Gathering my bags from my bedroom, I left the room and headed downstairs. I felt nauseous all morning and all of yesterday especially after the hell of a night I had a few nights ago.
Nathanial was already waiting in the living room with Natalia and Olessia. I knew I was going to leave my daughter in the best of hands but as a mother, I knew that this would have a tremendous effect on my wellbeing. After all, this was the first time I would be away from her for more than a day.
Three weeks to be exact.
"Let me help you with this," Nate said as he spotted me at the top of the stairs and approached me with Evara, who was clinging to his back. I smiled as I thanked him and watched him put away my bags by the door.
I looked to the side where Nat and Olessia sat on the couch and approached them. The latter immediately smiled and hugged me the moment I sat down next to her.
"I'm going to miss you," she told me. "But I'll have your clone, so I guess I'll survive," I chuckled as Nate approached and put Eva down beside me.
"She'll be alright," Nathanial said. "And most importantly, you will too. You know that Eva will be well taken care of and I will help you when we're there," I nodded and looked over at my daughter who began to run around the room while she mumbled something under her breath.
"I hope things will go well," I muttered. "I'm experiencing paranoia from the many possible outcomes," I didn't need to look at Nate to know that he rolled his eyes. "Imagine what you would do if you were in my position," I looked up at him as he sat down on one of the armchairs.
"I would've told him immediately after ensuring that he would keep his mouth shut. You would've saved yourself the sorrow and you would've saved him from another marriage," Olessia snorted, making me frown.
"Not now, Nate," his mother warned him. He just raised his hand up in defence.
"She asked me what I would do and I told her."
"Everything will be fine," Natalia said before reaching out and placing her hand on my knee. I smiled at her gratefully and looked down at my lap. "And besides, go according to the situation. If you feel like he won't take it well at that moment, walk away," she added. "A woman's instinct is never wrong," I nodded before Nate's phone started to ring and he stood up.
"Excuse me," he said and walked away into the smaller hallway that led to the bathroom and a few storage rooms.
"I wish I could go there," Natalia said. "I could at least be there to support you," I smiled at her and nodded.
"It's alright. I've waited long enough and it was my choice to hide it from him. I've made my bed and I have to lie in it," Natalia looked at me sympathetically.
We heard Nate raise his voice as he spoke in Italian and one look at Natalia made me aware he was probably speaking to Nicolas.
"Well, when you see Vittoria, give her a big hug. I miss her tremendously," I smiled and nodded, grateful for the distraction of sorts.
"We should get going," we heard Nate say behind us.
"Does he know about my arrival?" I asked, looking at my lap.
"No. He asked yesterday who I was going with and I told him that I would be alone," sighing, I stood up and walked towards my little girl. She smiled as I squatted down to her and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Promise me you'll be a good girl?" She nodded before I hugged her tightly, silently wishing I could stay here with her or run away to a deserted island of some sort and live there forever. "Natalia will take good care of you," I pulled away from her, still holding onto her small hands. "And you'll have aunty Olessia with you towards the end, alright?" She smiled and nodded.
"Bring me back something," I heard Nate chuckle behind me as I nodded and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I promise," I stood up just as Nate said his goodbyes to Evara and then the rest of his family. He turned to me and waited for my cue. "Alright then," he walked over to the door and opened it while carrying all of my bags and a suitcase.
"Have the best time!" I heard Olessia say. I smiled at her before I waved goodbye and headed towards Nate's black Audi parked in my driveway.
"Everything will be fine, trust me," he said, making me feel slightly at ease. I knew that Nate wouldn't let me go if I was truly in danger. No one but us knew about Evara and no one would know unless it was Nicolas.
At least for now.
Nate opened the trunk and put away all of my stuff before kindly opening the passenger's door for me. I smiled before climbing in and putting on my seatbelt. We waved to the three girls standing by the door as Nate drove out of my property and onto the quiet and clean street of my neighbourhood.
"I'm pretty sure this won't end well," I muttered, making Nate sigh.
"With some but not all," he replied as I turned my head to the side, looking through my window. "Don't beat yourself up. I'll be there every step of the way," I nodded as he drove out of my area and entered the city. "And I'll take your side over anything. I've warned him many times before and I'll do it again," I turned my head to face him. "I'll skin him alive if he dares to touch you in any wrong way," Nate looked over at me for a brief moment. "You just have to promise me you will inform me if that happens."
