CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
It’s Adding Up
Nico
Five months ago…
I hadn’t expected Brad’s call for help, but I am grateful for the distraction. It has been over five months since that call and the meeting it lead up to. I have buried myself in helping to set up the new business.
I have to do something. Anything to keep my mind off of Reese. Getting to know the players that are our new clients and helping Tam to woo more has helped to get me through.
“This is unbelievable,” Valentina growls as she pushes a stroller into my office. She parks little Eva Nicola Donati right in front of me, then begins to pace my office.
My little niece was given a version of my name as a middle name. Valentine has not been able to find Reese for me. I told Valentina she didn’t have to follow through with her promise, but she ranted on about her word being bond. Only Val.
“What is the problem this time,” I coo at Eva, who is smiling up at me kicking her chubby little legs.
“This is Reese, not Rita, not Sim, not Annabella, not Kelly, she is not me! How the hell has she managed to just disappear? Uncle Valentine can’t find her. Nate can’t find her. Michael can’t find her, heck, I have even called in a favor with the Blacks,” Valentina huffs.
“It’s been seven months. No one has gotten as much as a single hit on where she is. I have a plan. I don’t think Uri understands how important this is to us. So I need you to keep Eva for a few hours,” Valentina nods at her own thoughts.
“Wait, what,” I say snapping my head away from my drooling niece.
“Uri just got back from taking Vita and the twins to Italy. Your mother is not going to make it back for the holidays so Uri took the kids to spend time with her. I plan to turn things up on him,” Valentina smirks. “I have my ways you know. I just need you to watch Eva and I will make Uri see that we need his help. He can find her. I know he can.”
I rub my forehead and sigh. It’s been seven months. It seems like Reese really doesn’t want to be found. I don’t know how to feel about that anymore. I haven’t slept in our bedroom in months. I sleep in the upstairs master. I have done everything I can to push her to the back of my mind.
If it weren’t for Valentina’s daily calls, I probably would be somewhat successful in forgetting about the woman that ripped my heart out. I am just at the end of my rope.
“I don’t think he is ignoring how important this is to us. You have said yourself that he has been traveling more and more to London. He is busy. We all are, Michael has even been helping out with this place remotely,” I rumble. “If she doesn’t want to be found, maybe I should just move on.”
Even as I say the words my heart screams no. I am in disbelief of the courage I have to even say them. I don’t feel them in my heart.
Valentina storms over to my desk and slams her hand down on it. Eva jumps and whimpers. I eye Val like she has lost her mind.
“You can’t give up. I see the way you two look at each other. I’ve seen what you have been through. I don’t know what happened to make her leave, but I know she loves you. We are not giving up,” Val voice trembles. “We can’t give up. There is more to this Nico. I know there is.”
I stare at her for a long time without saying a word. “I will watch Eva. Do what you must, but the damage is done, Tina. All I want now is to know why,” I say and turn to release my niece from her stroller.
Val wipes at a stray tear, opening her mouth to say something more. She changes her mind and shakes her head before she walks around the desk to kiss Eva’s little head and then placing a kiss on my cheek. Without another word she turns and leaves.
“So it is me and you, Bella. Your mother thinks she is a slick one. You have more clothes and toys at my house than I do,” I say to Eva and chuckle.
~B~
Reese
I smile in the mirror at my baby bump. I am seven and a half months and I’m huge. I take a few selfies for the diary I’m putting together for Nico. I have pictures, video, and written logos for him to go through. I know he is going to be hurt that he missed all of this. I’m trying to make it up to him, however I can.
This is the first pregnancy that I have had morning sickness. It is also the first time I have maintained my weight for the first trimester. I am so hopeful. I haven’t had any spotting and everything looks great. This is the furthest I have ever gotten.
It will be time to send for Nico soon. Dr. Hashem and my OB both agreed I should not try to fly back home. A part of me is happy that I’ll be giving birth here in Italy. Nico is going to have the surprise of his life. I am more determined than ever to see this pregnancy through.
