Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“Let’s go home and talk about this.” I stop her, standing in front of her and she shakes her head.
“It’s pointless, I just wanted to try new things with you. To replace your past with me. I wanted to see if I enjoyed these things on my own, but clearly, no matter how far we have come in the decade we have been in love, will I truly be allowed to be myself.” With that she moves around me, and I stay stuck in time. Her words are like a knife to my chest. The dig sounding elevator snaps me into the here and now and I watch her disappear. Pulling out my phone I call Farren and James.
“Sir,” James answers.
“Get my wife home. I will be there as soon as I can. Do not let her leave, do you understand me?”
“On it, Mr. Valiente.”
Ending the call, I look around for one minute longer and think of what I am going to do. I fucked up, worse than ever and I don’t even know how we got her so abruptly. She wanted to explore herself and me in ways we haven’t and like that, I shoved my insecurities down her throat. Great going, Nico. Bang up fucking job.
“Giulio!” I holler, knowing he is waiting somewhere around here.
“Sir.” He walks out of the stairway hall.
“I need the kids out of the house for a couple hours. Please make sure you, Farren, and James keep them safe. The aquarium should hold them over for the time I need.”
“Will do. Do you want Vito to come with you for protection?” I shake my head.
“No. I will be heading there. I will need my Maserati brought from the private garage down the street.” He nods and leaves me. What now?
Chapter Five
EMELIA
Icried the entire way back to the penthouse. I cannot remember the last time Nico and I had a fight. One to this degree, I don’t think we ever have. The last time I felt this way is when Nico held a gun to his head threatening to end it all when he thought I took my family’s side. I’m shaking, the warm car doing nothing to bring me comfort. I watch the passing buildings and pedestrians on the way, and it’s all starting to blur.
Farren and James pull up and we all climb out. My somber face stays low. The ride here and the elevator up, was silent. I prepare to be greeted by the boys and wipe away the tears from my face, plastering on a smile when the elevator dings.
“Mamma!” They come barreling over to me just as I step out.
“Hello, my loves, how was school? Were you good for Mrs. Nelly?” Elena, our nanny comes around the corner, her arm full of toys. She looks like they put her through it. I’m not surprised. Her brunette hair is falling from its clip and wildly into her face and she’s panting.
“Mrs. Valiente, I am so sorry! I was trying to pick up the mess before you got home.”
“It’s all right, sweetie. I can take it from here. Thank you.” She lets out a sigh of relief.
We only use her on occasions where Nico and I are at events, or both away doing things for Nico’s business and date nights. Enough time between can make one forget just how wild and carefree my boys are.
“We were, she even gave us the golden stickers on the fridge tracker.” We started tracking days when all boys passed their lesson of the day. They live for it and it’s the most homely thing about our penthouse. The fridge is covered in art, pictures, and magnets the boys collect, and I admit it is my favorite art in our home.
“Good job, my loves. What do we want to do this afternoon?” I need to take my mind off Nico. The cure to that is my children. They come first and are always able to make me smile, even when my world is upside down.
“We are going to the aquarium with Giulio, Farren, and James!” Luca smiles up at my guards. I turn and quizzically implore with a look.
“Giulio called and said, per Mr. Valiente’s request, we three would be taking the boys to the aquarium for the rest of the afternoon.”
“I see.” My stomach turns. I feel like I may be sick. He is going to cage me in and not let me out of his sight. Great. Turning back, I look at the three sets of eyes looking up at me.
“Papa!”
My back stiffens the second the elevator slides open, and the boys all leave me.
“I miei figli. How was today?” His soothing voice adds salt to my wounds.
I hate that its roughness meets soft with the boys and worse? It melts me inside out. If I turn and face him, I will break down again and the kids will see there is a problem. One thing Nico and I agreed on before Nico the second came; we wouldn’t fight or ever indicate that there was danger looming. They are too young to learn about all of that still.