"Of course," I wasn't sure if Nicolas would actually dare to touch me the way he did when we fought in the kitchen three years ago. However, considering the fact that I would be breaking him the news about his child that he had no idea of, I didn't know exactly the way he would react. "What about Vittoria? How is she doing?"
"Pretty good. She's getting married to a man she supposedly loves," I frowned as I fidgeted in my seat. I was pretty sure I would need a bucket later to throw up from the nausea I was experiencing.
"Supposedly loves?" I asked and saw Nate nod.
"She never told anyone about him until she came back three months ago with him on her arm and a massive rock on her finger."
"So, they think that it's all what? All for show?" Nate shrugged as we stopped at a traffic light.
"I think that. And maybe even Nicolas, but everyone else is thrilled. Marrying into the family of diplomats isn't exactly something one's family wouldn't desire," even more questions began to arise in my head.
"Is she marrying someone from Allegra's family?" Nathaniel shook his head before slowly accelerating with the car.
"Allegra is an only child. But Vittoria is marrying Matias Escarra, the son of Esperanza Escarra. She's the president of Spain and has secret ties to the Spanish mafia which is not known by the general public," I frowned as I looked away from Nathanial.
"And no one else thinks that it's suspicious?"
"Eduardo doesn't want to further damage the relationship with the Garduña. And despite Esperanza being connected, they're not close. Santiago, who was the last ruler before his son took over, was cheating on his wife, whose sister is Esperanza," my eyes widened. It was strange to see how intertwined all of the families were.
"So, Esperanza despises the Spanish mafia because of her sister?" Nate nodded.
"Sort of. There have been some talks that she also doesn't want to be associated with them because she suspects they were the ones to kill her husband in a car crash."
"Do you think they did?"
"Doubt it. But you never know with them. Both mafias enjoy killing as a form of revenge." I didn't ask him further about the supposed revenge the president's husband's death may have brought but it did leave me thinking. "I don't think it's bad that Vic has found someone, but I do find it suspicious that it is Matias she has found. I don't know, I might be overanalysing this entire situation, but it could be a way of gaining access to the family."
"But Vittoria would never betray her brother," Nate nodded as he drove into the airport grounds.
"But she would do it if it meant her father was brought down," he added. "Nicolas would be capable of returning the empire to its full glory but the downfall of Eduardo is the crucial step to ensure that he could get the throne, so to speak," Nate explained. "If you had had a recording device on you when he told you about the girl he helped and thus ruined his family over, he would be rotting underground," I glanced at him as we came to a stop. I noticed a few men dressed in all-black approaching us and recognised them as Nate's security.
"And there's no other way of proving him guilty?" I asked.
"It's the effect of being caught, Brielle. He has all of the information he needs to shut him up for good, but it's the satisfaction that Nicolas craves. After everything he's endured, he wants to feel good about busting his father," Nate opened his door and got out. I flinched when my door opened and I saw one of the two men I noticed earlier, standing beside it.
"Right this way, Miss," I smiled and got out of the car with his help. He looked much younger than Nathanial and had darker features. His face was escorted with many freckles and his hair was dark almost as black as a raven. He did have one thing with Nate in common and that was that they were both tall as hell.
I followed Nathanial to the private jet he owned and after we were inside, it all seemed to hit me at once. I sat on the black leather couches, feeling a sense of fear and excitement fill me. I was scared of everything that was to come but had been craving to see Nicolas for all three years. Even if he didn't want anything to do with me, I was ready to make amends and remain some kind of friends for the sake of our daughter.
It was the most I could ask from him.
"Calm yourself, Bri," Nate handed me a tumbler with ice and something clear with bubbles. I knew it was a gin and tonic yet thought about declining it. "Trust me, it'll ease the havoc in your head," I smiled at him and took the glass from him.
Nathanial knew best how to work with those feelings but for some reason, I believed that nothing would save me unless it was a time machine. I would go back three years to the moment I found out I was pregnant and immediately call Nico and tell him he had to come to the States.
