as possible. But as things changed, and we got older, Nico started shadowing you more.”
“Wait.” If I heard him correctly…“You said, up until he was given a permanent assignment two years ago. Why is he still shadowing me, then?”
“Because you’re his permanent assignment, Sis,” he divulged. “Ciro and Luca agreed that college didn’t provide a routine enough structure. Since you could take any classes you wanted, when you wanted, they felt better if eyes were on you at all times.”
My mind was ringing with the implications of his words. It was shocking to know that Nico’s been a part of my life for so long and I never noticed, but to find out he’s been a part of every single portion of my life was…distracting.
“There’s something else.”
“What?” he asked.
“When he said he was going to hand over those two guys to you, he said he was handing them over to you because he didn’t have the right to avenge me yet. What did he mean?”
“You didn’t ask him?”
“No,” I admitted. “At the time, I was still reeling from everything that was going on. But, then…”
“Then, what?”
“Well, he called me ‘baby’,” I told him. “At first, I thought it was just a casual endearment he threw out there but coupled with the comment about not having the right to avenge me yet…well, it made me wonder.”
“Goddamn it,” Michael muttered under his breath, but I still heard him all the same.
“What’s going on, Mike?”
“The fucker was supposed to wait until you graduate with your degree.”
“For what?” I asked, my voice damn near a shrill in his ear. “What’s going on?”
The line was silent for a few seconds before Michael made up his mind to tell me what Nico meant. “About a year ago, Nico came to me and asked me for permission to date you, Mia.”
“What?!” Oh, my God!
“I told him he had it, but he had to wait until you graduated from Sterling before getting into anything too serious,” he went on. “I didn’t want you getting distracted from your studies.”
“Mike…that’s…that’s crazy,” I blurted out.
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But you, my dear sister, are Nico Rossi’s future girlfriend.”
Well, hell.
Chapter 5
Nico~
College really was bullshit.
Wednesdays were the worst. They were Mia’s heaviest class days, and her latest class didn’t end until past five o’clock. From there she usually went to the library, but not today.
Today we were going to talk.
I was leaning up against the alcove that led into the building where all the labs took place. Mia was a creature of habit, so I knew she’d be exiting the east entrance because it was the fastest way to the campus library.
She came walking out of the building doors with her friend, Justin Abernathy, and one of Justin’s friends, Gretchen Hillman. I knew her name like I knew everything else. If it was anything or anyone that came near Mia, I knew about them.
Mia’s steps faltered when she saw me straighten to my full height. Once I made my appearance known, I was hard to miss. Justin and Gretchen stopped alongside Mia.
“Nico,” she acknowledged, sounding resigned, and I didn’t like it.
“Mia,” I returned.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Gretchen piped up. “Mia, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
That snapped Mia out of her stupor. “Oh, uh…yes. I’m sorry.” She glanced at her friends and then me. “Gretchen, Justin, this is Nico. Nico this is Gretchen and Justin.”
I angled my head in a slight nod. “Nice to meet you both.”
Justin kept glancing between me and Mia, and I didn’t blame him. He was her closest friend and should know something about me. Gretchen was just casual, so she was irrelevant.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Justin finally said.
I smirked.
I couldn’t help it.
“You, too,” I granted before looking back at Mia. “Can we talk?”
“Now?”
“I think now would be best,” I told her.
“But we were on our way to the library,” Gretchen butted in. “You can come with us, if you want.”
I was dressed like a student, so I understood her misconception, but my assignment hadn’t changed any. I was still responsible for Mia and dressing down was the only way I could blend in on campus. Of course, once we started dating, I could shuck these ridiculous clothes and go back to suits.
“Thank you for the offer, but Mia and I have some things to discuss,” I replied smoothly.
“Oh, my God,” she rushed out, no ounce of manners in her. “Did you guys break up or something?”
“No, they didn’t,” Justin answered her. “Mia…Mia doesn’t have a