It was his timbre, his depth; both were completely familiar and utterly spine tingling. She froze, and looked around, needing to reassure herself that she was imagining it. He couldn’t be here. It wasn’t Michael. It wasn’t him.
Except, when she angled her face, she saw him. Unmistakable, unforgettable Michael. She watched as Nico extended a hand, shaking Michael’s, and though Nico’s face was grim and his manner firm, he was nonetheless shaking the man’s hand. As one might a friend, or business partner.
Fight or flight instincts ran rampant through her body and yet she did neither. She froze, completely. Unable to move, unable to think, unable to speak.
“Maddie.” Nico’s voice came to her as if from a long way away. Her knees were trembling, her head felt as though it might explode. “Did we disturb you?”
“Madeleine?” Michael’s anger hit her in the solar plexus. It was subtle, but she was so conditioned to feel it, to understand it. She dug her fingernails into her palms and took a short step backwards, her body trembling in instant rejection of the possessive way he looked at her. Her skin was crawling with disgust.
“You know each other?” Nico’s surprise was obvious. Maddie dragged her gaze to his face, her mouth open, but completely unable to form words. As if sensing her panic, dear, loyal Dante came to her side, nuzzling her hand so she reflexively opened her palm and patted between his eyes.
“You could say that.” Michael took a step towards Maddie and a gurgling noise escaped her throat. So much for being different! She was just the same as she’d been in their relationship.
Afraid. Weak.
But no! She wouldn’t be. She wouldn’t. She’d grown since then, she’d changed.
“Michael?” Nico’s voice held a warning. If Maddie could have seen herself, she would have recognised that she was as white as a sheet, her eyes huge, her fear obvious, even from halfway across the room.
“What the hell?” Michael moved away from Nico, towards Maddie, so Dante’s ears pricked and he adopted a different stance. “Is this where you’ve been?”
Finally, she found her voice. “Where I’ve been isn’t your concern.”
“What did you say?” She flinched as though he’d hit her. Dante moved in front of her, blocking her from Michael. “How the hell did you meet Nico?”
“Would someone mind telling me what’s going on?” Nico was moving closer too, his worry obvious, his raised tone aimed at Michael.
“I…”
But she couldn’t speak. In that moment, all she could wish was that she’d told Nico the truth. He didn’t deserve this – to have it explode around him. She should have explained before now, she should have chosen the right moment and confessed.
“Up until a few months ago, Madeleine was my fiancé. Then I come home from work one day and she’s gone, without a trace. That’s what the hell is going on.” Michael’s fury was appreciable. Spittle formed in the corners of his lips. He stared at her in that vile way of his, and panic and adrenalin flooded through her. Dante barked: loud, shrieking barks that pierced the silence so Maddie didn’t see Nico move sideways a little, to the wall, where he pressed a discreet button just beneath a light switch. All her attention was focussed on the barking dog. Michael’s reaction to the noise was instant.
He lifted one leg, a powerful, strong leg, crushing it into Dante’s side.
“My God, Michael, No!” An impossible panic burst through her. Seeing Dante hurt was too much to bear. She crouched down, hugging the whimpering dog to her frame, glaring at Michael with disbelief and rage. But Nico was there, his hand on Michael’s shoulder, spinning him around to look at him, his own body radiating tension.
“This is him?” The question was obviously meant for Maddie, and he softened his voice accordingly, his attempt at speaking gently appreciated by Maddie even when she was acting on autopilot alone.
“Him who?” Michael demanded, pulling out of Nico’s grip, turning back to Maddie. She was vulnerable like this, but she wouldn’t let go of Dante. He needed her. She held him close, tears falling down her cheeks, her hand stroking the dog’s dark fur, trying to calm him when she was a riot of nerves.
“This is the guy?” Nico repeated.
She nodded, her eyes beseeching, her words stammered. “I should have told you. I didn’t know when we first met…”
“What the hell?” Michael, once more. “Was this some kind of sick plan to get back at me? You come to Italy and what? Screw one of my oldest friends?”