But I couldn't change the course of time just when I wanted. I had to live with the choices I had made and had to attempt to make things better.
After a few gins and tonics, I felt more at ease and Nate's company surely helped with that. He found topics of conversation that would cheer me up rather than burden me further, and made me laugh on multiple occasions.
After many hours and a few naps, we landed on Italian soil and I had to quickly brace myself for what was to come.
—------
We arrived at the overly familiar estate on the hill, overlooking the beautiful city of Rome and once I got out with the help of Nate, the sight of Vittoria atop the stairs made me smile. Once she noticed me, she squealed and practically ran down the stairs in her dark red heels until she reached me and wrapped her arms around me.
She seemed to have gotten only prettier since the last time I saw her three years ago. Her blond hair had darker roots now but was nonetheless culled neatly, she wore a black, loose blouse and dark cigarette-type pants. She pulled away from me with a massive grin on her face as she took me in.
"Mio dio, you have become even more beautiful," I probably blushed from the compliment.
"I can say the same thing about you, Vittoria," she smiled and hugged me once more.
"Oh, how I missed you," she held me close for a little longer before she pulled away and greeted Nathanial. They engaged in a short hug and a few nice words before Vic grabbed my hand and practically dragged me up the stairs. I looked back at Nate, not knowing how to react to Vic, but Nate just smiled as he put on his sunglasses and walked away with his phone in hand.
Vittoria and I entered the estate which was far busier than I remember it being when I was first here years ago. It seemed like everyone was rushing to complete some tasks and were completely oblivious to anything happening outside it.
"I wish I could've visited you. I tried contacting you but I assume you weren't ready for the catch-up." I smiled as she dragged me to the emerald lounge. "Then I got caught up with work and travelling-"
"It's okay. I've been busy myself," I said, careful not to reveal too much. We sat down on the same couch. She looked at me with a smile and began asking whatever was on her mind.
"Tell, me how you've been. But without the bullshit," I smiled faintly as I looked away for a second to gather my thoughts.
"Alright. It's been tough because of my sister but I've found ways to live," Vittoria nodded as she listened. "I work at the Matrix now full-time which gives me some stability," she smiled. "And I've found a good friend. Oliver is his name. He's truly the best with-" I stopped myself before I said too much. "He's a great friend. He helped me get through the grief and then slowly come back to life."
"I'm so happy for you, Brielle. It's a shame that all of that happened and I wasn't able to come see you. But you have no idea how happy it makes me to have you here," I smiled before she braced me with another hug. "And good grief you've become even prettier," I blushed as I chuckled.
"No, I haven't," Vittoria gently slapped my arm.
"Yes, you have. Those three years really changed you," I nodded, knowing just how things have actually changed.
"Olessia is devastated that she couldn't be here," I added.
"It's alright, I spoke to her on the phone a few days ago and we've arranged to meet up in the near future." Vic sighed as she looked away from me, lost in some thought. "You have no idea how different everything has been since you left," I was about to ask her to clarify but the sound of a familiar voice got a hold of my attention.
"Well look who we have here," I smiled at the sight of the beautiful Verona, dressed in a tight-fitting, navy-blue dress, with her dark brown hair straightened and pushed back. She approached me as I stood up and later embraced her with a short hug. She pulled away with both hands on my arms and looked at me. "Aren't you the most beautiful person here?" I smiled.
"You two need to whine down with the compliments," the two of us sat down next to Vic and continued our conversation. It was all going exceptionally well until Verona looked up and I could feel the entire energy in the room shift.
"Uh-oh," I followed her eyes until I saw the man I had been dreading to see with Nathanial to his left-hand side.
After so many years apart, I found him irresistibly handsome and it seemed as though he did in fact get more attractive over the time we spent separated. He looked well-taken care of, yet his under eyes begged to differ.
As our eyes met, it was evident from his expression that my unexpected presence didn't elicit a warm welcome. The look on his face conveyed a mixture of surprise, unease, and perhaps even a hint of displeasure. Without exchanging any pleasantries or acknowledging my arrival, he cut right to the chase.
"We need totalk," he stated abruptly, devoid of any introductory niceties. His wordshung in the air, leaving an air of tension and urgency as if our conversationheld significant weight and importance.