Chapter-12 Promise

Nico

Thankfully, Gianna had calmed down enough when we headed downstairs for breakfast. Mirella was chirping away in her happy world, and the aroma of fresh coffee did wonders to lift my mood.

“I like her,” Gianna smiled.

“She is very reliable,” I agreed.

“You have no problem taking her help,” she muttered, and there was something about her tone.

Wait…was she jealous of my housekeeper?

“I don’t know how to cook…” I answered, slightly amused. “Or the other stuff she helps me out with.”

“Ah, so something you don’t know then.” I fought the smirk that threatened as she gave me a look before scampering ahead, greeting Mirella with a bright smile who seemed all too pleased to see her until her eyes fell on me.

"Oh mio Dio!” she exclaimed, rushing over to me. “What happened to you?”

“Nothing.” I rolled my eyes at the exaggerated reaction. Were all women like this? “Just an accident.”

“There is always some accident,” she grimaced, shaking her head. “You never take care of yourself, signor. Così sbagliato…you’re married now. Look at her…what will happen to her if something happens to you?” I blinked as she gestured toward Gianna, whose face tightened immediately before she looked away. The thought hadn’t really crossed my mind before.

But would it even matter to her if something happened to me?

“Stop exaggerating, Mirella,” I scowled. “I just injured my hand…”

“Well, last time you…”

“Can I get my coffee, please?” I cut her off before she could go about spilling all the gory details.

Last time, I came home with a bullet, but Gianna didn’t need to know that. Mirella blushed, getting my point, and simply nodded before rushing away to take care of whatever she was cooking. I sat down beside Gianna, and again it felt a bit weird to have someone to have breakfast with now or to just share my space. I was married; I needed to get that into my fat brain big time.

“So, if it’s not an invasion of your privacy…Can I know what happened last night?” Gianna inquired, turning to me.

“I told you…I got mad and crashed my hand against the window of my car,” I answered. Her eyes narrowed, and I could see I was testing her patience today. But why was this so much fun?

“Why did you get mad? What’s going on, Nico?” she demanded. “And don’t say nothing because I…I did accidentally overhear your conversation with Caelian that morning at the hotel. I know this marriage just an arrangement to you…” she halted as Mirella quickly served us breakfast, her face impassive, but her eyes filled with sympathy before scurrying away. She probably heard the ‘arrangement’ part.

“I know it's an arrangement but…I would still like to know if my husband will be coming back home alive or not. It’s not fun sitting around here alone, wondering about that.” Her voice dipped as she said the last words and her concern for me was flattering but totally wasted. But she was right. Gianna was my wife. She deserved to know.

“For the past few months, someone has been destroying our shipments,” I said. “And that has cost us millions in losses. Last night, someone lit a fire in one of our main warehouses.” Gianna blinked, her eyes widening in shock.

“Who would dare do that?” she asked. “I mean…I have heard Leonardo boast about how no one dares to mess with the Ammassari or the Baldocchi.”

“Well, someone has dared,” I grimaced, taking a sip of my coffee. “The worst part is that I can’t seem to get a hold of whoever it is, and it’s driving me crazy. Someone is clearly playing with us, and when I get hold of that bastard…” I trailed off, letting Gianna fill in the gaps. But the truth is, when I finally catch the bastard behind this… he’d wish he’d never been born.

“I am sorry for your losses,” Gianna said, looking truly concerned.

“It’s not the money…it’s the audacity that’s bugging me,” I said. “No one has dared mess with us in years, especially since the treaty, so this…it does not sit well.”

“I don’t want to sound like a broken record or an idiot who doesn’t get the gravity of the problem, but will you please…take care of yourself and not do something reckless?” She looked genuinely worried as she peeked up at me. “Please?”

“I am not that fragile, Gianna,” I muttered glumly. “Don’t worry.”

“Yeah, those scars sure are telling,” she mumbled, picking at her food. I blinked, a bit taken aback before the memories from last night flashed in my mind.

"What happened?"

"You wouldn’t want to know."

Right. She saw them. The remnants of a past I could never erase—the scars, the ghosts, the weight of everything that had made me who I was. A past I never wanted touching her, never wanted to stain the light in her eyes.

Even if it meant keeping her away from myself.

“Don’t worry about me, Gianna,” I said because I didn’t have anything better than that. I never needed to console someone regarding my safety before. “And trust me, I am tougher than I look. It’s not just your brothers who can kill the bad guys…” I don’t think she found that funny as she threw me a glare.

“You need a lot of work on your sense of humor,” Gianna grimaced. “And good to know that my concern amuses you.” I grimaced at myself for doing it again.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant is…don’t worry about me. I don’t go about getting into trouble all the time. Mirella just exaggerates…”

“And those scars?” she asked. “What are those?” My jaw tightened as her dark eyes studied me. It almost seemed like she could see right through me and into the darkness that lingered in my soul.

“Those are a different story,” I said. “Now, I need to get going, or I will be late for the Council meeting. If you need anything, Mirella will help, and if you go out, make sure Carlo, Matteo, and Carina are there.”

“Do I really need three bodyguards?” she made a face. “It’s annoying.”

“Yes, you do,” I nodded. “And this is non-negotiable. I have enough on my plate, Gianna. I don’t want to sit and worry about you as well.”

“So it’s okay if you worry about me, but I don’t get to do that?” Gianna demanded, crossing her arms across her chest. I pursed my lips, amused and impressed at her quick wit.

“Let’s debate on that later,” I said instead and almost leaned in to kiss her goodbye. It startled me a bit, and I held back, giving her a nod instead. “Bye,”

“Will I see you tonight?” she called just as I headed for the door.

And there was something in the way she said it that made me halt and turn around. The sadness and longing in her eyes stirred something in me, making me feel like shit again. I almost wanted to say ‘don’t wait for me’ but instead the next words that left my mouth thoroughly surprised me too.

“Yes…and be ready by eight. I will pick you up for dinner.” Gianna’s eyes widened, and the genuine happiness that flooded her face was both endearing and baffling at once. I just asked her for dinner. It was no big deal.

“Really?” she smiled, scampering over to me. I nodded.

“I promised we would talk…I try my best to keep my promises,” I said. Her smile widened, and she looked so genuinely happy that it almost made me happy, too.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “I look forward to it.” I nodded in response.

“Goodbye then. See you later.”

“Goodbye, Nico,” Gianna smiled, and I blinked as she stood on her tippytoes and kissed me on the cheek. “Be safe…”

“You too,” I muttered and quickly turned on my heels and walked out. And as I turned around for a split second, I could still see her standing by the doorway, watching me with a smile on her beautiful face.

It unsettled me quite a bit as I climbed into the car, her smiling face disappearing from my sight as we pulled out. I did not understand her. Everything about Gianna unsettled me, made me question my sanity and myself, and yet there was something about her that...that soothed some ache in me. I didn’t know what it was, and I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to. But what I knew was that tonight I cannot screw up.

She deserved that much.