“It wasn’t like that,” but she was talking to Nico, needing him to understand. Fear and pain lanced her. Survival instincts but also a desperate need for Nico to know she hadn’t planned any of this.
“You little bitch. I have been looking everywhere for you. Do you know how worried I’ve been?”
At that, she drew her gaze back to Michael, the idea he’d been worried filling her with scorn. “I was safe the minute I walked away from you.”
“What the hell did you just say to me?” Michael moved closer, his expression menacing, and Maddie flinched, but she didn’t back down.
Nico’s voice was like ice. “Quiet. Do not say another word.”
Michael’s response intensified. “You think you can tell me what I can and can’t do, Montebello?” Michael reached down, grabbing Maddie’s hair and pulling at it, so Dante barked furiously and Maddie yelped. She lifted a hand to his wrist, scratching his skin and he brought the other hand down on her face.
The pain was familiar. A bright sensation behind one eye, and a dull ache in her cheekbone. But then Michael was being wrenched away, Nico’s response immediate. Size wise, they were comparable though – she couldn’t say who was stronger. Maddie screamed, her nightmares becoming reality as Michael lifted his fist once more and crashed it against Nico’s right cheek before swiftly bringing it to his chest. She saw Nico lurch backwards before he regained his footing and reached for Michael, grabbing his fist and twisting it behind his back.
“You dare punch a woman?” He demanded, twisting the arm harder so Michael winced. “You dare kick a dog?”
“I’ll kick you if you let go of me.”
“I’ll bet you would, you bastard.”
“You’ve been sleeping with my fiancé? How dare you?”
“What Maddie and I are to one another is none of your business. Your relationship with her is over.”
“It’s over when I say it’s over.”
“It’s over,” Nico roared, but another sound came to Maddie’s ears. Sirens, low at first and then closer, and she gulped in air, unable to comprehend that somehow, help was at hand.
“Go to the kitchen, Maddie.”
“Don’t you dare go anywhere, you bitch,” Michael contradicted, his eyes like ice when they pinned her. She was trembling and indecisive, knowing Nico was right – she wanted to run, to hide, but she couldn’t leave Nico and Dante was hardly in any state to move.
At that moment, Michael swore and lurched forward, trying to reach for Maddie, but Nico gripped him tighter, turning him away from her bodily, pushing him towards the door. Michael got free though and spun around, landing one more punch to Nico’s face. Blood came from his mouth. Maddie cried and stood up, patting Dante urgently then moving towards the men. She couldn’t let Nico get hurt because of her.
“Leave him alone! Damn it, Michael, this is between you and me. Nico has nothing to do with it.”
“You made it about him! I’m going to kill you, you little bitch!” Michael shouted, pushing at Nico once more before turning to Maddie. But Nico was there, inserting his body between them, one arm wrapping behind his frame to grip Maddie, keeping her protected by his larger bulk.
She felt the next punch connect to Nico. Then there was the sound of the door opening, footsteps, Italian voices, too many to comprehend, and they were no longer alone.
Nico was turning, dragging her to his chest. She could feel the rapid fire of his heart, see the blood on his shirt, and over his shoulder, at least four police dressed in
military style gear pushing Michael to the floor and handcuffing him. Another man in a suit approached Nico, but Nico cut him short.
“Later,” he said in Italian. “Not now.”
“Fine,” the man responded. “The medics are outside.”
Nico pulled back, looking at Maddie. He winced visibly, his fingers lifting gently to her face, tracing the cheekbone. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m hurt? You’re hurt,” she said, and ridiculously, she laughed. A wobbly sound that turned to a sob, so Nico dragged her back to his chest, holding her there, stroking her hair.
“Dante!” she broke away from him, looking to the dog. “Oh, Dante.” The dog was lying on the ground. “He needs to see a vet.”
Nico stroked Maddie’s back, but to the Italian man he said, “Get Alessia, and Christo, yes, a vet.”
Nico held Maddie for a long time. He held her while Michael was dragged from the villa, shouting vile epithets at Maddie. He held her while almost all the carabinieri left. He held her until Alessia arrived, and only then did he guide her to the sofa, set her down gently and turn to the blonde woman.
