It Began In Italy | ✔️

Chapter Five

The water is beyond the meaning of cold as it hits my waist, causing me to suck in a sharp breath. "It's okay when you're fully submerged," Nico says from across the water. We've been doing this for the better part of ten minutes.

Every time I move even an inch, I have to retreat due to the harsh scold of the freezing water.

"I can't... it's too cold," I groan as I attempt, yet again, to move deeper into the pool. The unshielded sun that once scorched me now barely warms my skin. Nico laughs from the other end, now moving closer to me.

"You can. It's like ripping off a bandage or whatever the saying is," Nico shrugs and I give him a small laugh at the notion.

"Ripping off a Band-Aid?" I suggest and he nods his head, eliciting another laugh from me. Those eyes bore into mine and I have to look away due to the pure strength of his gaze.

Nico moves closer and before I can draw in another breath or make a point to move away from him, his hand is wrapped around mine and he is tugging me into the ice bath. My head is dunked under, and I quickly break for the surface. As soon as my face is met with the warm air, I gasp for a bucket full of oxygen, sweeping my, now drenched, hair away from my face.

"Niccolo!" I squeal and swipe the water from my eyes. I am met with a loud laugh, and I can't cling to my fury any longer when I hear the sound. His laugh is sonorous and smooth like melted butter on a warm pastry.

"I wish you could have seen your face!" he laughs as a shiver rakes through me. Although he was right - it doesn't nearly feel as cold as it did before. But I'll never tell him that. "Priceless!" he laughs, and I mock-scowl at him.

"It's freezing," I say, and my teeth chatter. Yes, it's warmer than it was initially but now I am colder than ever. The coldness clings to every inch of my body, with the sun being my only shred of salvation.

"It's refreshing. The weather becomes too hot sometimes. It's a nightmare working down at the restaurant in this heat," he laughs, and I wish I suffered from similar problems.

"Was it your choice to work at the restaurant or is it an expectation?" I question as I wade my fingers through the water, watching as it ripples beneath my touch.

"Both, really. The restaurant has been in the Emiliano's bloodline for decades, it's always been inherited by the firstborn – meaning I'm next in line. But my family needed help beforehand, and I was more than willing to give it to them. I saw how they struggled to maintain a balance between keeping Doria Castle open and making sure the business is running smoothly. It's a lot for them to take on... so I love to help."

"Family is important to you... I like that," I smile and my heart warms. The idea that he is so willing to help his family through hard times without a second thought makes me rethink my entire perception of men altogether.

Maybe not all of them are manipulative pieces of shit. I smile to myself.

"They're very important to me," he returns the smile and I'm afraid it'll be too easy for me to grow overly fond of him.

"Me too. Albeit they get on my case a lot, but they only ever want what's best for me. I'm leaving for university when I go home and it's going to be hard leaving my parents to look after Nancy. I mean I've always been at home to help out whilst they've worked but with me not being there..." I trail off.

"I understand. It must be hard for you... but you have to think of yourself as well. If your future is in play, you need to put yourself first. By all means, continue to help them as much as you can but university is big, Heidi. What do you want to study?"

The plummeting temperature of the water is lost on my mind as we dive into a conversation with potentially the most substance I've ever had with someone of the male population.