by Peyton Banks
With all the shit he and Max had to deal with, not being with Vini had just about killed him. Thinking back on his call with Max the other day, he’d meant every word out of his mouth. He was exactly where he needed to be. Home.
At Lavinia’s continued silence, he raised an eyebrow. “Nothing to say?”
“I didn’t throw out your stuff because this is still your home. Until we get divorced, your name is on the mortgage.”
“Divorce?” Jolted by her words, he stood from the bed too quickly. Pain immediately shot from his side to his brain, making him fold over in pain. “Fuck. Vini, what the hell are you talking about?” He bellowed at her as she stood on the other side of the room.
He must have misunderstood. There was no way in hell divorce was on the table. Too bad if she wanted a divorce. It was never happening.
Her voice quivered and it broke his fucking heart.
“It’s time I let you go, Nico. I think it’s best for both of us. We’ve been together since we were too young to know anything different. Maybe I held you back. Maybe I clung to you too tightly. I’m thinking we need to make this official.”
“No!” he yelled. “I won’t allow it.” Taking slow steps in her direction, he noticed her chin lifting in defiance. Stubborn ass woman. “Who’s been putting thoughts in your head?” He knew everyone assumed they were still dating. No one knew they were married except Max and Big Mama. They’d intentionally kept the details of their relationship secret from the outside world.
A long-time girlfriend was one thing. A wife? Well, that was another situation all together. He had to protect her. That had been his whole reason for hiding what they were to each other. It was the only reason he hadn’t been screaming it from the rooftops.
But things are changing. Times are changing.
They’d gone through hell since they’d been together. When she’d been shot two years ago, he thought it would rip his soul apart. Losing Vini wasn’t an option.
He’d been so enraged, he’d created a path of blood and destruction. Destroyed everyone associated with the people who’d come after him but got his woman instead. It only took a matter of days for him to clean house. The aftermath of that situation still reverberated through the streets.
Sure, he and Max created a façade around them, showing the world they were respectable businessmen. The other world they lived in, the one where he was best known as The Demon Seed, that’s where the real Nicolas Mitchell came out to play.
“You won’t allow it?” Her cold tone met him as he stood in front of her.
“I’ll never let you divorce me, Vini. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.” Nostrils flaring, his heated gaze took in her rigid stance and he almost smiled.
His Vini never backed down from a fight. She’d fought her entire childhood. She’d fought beside him and Max as they were coming up in the world. Hell, she had her own kills to her credit. His woman was strong. Brave. Ruthless.
But with him, she was just his. Always had been. Always will be.
“You can’t make me stay, Nico. It’s just too much. I’m tired of fighting the world, and the ugliness in it, just to prove how much I love you.” He saw the tears in her eyes, and it made this situation all the more real. His Vini was hurting, and it was all his fault.
Some of his anger deflated. “Baby, you never have to fight the world to show me that. It’s my job to protect you. To make sure you’re safe.” Reaching his hands up, he gently cupped her face. Mainly, to minimize his own heartache and pain. He needed to touch her. To feel her soft skin against his.
He shouldn’t be moving around this much, but he needed to make a point. “Vini, we have shit to handle between us, and trust me, we will. But no matter how much has come before now, or what we still face in the future, I will never let you go. If you know nothing else about me, know that.”
If he weren’t shot to hell and still healing, he’d throw her down on the bed and not let her leave for at least two days. He’d fuck her until any thought of divorce or leaving him disappeared from her mind. That she truly thought he’d let her go was laughable.
“Baby, you are my everything. And I will kill every motherfucker who tries to come between us. This world has never seen the likes of me without you in my life. These past six months have been hell on me. The only way this city hasn’t been laid flat is because I know you’re still mine. My wife. My whole fucking life.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, falling over the lower lid and running down her face. “I just need to make sure that this life, with me, is what you want. I’ll never allow myself to be a burden on anyone. If you’re with me out of some warped sense of loyalty, I’d rather you not be here.”
Gritting his teeth, he tried to get control of his emotions. “Stop insulting me. How I feel for you is not in question. Never has been. Never will be. You… are… mine.”
Tilting his face down, he kissed her on the forehead. “We’ll fix this. Whatever is going on with us, I promise you, we’ll fix it.” His lips brushed her slightly upturned nose. “I need you to trust me, Baby.” Finally, he made his way to her lips, capturing hers in a soft kiss. Gentleness wasn’t something he was capable of until this woman joined her life with his. “I’m still your husband. Nothing will change that. You’re the only woman capable of taming The Demon.”
A giggle escaped her lips, which brought a smile to his face.
Sniffling, she raised her hands up to wipe the wetness from her face. “Go take your shower, Nico. I need to make breakfast. Oh, and Max called this morning. He said to call him when you’re feeling up to it.”
“Okay, cool. I’ll be down in thirty.” Giving her one final kiss on the lips, he turned slowly towards the bathroom. He knew Vini had done her best to make sure he was clean while he was laid up, but it would feel good to take a shower.
