this man, he was willing to give me something he didn't want to in this moment. I know if I would have told him yes, he would’ve gotten the pills. He may have hated doing it, but for me he would have. He truly is my king.
“I love you too, wife.” He leans down, kissing me deeply. When he pulls back, he presses his forehead to mine. I run my hands up his broad, bare back.
“I was only on it because--”
“Because my queen is not only smart but crafty,” he finishes for me before placing another kiss on my lips. “You knew you belonged to another and would not grant such a man as Antonio a child.”
“But for you, I’d give anything.”
He smiles--a rare thing I’m sure for such a man. It makes my insides melt.
I try and pull him to me, wanting him to take me back to our bed.
“You tempt me, wife.” He lifts me from the counter. “Let’s dress and finish this after business. Then I’m all yours.” He gives me a playful wink that doesn't help with cooling my lust for him. Especially when he is showing me his playful side, but I know he’s right. We need to finish protecting our families future before I can have this and every part of Nick for the rest of our lives. If we are to grow as a family, we must clean up the aftermath of this war.
“These will do for now?” he asks, picking up the clothes he’s brought in for me. “We will get you more. I have a feeling you don’t want the ones from Lorenzo’s.”
“No.” I agree. I don’t. “I have a few things I want from there. Things that belonged to my mother. They’re already boxed up.”
“I will get them for you.” He gives me another kiss before he turns to leave. I can’t help but watch him go. Even naked, he strides around with superior confidence. Power rolls off him. I can’t believe my family tried to challenge him at all. It meant death. They had to know that.
I grab the clothes, slipping on the underwear before pulling on the wide legged white pants that are paired with a pink lacy petal top. I wonder if Carlotta went out to get these for me. It’s pretty and more my style. It makes me think back to when I used to make my journals and blogs filled with the latest styles and trends.
Nick comes up behind me a moment later as I stare at myself in the mirror. “They work?” He hands me a pair of silver flats that have a ring over the toe for your feet to slide into to hold in place.
“I love them.” I turn, taking them from his hand. I tilt my head back to offer him a kiss. He leans down, giving me what I ask for.
“You look beautiful.”
“You make me feel beautiful. You make me feel like me again.” He does. He’s dressed in his normal pair of slacks and button-down shirt. It’s almost laughable. He looks like he’s dressed for the boardroom. I guess this is a meeting of sorts. Business will be handled. Ours is just a little different than the rest of the world but normal for us. This is our life. I hated it a week ago, but now I welcome it because with it, I get Nick. He makes all the difference in this life. I know with him, it will be a different kind of world.
“Good.” I bend down, slipping the shoes onto my feet.
Nick takes my hand in his. He leads me out of the bedroom and down the hallway. We descend the stairs. I see all of his men lingering about. Many are still spotted in blood. He guides me with him down a hallway I haven't ventured into yet. My brother stands in front of a door and steps out of the way.
Nick gives him a nod as he opens the door that leads down to the basement. When I look down the stairs everything is concrete. It’s nothing like the rest of the house. It’s cold and bare. A shiver races up my spine, because I know who will be at the bottom of those stairs. It will be the ending of the Scalingi family, but the beginning of my new life as a Davinci. Who I have always belonged to. I’d just been waiting for my king to find me. Now we will finish