The Body #4: Nico and Cosi

Chapter 14 (Nico): Without Interruptions

***TW for mentions of torture***

I got out of my car, only my Body training preventing me showing my irritation with Lucio's wife. Janie was with her other two guards, getting all the gifts she'd bought for Costanza out of the trunk, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Desti running toward me from the house.

Was something wrong with Costanza? My heart sped up, and then I saw the smile on Desti's face. For a minute I thought she was going to run straight into my arms, in which case she would have found herself on the ground because the only one in my arms would be my wife.

"Ohhh, you must be Costanza," Janie cooed, holding her hand out to Desti. "It's so nice to meet Nico's wife."

"That isn't my wife," I told her curtly, with disgust at the thought. I noticed Desti made a slight face at that, but her expression smoothed out quickly.

"Oh, how embarrassing!" Janie said, her tone sugar sweet. "My mistake. But with the way she came running out here to meet you, I'm sure you can understand me thinking this was your beloved."

I still didn't like her, but the undertones were getting stronger.

"This is Janie Feroce," I said to Desti.

"Oh! You're Lucio's wife?" Could you have asked a more dumbass question?

"No, he's Janie's husband," Janie said, and I forced my face to remain impassive. 

Lucio had his work cut out for him with Janie, and I could only be grateful that Costanza wasn't a vicious shrew or worse, friends with someone like Janie.

"She's here to see Costanza," I said to Desti.

"Oh, I'm afraid that won't be possible. Cosi just finished lunch, and she isn't feeling well."

"I'm sure she'll see me," Janie said confidently.

Janie made a move toward the house and Desti blocked her. What the fuck?

"It's not a good idea right now. She's not feeling well lately. Maybe tomorrow."

"What's wrong with her?" I asked Desti. "Is she OK?"

"Same old. She's just not feeling well. Her stomach's off, poor thing. We just finished lunch when you pulled up and she had to run upstairs to the bathroom."

"Well, I've heard she hasn't been feeling well, so my cook's arriving tonight in time for dinner to try to tempt her appetite," Janie said coolly.

"Oh, that's so kind, but it won't be necessary," Desti responded, missing Janie's authority. "I came to help, and I've taken over the cooking and cleaning and all the tasks associated with running Nico's household."

"Well, just think of meals as one less obligation to fulfill," Janie returned with slight venom in her tone. Just enough to give warning...similar to the rattle of a rattlesnake, signaling you to keep your distance right before it struck.

"No obligation," Desti said, and touched my arm, and I immediately stepped back from her touch. "I'm happy to help Nico in any way."

"And Cosi," Janie said pointedly, with such a sweet smile that I felt my skin crawl. This woman was dangerous.

"What?" Desti asked.

"I'm sure what you meant to say is you're happy to help Nico and Cosi in any way." Janie said, still with that sweet smile. "Now, let's go in and get the goodies I brought for Cosi set out."

Once we were inside, Janie set a plant on the coffee table, another littler plant in the kitchen, and the candlesticks on the dining room table.

"Now, if you'll point me in the direction of the master bedroom, I'll just pop my head in and meet your wife, Nico."