Page 83 of Single Malt Drama
Marco
“Nic,for the hundredth time, I don’t want to take over for Gabe.” I grabbed her face and planted a kiss on her lips.
She deadpanned. “Your mother can be persuasive.”
“My mother can bitch all she wants. Nothing is going to change my mind.” We’d argued about her conversation with my mother for three days. I was sick of talking about it and frustrated that my wife wouldn’t let it go.
She walked into the kitchen, took the antacids from the cabinet and frowned. “Can you pick up some more of these on your way home?”
“Stomach bothering you again?” I’d offered to take her to the doctor a week ago, but she’d refused.
“It’s the greasy southern food we’ve been eating. I’m not used to it.” She raised her chin as if daring me to argue.
I held up my hands. “No problem. I’ll stop at the store tonight.”
I had a hunch her condition had more to do with our baby-making practice, but she obviously knew more about female reproductive system than I did.
Nico nodded and glanced toward the window. “Cyril’s late.”
“We’re on bayou time. People down here don’t believe in clocks. Are you sure you’ll be all right?” I hated to leave her behind, but taking her to the Quarter was out of the question.
I’d received a call from one of my father’s men in Trapani earlier in the day. He had it on good authority Giancarlo Lazio and his personal security team had boarded a private plane in the early morning hours. I made a call to my guy in IT, and an hour later, I had confirmation Nico’s sibling was en route to New Orleans.
“Marco, for the hundredth time, I’ll be fine.” She mimicked my voice before draping her arms over my shoulders. “There’s no way my brothers can find us. We’ve lived here two months, and we still have a hard time finding our way back to the cabin.”
“This party is going to suck without you.” I placed one hand on the small of her back, and held hers with the other. Singing her favorite Ed Sheeran song, I spun us through the tiny living room. “When I get home, we’re going to turn the lights down low and dance naked.”
“Only if you sing to me.” She melted against me.
“Anything for you.” I brushed my lips across hers.
“I’m looking forward to it, but you’re going to be late if you don’t go soon.”
I frowned at the clock. “That’s the shitty part about surprise parties. You have to be on time or you look like an asshole.”
Nico laughed and followed me onto the porch. “Be careful.”
“You, too.”
Stuart, the head of my personal security team, met me on the floating dock. He nodded to me and smiled up at my wife. “I’ll take good care of him. Don’t worry.”
“Thank you.” Nico rewarded him with a smile.
It shocked me when he spoke to her so casually. Security rarely addressed anyone except the person who’d requested their services. Then again, Stuart had been my bodyguard since Joe’s murder. He knew I was far less formal than my father, or even Gabe.
Cyril’s boat rounded the bend, followed by a double-fingered, ear-piercing, whistle.
She waved to the crazy Cajun like a kid at a Mardi Gras parade.
“Love you, babe.”
Nico’s expression softened. “I love you, too.”
I gave her one last smile and headed for a different marina. It was a pain in the ass to get to, and twice as far, but with the Lazios looking for us, a little caution seemed warranted.
“Sir. We have word the plane touched down an hour ago. We have people on them.”
“Thanks.” I tied off the boat. “We need to hustle. I’m running late.”