands gripping my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. His breath at my ear, his scent—clean, masculine, intoxicating—filling my lungs as I lost myself in him. I swallowed hard, every inch of my skin burning with awareness. And then—Nico stilled. My stomach clenched as his head turned slightly to the side.

Oh fuck. Did he catch me ogling at his naked back? That would be pathetic on a whole other level.

“Sì,” he murmured, cut the call, and then slowly like a predator on the hunt, he turned around.

And I did notice his eyes do a quick sweep of my body, resting a bit longer on my breasts before settling on my face. I gave myself an imaginary pat on the back as I managed to keep my expression blank and my frantic breathing in check. And I swear it took insane strength to hold my eyes from roaming over those perfect six-packs, that taut stomach, and all the ink that covered them. This was the first time I ever saw him like this and fuck…he was a fine masterpiece. Very fine.

“Good night,” I muttered, breaking eye contact, and reached out to grab a pillow so I could sleep on the couch or somewhere else entirely. At least for tonight.

“Gianna…” I felt his strong fingers clamp around my arm just as I was about to walk out of the door.

I didn’t even hear him following after me. Please don’t embarrass yourself again…I inwardly begged myself before turning to face him. And it surely was some feat to keep my expression even as my eyes met his. Nico seemed agitated, his sharp jaw tensed. How was his jawline so sculpted? It was wrong!

“Why are you avoiding me?” he demanded, taking a step towards me, his fingers still wrapped around my arm. I took a tentative step back only to realize I was already pressed against the door.

“What makes you think I am avoiding you?” I muttered. Good. I was doing good so far.

“Aren’t you?” he raised a brow, placing both his arms on either side of my head and caging me with his hulk of a frame. I could literally taste the heat that radiated from him and my mouth went dry when he leaned closer and then bent down to match my height. His face was all but a breath away from me and it took all my strength to fight the urge to kiss him.

“You have to be present for me to ignore you, Nico,” I answered squarely. “And if I am not wrong, you ran away in the afternoon, didn’t you? So how did I even get the opportunity to avoid you?” I noticed the way his face hardened and his lips pressed into a thin line.

“I am sorry for that,” he said. “I really am.”

“What exactly are you sorry for?” I asked, crossing my arms across my chest just to look a bit stern but also to cover myself up. Damn this night dress! I could literally feel my nipples straining against the material.

“For running away,” Nico said. “That…that was not right. And for…”

“Kissing me?” I whispered. Nico gave me a dark look in response and I blinked when he leaned even closer, still bending by the way, and gazed straight into my eyes.

“No…not for kissing you,” he answered, his voice husky. “I wanted to kiss you so I did. But yes, the way it all happened wasn’t right and I am sorry. I really am.” I wasn’t sure how to respond.

So I was right. He did want to kiss me.