Hearing her feet shuffle on the carpet as she walked away from the door, he paused. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he winced as searing pain coursed through his body. It was hell keeping up the farce while she was in the room. This pain was worse than he expected. Shit, maybe he was getting old. He’d been shot before. There was no way the pain had been this bad.
Getting his feet moving again, he stopped by the dresser to pick up the glass of water. Scooping up the pain pills she’d set out for him earlier, he popped them in his mouth, the cold water helping them go down easier.
“Alright, Nico. Get your shit together. You have a woman to get back, and motherfuckers who need to pay for shooting you.”
Although he and Max had taken care of the immediate threat, he knew there were some lingerers out there. Those who would try to test their mettle. Who wanted to create a name for themselves coming after him and Max. If he wanted a future for him and Vini, he needed to make sure no one could touch his woman. He’d eliminate anyone who posed a threat to his peace. And Vini…that woman was his goddamn peace on earth.
Twenty minutes later, he stepped out of the shower. It felt like he’d run a damn marathon. Trying to shower and not get his bandages wet was harder than he thought. Still wasn’t going to ask for help though. He’d die on that fucking hill before he called out to Vini to help him.
Dressed in a pair of his old gray sweats and a T-shirt, he made his way downstairs. The smell of bacon wafted in the air, and his stomach grumbled in hunger. His Vini was the best cook. He’d never tell that to Big Mama but everyone knew it. His woman knew how to throw down in the kitchen, making mouths water all over the place. Hell, if he hadn’t already loved everything about her, tasting her cooking would have been the closer.
“Smells good,” he called out, stepping into the kitchen area.
“Figured you’d be hungry. I’ve been giving you broth and soup the past few days. Your big ‘ol body can only take so much.” Looking over her shoulder, her gaze raked his form. Her smile stopped him in his tracks. He couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid. Walking out on his woman like that. It didn’t matter what she’d accused him of, o
r how angry he’d become. If she didn’t believe him, then he needed to make her believe him. Fight for her to hear the truth.
This home he’d created with Vini was the one place he could just be himself. She was his safe haven. Losing that foundation had thrown him off-kilter. He’d been angry the whole fucking time. Snapping at everyone about little shit and going off half-cocked when he needed to stay in control. Here, with her, the calm overtook everything else. Just her voice soothed him.
“Yeah, I’m so hungry, I could eat a bear. Damn, woman, that smells good.” Walking up to her, he slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his body. As soon as she was within the circle of his arms, he felt her stiffen. “Baby, please don’t do this to me.”
She ignored the elephant in the room, squirming out of his embrace. “Nico, you should sit down. You’re still not fully healed, and I don’t want you to rip your stitches.” Avoiding his gaze, she moved and bustled around the kitchen, pulling plates and silverware out for them.
“This is why we’re not okay. This shit right here is why they were able to fill your head with that bullshit. Babe, we can’t ignore what’s happened between us.” He couldn’t believe he was the one asking to talk about the most devastating situation they’d both been through.
“Not right now, Nico. You’ve just been shot. I can only deal with so much right now. I’m fine.”
Glaring at her, he knew she’d just lied right to his fucking face.
“I promise. I’m okay.” The second lie to leave her lips.
“I’m not letting this slide,” he growled. “I want my wife back. You’re not gonna push me away any longer. We need to talk about what went down.”
“Please. Can you just sit down for me? I don’t want the food to burn, and I need you resting. Actually, let me turn the burners down and I’ll help you.”
Nico was annoyed again. She continued to avoid the conversation. Lying to his face and shit. That wasn’t something they did.
“I can get myself to the couch,” he grumbled. “But what I want to know is, when did you decide lying to me was okay? At what point, did giving me some bullshit answer become something you thought was a good idea? You’re not fine, Vini. Know how I know?” At her silence, he continued, “Because we’re not okay. We haven’t been okay for two fucking years. Yet you stand in front of me and feel lying is the way to go.”
She bit her bottom lip. That was a dead giveaway of her own hurt. He never wanted her to feel this way, but she needed to remove the barrier between them.
“What happened to the Vini that was ready and willing to fight the world? The woman who’d go in guns blazing, ready to take heads at the slightest provocation. You won’t even fight for us. What the fuck happened to the woman I love? Cause you ain’t her.”
Glancing at Vini as he sat down on the soft couch, he knew he’d go through any hell, walk through whatever fire blazed around him, and lay on a bed of a thousand nails, if it got that woman back in his arms where she belonged.
5
Nico
Four weeks later
* * *
Nico walked up to the large house with the manicured lawn, admiring the landscaping design. Looking around the suburban neighborhood as he navigated the long walkway, he was still somewhat shocked that they’d come from where they did, only to have the lives they lead now. This shit was wild.
The homes that lined the street were those of the wealthy. Two and three car garages filled with expensive vehicles. Large pools were in each backyard. Kids played on the front lawns or rode their bikes within the cul-de-sac. Considering what he’d made of himself after growing up the way he did, if he’d been raised in a neighborhood like this, he could only imagine what his life would be like now.
