Balotelli-Bale Series Book #4: THE OTHER MAN PART 1

Chapter 25: Going Back To Florence

A/n: new chapter

"...Dysfunctional or not we are still a family and we fit like pieces of a puzzle..."

Nick's POV
There are so many things about me that I wouldn't want Keira to find out. These are the sort of secrets that will scare her away. I don't want to explain why a black SUV is following us. It has been following us since we left the airport. It was the same thing when I was bringing Madeline to the vineyard. But Kei is too lost in her mind to notice. Maybe Athena exhausted her to silence. She was with us until 2am in the morning. She wouldn't stop talking.

"Are you all right?" I asked with my eyes fixed on the road. She's not responding. Her head is turned towards the window. I would guess it's the scenic view of the ascending sun over the Balotelli vineyard but it's not that. She is different. She's not the same woman I had breakfast with the day she nearly died. I rested my hand on her knee. I can feel the warmth of her body through the light dress. "Keira."

"Yes?" She looked at me.

"Are you all right?"

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't think you'll like the answer to that."

The SUV is still trailing us and increasing it's speed steadily. I have to address them before they cut me off. What will I tell Kei if they do?

"Put a pin on that honey." I came to a stop on the side of the long road leading to the villa. I got out of the car. "Stay in the car. Don't come out." I approached the SUV. Two men came out. "Why are you following me?"

"Signor Balotelli, Signor Mancini would like a word."

"Now? It's 6:30am in the morning!" I complained.

"It's not our business to question him. Get in the car." One of them opened the back door of the SUV.

If I get in the car, I'll leave Keira and I don't want to do that.

"One hour. Give me an hour and I'll see him."

They looked at each other. The one holding the door open is speaking to someone. I walked towards him only to see Russo in the back seat.

"An hour it is. We will follow you just to be sure you don't slip away."

"Fine." I walked back to the car.

"Who are those men?" Keira asked me.

"Family friends. They have forgotten the way home. They will follow." I started the car and drove off. True to their word, they are following. "What's on your mind? We need to talk about it."

"I have been thinking about what happened to me. I didn't imagine it. Margaux pushed me. When she came to my door, she threatened me. She carried out her threat. My mind has been lingering over it. I almost died. I'm not sure if I want to go through that again."

We are approaching the villa. I can see it. "What does that mean?" I took a second to look at her. Our eyes met momentarily before I paid attention to the road.

"It means this has to end."

"You're breaking up with me."

"Yes I am."

I gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Don't do that Kei."

"What we are doing is wrong."

I hit the breaks suddenly and so did the SUV. "Was it wrong when we were at the wedding and you wanted us to make love? Wad it wrong then?"