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“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.
