Page 70 of Ruthless King

“Enzo told me.”

“Ah. So, it’s Enzo’s word against my wife’s. I’m going to talk to her, and you’re not going to get in my way.” I walk past him.

“Nico, give it at least a day. Get your wits about you before you talk to her. Right now, it’s too raw.”

I hate to agree with Andrew, but he has a point. Aurora betrayed me, no matter which way I spin it. But the reality is I didn’t do my due diligence and look into her harder. I let myself get manipulated by a pretty face and a kind smile and sweet words. Aurora has a kind spirit, and I was drawn to that.

Now, I wonder if it was all fake.

I need answers, but I’m too fucking angry right now. I don’t want to accidently hurt Aurora because, even though I’m pissed, I don’t want to hurt a woman. Especially a woman I know I’ve fallen in love with. One I wanted to have children with. One I’ve experienced the loss of a child with.

“Fine,” I growl at Andrew. “I’ll give it a day, and then I’ll talk to her. Until then, neither you nor Enzo nor anyone else will lay a hand on her. Is that understood?”

Andrew opens his mouth, looking like he wants to object, then nods, thinking better of it. “Understood.”

I sulk to my office, needing time alone, and wondering what the fuck I’m going to do about my wife, who I don’t even know at all.

AURORA

“Someone let me out!” I scream. “Nico!”

I don’t know why I keep screaming. No one’s coming. There are no windows in this small room, so I have no idea how much time has passed. My only indication that it’s been a couple of hours is that I have to really pee.

No longer able to hold it, I have no choice but to let my bladder go in the corner of the room. I have no idea what I’m going to do when I have to do more than just pee.

I stay clear of the pee corner and lie down. Eventually, sleep takes me.

When I wake up, my stomach is rumbling for food, but despite screaming for someone to come help me, no one does. It hurts that Nico hasn’t come to me. I know I betrayed him. I know technically I deserve this for even trying to kill him, but I wish he would have at least spoken to me first. Heard my story.

I killed my aunt to save his life. I cried real tears over losing our baby. When I told him I loved him, I meant it.

Nico has surprised me in so many ways. He’s attentive and nice and has shown me he cares for me.

And yet, he’s not coming.

I’m not sure if it’s only an hour that passes or multiple, but I start to go stir crazy. I pace some more, but it doesn’t help. It only makes me more restless.

The only good part about not eating or drinking is I don’t have to pee, which I know is worrisome. If I don’t get food or water eventually, I’m going to die down here. My lips are already parched and dry.

And then I hear a sound that sends relief through me.

“Aurora,” Nico says through the door.

“Nico. Help me. Please.”

“You’ve been down here for a day. You must be thirsty.” He opens the door and hands me a bottle of water. I gulp half of it down.

Nico looks me over with expressionless eyes. “Tell me if it’s true what Andrew accused you of.”

I could deny it. I could try to fake it again as I did with Enzo. But I’m tired of lying.

“It’s true. I’m Giovanni Costa’s daughter.”

Nico closes his eyes for a long moment, then looks at me. “What was your plan? Clearly, you arrived at my house that day for a reason. Why marry me?”

“To kill you.”

“Well, you didn’t succeed, did you?”