Nicco: Devil's Spawn Book 1

Ch. 42: Right Fucking Now

NICCO

My hands tighten into fists. As much as I miss my old, carefree life, I must agree with my sister. It would be selfish and cowardly to run away now. I cannot turn my back on mia famiglia when our kingdom remains under siege. "Do not worry, Vivi. I understand what the threats knocking at our door. I intend to see things through for once."

"Bene," Vivi praises. "Mamma and Papà will be so pleased to hear it, Nicco."

My eyes steal a look at Aria. She has been waiting in the Bentley for a while now. "I am glad they will finally be satisfied. Does this mean I can go now? My fiancée is waiting for me."

"Unfortunately, no. There is one more thing I must discuss with you."

I groan, "This is why I dread your visits. There is always 'one more thing' with you."

Vivi ignores my complaint. Her gaze, however, follows mine. It lands directly on Aria. "According to my sources, a package was delivered to your fiancée not too long ago."

A small red flag flashes across my mind. I try to dismiss it.

"Aria receives packages all the time," I remind her. "It is one of her many duties as my assistant."

"I understand that receiving packages is part of her job description," Vivi mumbles, "but this particular package was addressed to Signor Senarath. However, Aria did not return it to the sender. Nor did she re-deliver it to her father."

Why did she choose to keep the package?

I fight the dread building in my stomach. "Do you know what was inside the package?"

"We believe it might be a phone."

I curse again. This is not looking good. Usually, the only people who need a second phone are the ones with shady secrets they want to hide.

Vivi's gaze meets mine. "How much do you trust your fiancée?"

"I do not know anymore. You must think that your brother is a fucking idiot," I lament quietly, "to let some girl get under my skin in such a way."

"You are no fool."

"I feel like one, though."

"The world might see you as someone who has never taken anything seriously. I know better. There is more to you than meets the eye. Just because you act foolish does not mean you are a fool."

"Your confidence in me is misplaced. I am exactly what everyone thinks of me."

My sister shrugs. "I do not think so. Like me, you trust no one. We grew up around too many assholes with agendas. You and I simply evolved in different ways to protect ourselves. I aimed for perfection, using my excellence as a shield. To distance myself from the idiots who wished to take advantage of me."

I quip, "Know what I admire most about you, Vivi? Your humility."

Undeterred, Vivi ignores my teasing. "You, on the other hand, have done the opposite. Pretending to be useless and unreliable. It worked. Your displays of incompetence have certainly deterred many from exploiting you."

"Your praise sounds like a backhanded compliment," I mutter in droll tones.

She casts me a look of deep concern. "Who says it was a compliment? I am simply trying to get a read on you. Imagine my complete and utter shock when my brother—who has never expressed any interest in having serious relationships—informs me that he has gotten himself engaged. To his personal assistant, no less."

"I can see how my decision might have caught you off guard." Frowning, I grumble, "But where are you going with this?"

"I suppose, what I am trying to say is that, now that I have met your fiancée, I understand why you would want to be with someone like her."