Then again, if this had been his childhood, would Max be his best friend? Would Vini be his wife? No. He didn’t think they would. His youth may not have been all daisies and rainbows in the fucking sky, but it made him into the man he was today. Even with all the shit he’d gone through, he wouldn’t change one fucking thing.
Max was about to marry a fucking lawyer. Laughing to himself, he still couldn’t believe that shit. He’d fallen head over heels for Kiana, and he was determined to lock that woman down. His friend had changed into a totally different man once she came into his life. Even Nico could admit he was happy for him though. Kiana was good people.
Life was changing too fucking fast, but some things remained the same. Twenty years after meeting, he and Max were still best friends, brothers, and business owners—or at least that’s what the world saw.
Five years ago, he’d purchased this home for him and Vini. A place to settle down. Maybe raise a few kids. His steps paused. “Fuck,” he whispered.
He’d wanted this home to be a place of peace. Somewhere they could hold the darkness at bay. Just live and enjoy. People did this shit every day. As long as the bullshit never touched their doorstep, they could leave it all behind when they came home at night.
It worked for a while. For three years they’d found what they were looking for inside the walls of this almost perfect home. Until the day their world came crashing down on them. They’d lost something they’d only just realized was a possibility.
That day, Vini had been caught in the crossfire between a crazed lunatic and his battered wife.
Working at one of the hospitals she supported, the man had come inside screaming for his wife. No one expected him to have a gun. Within minutes of arriving to the hospital, and not getting the answers he wanted, the man pulled his weapon and began shooting wildly. Two people were killed. Vini was shot and injured.
She wasn’t even on a job for him and Max, which was the most fucked up part of the entire situation. She’d been pulling out of the business, working more in her own field. Getting comfortable living in a different world, away from the dark world they’d all grown up in.
It was the day that changed them forever, and he’d never seen it coming.
Never in a million years did he think they’d be at this point. Him running the streets every day, living out of a suitcase in a hotel. Living away from his woman. Not sleeping in his own bed, in his own home.
With rumors swirling that he and Vini were split up, he was now pushing off women who thought he was free. He’d never fucking be free of Vini. Damned woman was in his soul. She was his addiction. His obsession. Being away from her was bullshit. It had gone on too long. He’d allowed this shit to happen because of his own pride. He’d admit it to himself, but no one else.
Max had been giving him shit too, especially now that he had Kiana. Every day, he had to hear his mouth about how Nico needed to fix shit with Vini. He knew that. He didn’t need Max in his ear every damn day about it. If Max didn’t know this shit was eating Nico up inside, then he didn’t know him very well.
Arriving at the front door, he used his key to enter. Fuck knocking. This was still his home, whether she liked it or not. ‘Til death do they part, and all that shit. Since he’s not planning to die anytime soon, she was still his wife. Anything else was unacceptable.
Stepping inside, he closed and locked the door behind him. Vini had belonged to him since they’d first made love when she was eighteen. That experience had been mind-blowing. He’d asked her to marry him that very night. She’d turned his ass down flat but that didn’t stop him from claiming her. He’d never stopped pursuing her. Whenever she tried to date someone else, he’d stop that shit in its tracks. Usually by threatening the guy and doing something to make him walk away. He wasn’t above showing up at the guy’s job to make it clear Vini belonged to him.
When she tried to walk away, start a different life—which she’d tried a couple of times—he’d seduced her into changing her mind. Made her remember just how good they were together. Had her screaming his name all night as he fucked her raw and hard. Even back then, he knew he’d never let her go.
He looked around the home she’d created without him, his head shak
ing in disappointment. At himself, mainly. Pride and ego made him put up walls, blocking her out. He’d waited six months to come home, and when he did, it was because he needed her to save him.
Max called him a selfish bastard. Nico didn’t give a shit. That woman was the other half of his goddamned soul. He would always return to her.
Placing his keys on the hallway table, he thought back to that rainy night not so long ago, when he’d shown up at the door. Bloody, beaten, and on the verge of dying. This was the only place he would have gone. Could have gone.
He’d joked with Vini that he wasn’t sure if she’d open the door for him. “Fuck that,” he whispered into the silence of the room. If she hadn’t opened the door, he would have broken that bitch down.
What God has joined together, let no man tear asunder.
While he and the man upstairs weren’t on the best of terms, that was one thing they both agreed on. He’d tear up this entire city and state to be with Vini. Hell, if push came to shove, he’d fuck up the entire eastern seaboard if it meant that woman would remain his. She might try to put up barriers meant to keep him away, but he’d walk right through anything—or anyone—standing between them.
He heard noise coming from the kitchen and decided to confront her there. Max and Kiana’s wedding was less than a month away. As the best man, he couldn’t get out of his duties to his best friend. He wanted Vini there by his side. It was time for them to stop hiding who they were to each other. Keeping their shit hidden had given people ideas they shouldn’t. It was time for that to stop.
Too much time had passed. He was done being the bad guy with her. He’d tried to get her to listen to him. To hear him out. Max told him he was a fool. That if he wasn’t careful, Lavinia would get fed up with his bullshit. That he needed to stop fighting what he tried to force her to accept. That it wasn’t her job to let him explain, it was his job to make her listen.