“Nico!” She shook her head in consternation. “You’re badly injured!”
“Her first,” he said, nodding to Maddie. Maddie saw Alessia’s concern though, and something like camaraderie shifted in Maddie. They were united in their concern for Nico and it made Maddie feel a kinship with Alessia.
“I’m really not bad,” Maddie promised. “Nico copped the worst of it.”
“Sit,” he ordered, then to Alessia. “Help her. Please.” He put a hand on Maddie’s shoulder and his tone was softened when he next spoke. “I’ll get you a cup of tea.”
Maddie didn’t argue.
She sat there while Alessia examined her, shining lights in her eyes, checking her reflexes, and finally stood back and nodded. “There’ll have a terrible bruise, but otherwise, you’ll be fine. Obviously if the pain gets worse, not better, have Nico contact me.”
She nodded then cringed as pain radiated through her.
Nico returned then, his face washed clean, his shirt changed, so outwardly at least he looked like his normal self. He handed a mug to Maddie. She took it gratefully, curving her fingers around the warmth, her teeth chattering in a delayed reaction to shock.
“I didn’t think you still saw him,” the words blurted out from her; she couldn’t stop shaking. “I thought you hadn’t seen him for years. I didn’t know who you were that day we met. I should have told, I should have told you before now, but I didn’t think…”
“Hush, hush,” he pressed a finger to her lips. “Quiet, cara. Sit here while I speak to the detective.” Then, to Alessia, “Will you stay with her?”
“Certamente, on one condition?”
Nico paused.
“I examine you next.”
He hesitated a moment but perhaps the look in both Alessia and Maddie’s eyes showed him he would be fighting a losing battle if he were to argue. With compressed lips, he nodded. “Fine.”
Another man arrived then, and after a few words it was apparent he was the vet. He moved to Dante, shaking his head in obvious disapproval, before turning to Alessia. He spoke in Italian and Maddie was too frazzled to translate.
“Inghiltera? English?”
He shook his head more slowly, so Alessia could translate. “His ribs aren’t fractured, but he’s in a lot of pain. He’ll need to go to the vet’s surgery for a full examination.”
Maddie gasped, lifting her hands to her lips. “Oh, no.” Tears formed in her eyes. If anything were to happen to Dante because of her…she couldn’t bear it. “Please let him be okay.”
At that, the vet nodded, and when he spoke, his tone was reassuring. Alessia translated. “He believes it’s just bruising. He’ll do an x-ray at his surgery and sedate him overnight to keep him comfortable. More than likely, Dante will be back to licking palms in a week or so.”
Maddie squeezed her eyes shut, the awfulness of this too much to bear. She wouldn’t be here to see him, to hug him, to thank him. She stood up, moving to the dog, wrapping her hands around one of his paws. “You’re such a good boy,” she dropped her head, nuzzling her brow to his. “Thank you, Dante.”
He made a soft yelping sound and her tears fell more freely now. For the rest of her life she’d never forget the generous way this dog had thrown himself between her and danger – nor the way Nico had done the same.
“The man was known to you?”
Nico nodded. His head spun. Michael and Maddie? Michael was the man Maddie had told Nico about? The man who’d made her life a living hell? Obviously that was the case but it just seemed almost impossible to comprehend. Had she known their connection? It sounded as though she had. I should have told you before now…
“Yes. We went to school together.” He couldn’t believe he’d been about to bail Michael out, yet again. Oh, this time he’d made sure there were conditions attached to the money, so Michael couldn’t just blow it all, but still. It hadn’t been a business decision. He’d made a choice to finance the man he thought of as an old school friend.
A friend!
That betrayal felt like a python wrapping around his neck now. The certainty he’d just spent an hour sitting opposite a man who had terrorised Maddie, made coffee for him, laughed with him…Even with no way of knowing, Nico felt like he’d betrayed her in some vital way.
“And the woman inside?”
How could he describe Maddie?
“They were involved, at one time. It was a violent relationship.”