“Auntie Reese,” Vita gasps from behind me.
I turn to see her little blue eyes on me. They go wide as they land on my belly. Vita looks behind her, then steps into the room and closes the door.
I can’t believe how fast she has grown up. Vita is so tall now. She still looks like a little female version of Uri, but you can see little parts of Val here and there. The little lady walks over and cups my belly in her hands. She looks up at me.
“Is this why you ran away from Uncle Nico,” Vita whispers.
A tear slips from my eye and I wipe it away quickly. My throat is too clogged to speak, so I nod, after trying to swallow the lump with no success. I see the wheels turning in this little girl’s head.
“You’re going to go back right. So Uncle Nico isn’t sad anymore,” Vita asks.
“Yes, Sweetie, I’m going back soon,” I sniffle. I don’t try to explain to her that I will have to wait for Nico to come to me.
“Good, I love you, Zietta Reese. I love Uncle Nico too. I want you to be happy,” Vita says. “Nonna said we were going to the other house in the morning and that me and the boys shouldn’t come up here. Is it because you are hiding?”
I giggle. “Yes, Sweetie,” I say and smooth a hand over her curls.
“I won’t tell. I promise,” Vita whispers.
“Thank you,” I wink at her.
~B~
Nico
I can’t get my conversation with Valentina out of my head. She is right. This is Reese, how is she evading some of the best trackers in the business. I hadn’t known that Val went to the Blacks. I personally did not because it isn’t the easiest thing to admit that your fiancée has taken off.
Now that I know that Wyatt and Felix weren’t even able to find Reese, my hackles are up. Something isn’t right. I was a bit disappointed when Valentine came up with nothing, but when my brothers failed to find a trace of Reese I was floored.
Eva has been fussy so I have been pacing with her in my arms as I work this feeling out in my mind. Val is right. Reese did not leave alone. I think of her ex-husband, but he isn’t stupid enough to come between me and Reese. Besides, he has his own life. His boys call Reese for Christmas and Reese calls them on birthdays, but she rarely ever really talks to Ty.
The boys grew attached to Reese when the little one broke his arm and Ty brought him to Reese for physical therapy. They are good boys. Ty wouldn’t risk his life or his family by helping Reese like this.
Whoever is helping her has money. Reese hasn’t touched one of her accounts. To hide this well she would have to have some type of financial help.
“Who is helping your Zietta Reese and why,” I say to Eva and kiss her little forehead.
She yawns up at me and pulls a face as she breaks wind. It is so loud and long it feels the room, but her whole little body relaxes and her lids start to droop. I guess it has been the gas all along. I chuckle and kiss her little head again.
“That was not the answer I was looking for, Bella,” I chuckle.
Suddenly, I stop in my tracks. More of Val’s words come back to me. Uri has been taking more and more trips out of the country. Michael and Sim have been gone for as long as Reese has been gone.
“Son of a bitch, they wouldn’t dare,” I growl. “But why?”
None of it makes sense. I can’t understand why they would help her run from me. My mind races as I piece things together. Uri went to London when Reese disappeared, the same time Michael left.
Val keeps saying that Uri isn’t giving this his all. That he doesn’t get how important this is to us. Oh, my brother knows damn well how important Reese is to me. My brother is also powerful enough to keep her hidden from me for seven fucking months.
My mind reels back to five months ago, after the meeting with Brad, Sam, Uri, and Tam’s boss. Uri rode back with me to my hotel. I was excited about that new business opportunity, but the moment I realized I wouldn’t be able to share the news with Reese, I was back to a brooding bear.
“You cannot stop living, Nico. This favor Brad is asking for is a great thing for you. Reese would appreciate you helping her friends. Distract yourself with this. In time, the rest will work out,” Uri said to me.
“No way,” I shake my head. I need answers.