Chapter 3 Strangers

Chapter Three

When I woke up the next morning, it hit me again, I was married. And worse, my new husband had somehow tracked me down and was now deeply entrenched in my life.

Nico had stayed on the couch that night, though it wasn't from lack of trying to convince me otherwise. I insisted he sleep there, and surprisingly, he agreed without much argument. Not that it made me feel any better. I didn't know how long he planned on staying, and frankly, I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.

The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds as I tiptoed out of my bedroom, half-hoping Nico had left in the night. No such luck.

He was there, stretched out on my too-small couch, looking entirely too comfortable for someone who barely fit on the cushions. His dark hair was mussed from sleep, and his shirt was unbuttoned just enough to show a hint of toned muscle. He looked almost... normal. Like a regular guy who had crashed at a friend's place after a late-night party.

Except he wasn't normal. And this wasn't a casual sleepover.

I cleared my throat, and his eyes flicked open instantly, sharp and alert. "Morning," he said, sitting up and running a hand through his hair.

"Morning," I replied, my voice flat. "Coffee?"

"Always."

I busied myself in the kitchen, grateful for the excuse to avoid looking at him. The truth was, Nico made me nervous. Not in the same way Jayden or Gerald had-their presence had always felt suffocating, like a trap I couldn't escape. Nico, on the other hand, exuded a different kind of intensity. He was dangerous, yes, but there was something else, something that made me feel alive in a way I hadn't in years.

And that terrified me.

When the coffee was ready, I handed him a mug and sat across from him at the tiny dining table.

"We need to talk," I said, cutting straight to the point.

He smirked, taking a slow sip. "About?"

"About whatever this is," I said, gesturing between us. "You can't just show up at my door and expect me to go along with... whatever plan you've cooked up."

Nico set his mug down, leaning forward slightly. "I'm not expecting you to do anything, Ava. I'm asking you to consider it. That's all."

"And what exactly am I supposed to be considering?"

"An arrangement," he said simply. "A partnership, if you will."

I raised an eyebrow. "A partnership?"

"Yes. You keep the ring on and play the part of my wife, and in return, you get my protection and anything else you need."

The word protection sent a chill down my spine. "Protection from what?"

Nico's expression darkened, his easy demeanor slipping for the first time. "You'd be surprised how many enemies you can make just by existing in my world. And now that you're tied to me..." He let the sentence hang in the air, his meaning clear.

I swallowed hard. "This is insane. I don't belong in your world, Nico. I don't even know what your world is."

He studied me for a long moment, his green eyes unreadable. "You will."

Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door.

I froze, my heart pounding. No one ever visited me unannounced-especially not at this hour. Nico, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. He stood and moved toward the door with the kind of calm confidence that made it clear he was used to unexpected interruptions.

"Stay here," he said over his shoulder.

I watched as he opened the door just enough to see who was on the other side. His body tensed, blocking my view, and I could hear the low murmur of voices-his and someone else's.

After a moment, he stepped back and opened the door wider, allowing a tall, broad-shouldered man to enter. The newcomer had dark hair like Nico's, but his features were sharper, his expression harder.

"Lorenzo," Nico said, his voice tight.

Lorenzo. The name sent a ripple of unease through me. Even without knowing who he was, I could tell he wasn't someone you wanted to cross.

"Nico," Lorenzo replied, his tone equally strained. His eyes flicked to me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "So, this is the wife."

My cheeks flushed, and I forced myself to stand. "Ava," I said, extending a hand.

He ignored it, his gaze shifting back to Nico. "We need to talk. Now."

Nico's jaw tightened. "Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of her."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening further. "Fine. Word's out, Nico. The Russos know about her."

My stomach dropped. "The Russos?"

"Not now, Ava," Nico said quickly, turning back to his brother. "What do they know?"

"Enough to make her a target," Lorenzo said, his voice low. "You need to deal with this before it spirals out of control."

"I am dealing with it," Nico snapped.

Lorenzo scoffed. "By dragging her into your mess? You're putting her life at risk, Nico. You know that, right?"

"I'm protecting her," Nico shot back, his voice cold.

"Sure you are," Lorenzo said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He glanced at me one last time before heading for the door. "Good luck with that."

When he was gone, the tension in the room felt suffocating. I turned to Nico, my hands trembling. "What the hell is going on, Nico? Who are the Russos?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They're... a rival family. Let's just leave it at that."

"A rival family?" I repeated, my voice rising. "What does that even mean? And why would they care about me?"

"Because you're my wife," he said simply.

"That's not an answer!" I snapped, frustration boiling over. "I deserve to know what's going on. What aren't you telling me?"

Nico hesitated, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might actually tell me the truth. But then he shook his head.

"Not yet," he said quietly. "It's better if you don't know everything right now."

I stared at him, disbelief and anger swirling in my chest. "You can't keep me in the dark, Nico. This is my life we're talking about!"

"And I'm trying to keep you safe," he said, his voice firm.

"By dragging me into your world?"

"I didn't drag you anywhere," he said, his tone sharp. "You're the one who agreed to marry me, remember?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. He was right, in a way. I'd said "I do," even if it had been in a drunken haze.

But I hadn't agreed to any of this.

"I need some air," I said finally, grabbing my coat and heading for the door.

"Ava, wait..."

I ignored him, slamming the door behind me.

The cold air hit me like a slap to the face as I stepped onto the street. I didn't have a destination in mind,I just needed to get away.

I wandered for what felt like hours, the city streets blurring together in a haze of neon lights and endless noise. My mind raced with questions, fears, and doubts, all tangled together in a knot I couldn't untangle.

Who was Nico Moretti, really? What kind of life had I stumbled into? And, most importantly, how was I going to get out?

By the time I returned to the apartment, I was exhausted, my body aching from the cold. Nico was waiting for me, his expression unreadable.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

I nodded, too tired to argue.

He stepped closer, his gaze searching mine. "Ava, I know this isn't easy for you. But I need you to trust me."

I wanted to tell him I didn't trust him, that I couldn't. But the truth was, I wasn't sure I had a choice anymore.

"Just promise me one thing," I said quietly.

"Anything."

"Don't lie to me, Nico. If I'm going to stay in this... whatever this is, I need the truth."

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I promise."