“I see. And her connection to you?”
Nico’s chest felt hollow. Empty. “We’re friends.”
The detective paused, then nodded, scribbling something in his notebook. “They didn’t come here together?”
“No. She was here with me.” He frowned. “She came to Ondechiara seeking refuge, to get away from him. She had no idea Michael was coming today. Michael didn’t know she was here. It was a…coincidence.”
He didn’t really believe in coincidences but what else could the situation be called? Maddie hadn’t come here looking for him. Unless…was it possible there was truth in what Michael had said? Had she used Nico to get back at Michael?
The words Michael had hurled at him, a sneer on his handsome face as he’d been folded into the back of the Carabinieri van sticking with Nico, racing around his mind. Why else would she have jumped into your bed? Of all the men in all the world, why you? Why Ondechiara when she only knows about this place because of me? Think about it. She’s using you because she still loves me.
The idea made his gut clench painfully, but he dismissed it almost completely.
He could see why a man like Michael might say that, but Nico knew Maddie, and he knew what she was and wasn’t capable of. It was odd that he was so willing to defend her, to believe her, after what he’d been through with Claudette, and yet on some soul-deep level, he simply knew Maddie. He understood her, and yes, he believed in her.
She was all that was good in this world.
“Did he know?” The detective thumbed his hand towards where the car had been, with Michael stowed in the back. The space was empty now but Dante’s eyes fell to it.
“No.” A hollow sound. “If I had made him wait a week, this would never have happened.” And Nico would never have known the truth. Because Maddie hadn’t been going to tell him, had she?
He frowned, considering that. There were too many questions and he needed answers, but now wasn’t the time to push for them. He closed his eyes and saw Maddie as she’d been in Michael’s hands, the look of fear in her face, and he knew that none of the answers made a difference.
She’d been hurt by Michael and all Nico wanted to do was defend her, to make her better. The details weren’t important.
“It might not have happened here,” the detective spoke calmly, with kindness in his tone. “But a man like that generally doesn’t stop until he gets what he wants.” The detective looked over
his shoulder, towards the ocean. “If you want my opinion, she’s lucky it was here, with you, rather than somewhere else, when she was on her own.”
Again, he felt the suffocating sense of nausea barrelling through his chest. The idea of Maddie being alone with Michael – as she had been in the past – made him want to rewind time and rearrange Michael’s features, one by one. The constraint he’d brought in not doing so already had almost given him a stroke. He nodded, displaying none of his inner thoughts, none of the turmoil that was assaulting him.
The detective put a hand on Nico’s shoulder. “I have everything I need for now. Go inside. See the doctor and then put this behind you.”
When Nico returned to the living room, it was to see Maddie crouched beside Dante, her hands stroking his thick fur, her face pale, her body so slight, so small that he ached for her and what she’d been through.
His chest felt as though a tonne of cement had been dropped on it, and not from the effects of Michael’s punches. No, it was the sight of Dante and Maddie crouched together, both wounded, both stronger than he could ever put into words. The way Dante - who’d suffered enough abuse in his lifetime - had defended Maddie, then the way she’d done the same for him.
He stared at them and felt a little as though the bottom was falling out of his world. For weeks he’d thought how right Maddie was in his home, but for the first time, he realised that she belonged here, and that soon she’d be gone. And it wasn’t just his life that would be forever altered by her absence, it was Dante’s too.
“Come here, Nico,” Alessia instructed, so he dragged his gaze away from the sight they made, and he did so gratefully, because emotions were bearing down on him that he had no idea how to process.
“Make it quick.” He softened the warning tone to his voice with a tight smile. It made his eye feel like it was going to explode out of its socket.
“Careful,” she murmured, lifting her fingers to run over the cheekbone. He felt the shift of movement in the room, felt the moment Maddie came to stand at his side, but a little apart from him, as though she was awkward in some way, afraid to be too close. Damn it, he didn’t want that. Did she think he blamed her?
Just This One Summer: A billionaire forbidden love romance... (The Montebellos Book 2) Page 14
