My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out; my gaze locked in on the screen as I call out for my mother once again.
Bestie:The guy’s name is Ezra Blackwell. Just in case you want to look into him.
My friend knew me all too well. Before this situation with Nico, he and I talked about me staying home until Noah was atleast one-year-old. I didn’t mind that idea at first, but the longer I’ve been away from work, the more I’ve missed what I do. I sometimes find myself creating mockups of homes on my tablet.
Noah nearly leaps out of my arms. I grab him just in time, dropping my phone in the process.
“Whoa.” I give my son my full attention. “Where are you in a rush to go?”
He’s holding his arms out, whimpering. Turning toward where Noah is focused causes my heart to nearly burst out of my chest and onto the floor. Sitting in my mother’s leather wing-back chair, is none other than my husband.
Nico’s thick dark brows sit low over his dark brown eyes, causing him to look menacing. His gaze is locked on me. Just the way he looks at me has my pulse racing and a heat pooling in the pit of my stomach. His dark jean-clad legs are spread wide as he leans back in the chair, looking as if he’s at home.
Noah reaches for his father again with a whimper. I hold on to him tighter. Not a word has been spoken between Nico and I. Part of me wants to ask how he found me, but I should’ve known nothing was going to keep this man from locating me. No matter where I ran.
Finally, he speaks, sending the heat in my stomach lower.
“Bring me my son, Tiffany.”
The words are a demand and a warning all wrapped in one. Just then, my mother walks into the sitting room looking like a million bucks. When her gaze lands on me, her brows dip into a slight frown before she smiles.
“Tiffany, you didn’t tell me you were married to Niccolo Basille.” Evelyn runs a hand down her dress. “My daughter has always kept secrets from me. No matter how much I tried to get her to open up.”
If I weren’t so distracted by the man staring at me as if he wanted to either strangle or fuck me, I would’ve had somethingto say to my mother. However, I don’t have the energy to correct her.
Noah starts to cry. He has no idea why I won’t take him to his father. All he knows is that he sees his daddy and he can’t get to him. Relenting, I walk my son over to his father. Nico’s gaze follows every step I take until I’m standing in front of him. Only then does he take his eyes off me, reaching for his son.
The moment Noah is in his father’s arms, he stops crying and even smiles up at him. Nico places a kiss on Noah’s cheek. He then buries his head in his son’s hair and inhales, closing his eyes. Guilt eats at me. I knew that taking Noah from Nico would drive him crazy. He adores his son.
When those dark brown eyes flash back up to me, they are blazing with so much anger I step back.
“Tiff, don’t hover over the man,” Evelyn scolds. “Have a seat.”
For the first time, I take my mother’s advice on something. Backing away, I take a seat on the sofa. Noah babbles at his father as if he’s telling him everything he’s missed in the six days we’ve been away. Watching them interact causes a tear to roll down my cheek.
“So, Mr. Basille, how long are you staying?” Evelyn asks.
Nico’s gaze flashes to me before shooting back over to my mother. “We’re heading out in the morning. I have to be back for a business meeting.”
I don’t miss how he said we instead of I.
“Did you come with someone else?” I speak for the first time since I spotted him.
The glare he shoots me could cause a weaker man to cower. I won’t pretend that it didn’t scare the shit out of me.
“No.”
For the next ten minutes, I remain silent as Nico bonds with his son and answers questions from my mother. Her questions are mundane things. They speak of places they’ve visited andevents she might have seen him at. She likes to think she has close proximity to the wealthiest people in the world.
The entire time, I nervously pick at the hem of my shirt. I’ve picked at it so much I’m surprised the damn thing hasn’t unraveled. Had you asked me seven days ago if I feared my husband, I would have laughed in your face. Now, now I’m not so sure. Part of me says Nico would never physically hurt me. Yet the image of that bullet penetrating Marcus’s head flashes before my eyes.
“Mrs. Peters, if you don’t mind, my wife and I are in need of a private discussion.” His deep voice has my head popping up to lock gazes with him. The nervous energy in my body buzzes like a wasps’ nest underneath my skin.
I look at my mother, pleading with my eyes for her to stay, to tell him no, he couldn’t be alone with her one and only daughter. Not that I expected he would hurt me, but I wasn’t sure what he would do. And honestly, I didn’t want to be left in a room alone with him.
Evelyn blushes. “Of course, you two can speak in the guest room. I’ll watch the baby. Tiffany show him to the room.”
I swear this woman has no fucking motherly instinct. Letting out a deep breath, I stand to my feet. Nico hesitates for a moment. It’s not like he knows Evelyn. However, I’m not concerned about her hurting Noah. She may not care for kids, but she’d never hurt them. Besides, she isn’t Noah’s favorite person in this house, but he does know her.
