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I look toward him, smiling at the memory.
“Lucia can be so extra sometimes,” I say shaking my head, my thoughts trailing to the last time I saw her.
I miss my sister. It’s been a couple of months since we saw each other. She’s always trying so hard to be independent, which is why she moved to New York on her own. According to her, she wanted me to be able to live a life without her constantly being a burden. Which is ridiculous because to me she’s anything but a burden.
“Does she know about the wedding?”
I sigh. “No, she doesn’t. She would freak out if she knew.”
Nico nods at that. “You do realize she can come back. I was never going to hurt her. I’d die before I let anything happen to either of you,” he says sincerely.
And I believe it. Nico might be a complete ass, but he’s still the same man I knew ten years ago. The one who would have done anything to protect us. Except in that one instance where things were out of his control. I had to step up to protect us then, and I hated it so much.
That’s another thing that pisses me off when I think back to the past. How dependent on him I was. Nico likes to talk about how strong and brave I am, but I only became like that after I left him.
“I know, but I think she likes it in Sao Paulo. Plus, she deserves the break.”
He hums in reply.
“I’m surprised Vlad didn’t put up much of a fight about us coming here alone,” I state.
“Oh, he did,” Nico mutters. “Which is why he and a few other guards are currently staying at a hotel in town.”
“Seriously?” I ask, laughing.
Of course Nico’s shadow refused to leave him alone. Vlad’s loyalty to him is actually adorable. I know it’s not unfounded—they’ve saved each other’s lives so many times.
“Yeah, he said, and I quote, ‘being in your position means you’re always open to attacks. You can’t afford to be vulnerable’,” Nico tells me, voice deeper in what I assume is an impersonation of Vlad.
“He’s right, though,” I say with a grin.
“I know, which is why I didn’t put up much of a fight about him and the guys coming along. As long as they stay out of sight, it’ll be fine.”
“But they could always stay with us at the beach house,” I protest. “It’s big enough.”
Too big in my opinion. When we would go there during summers, it would be my sister and I, and our guards, who were basically our friends. Camila and even Adrian came with us a couple of times.
Plus, I’m a little nervous about spending so much time alone with Nico. Who knows what he’s planning? I don’t like how hard it is to read him and his motivations.
“No,” Nico replies immediately. “The next few days are for us, sweetheart.”
I ignore the butterflies that swirl through my stomach at that. I am so screwed.
I’ve done a good job of pretending away any feelings I might have for him all this while. But my armor is only so strong. And Nico knows that. I inwardly sigh before looking away to focus on the side of the road, the familiar places we are driving past.
Soon enough, we pull up to the beach house, a luxurious, three-story mansion with pristine white paint and expansive glass windows that overlook the ocean. It sits majestically at the edge of the sandy dunes, with a grand wraparound porch that boasts elegant outdoor furniture and a stone fireplace that is perfect for cool evenings. The air is filled with the salty tang of the ocean, and I can hear the distant crash of waves.
Stepping out of the car, I take a deep breath, letting the scent of the sea fill my lungs. "It's even more beautiful than I remembered."
Nico comes around to my side, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it is."
Inside, the décor of the house is a perfect blend of modern elegance and coastal charm. The open concept living area features plush sofas, intricate rugs, and a marble fireplace. The floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, offering uninterrupted views of the ocean.
Staring at it makes me think of the beach not too far from us. My lips pull up in a small smile.
“Race you to the beach?” I ask Nico, who’s standing beside me.
He arches an eyebrow. “We both know I’ll beat you, Aurora.”
