by Serena Light
"-We're not looking for Salvatore," Tazio halted her, looking at Russo with uncertainty before turning back to face his boss's wife. "We're actually here to talk to you,"
"Me?" She looked at them in confusion and got off the bed. "Is everything alright?"
"That's actually what we wanted to ask," Russo informed slowly, chewing on the inside of the cheek. "Is everything alright with Salvatore?"
"Yes, why-?"
"-Because the boss has been unreasonably pissed since the moment he entered the office, nearly tore Russo's head off by throwing a glass across the room, almost shot Piero and has been screaming non-stop. Every single one of us is terrified to go in and he's been pacing all day and yelling into the phone. He sent out men to kill 6 people in the last 2 hours and we're just worried," Tazio spoke in a single breath, Nicole's heart dropping to her feet at the words as the color paled from her face. "And we were hoping you would talk to him,"
"M-me?" Nicole stammered and took a step back, knowing it was because of her he was so angry. "Why me?"
"Because you're his wife and well..." Russo shrugged, looking at Tazio for help.
"Please," The second-in-command pleaded.
"I..." The words stuck in her throat as she looked at the worry across their faces and the fear in their eyes. Sighing, Nicole nodded as the two men grinned in relief. "Okay, fine,"
As she walked past the men, she could see the terror across their expressions and forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat. The hallway was deserted save for Salvatore's bodyguards who stood before the door, muffled voices floating across the door. Nodding to the men before her, they pushed open the door, as Salvatore's harsh voice drifted out of the room.
Stepping inside, she found files and pages littering almost every surface, a glass shattered near her feet with her husband standing before the window, his blazer and tie thrown across the sofa and his sleeves rolled back as he barked orders into the phone.
"I don't fucking care for your excuses!" He growled into the device. "I will not give you another chance, you're fired!" Her husband ended the call and all but slammed it on the table before catching sight of Nicole across the room.
Standing straight he ran a hand through his disheveled hair and looked at her with cold eyes.
"What?" He taunted in a sardonic manner as his smile had goosebumps form on Nicole's arms. "Haven't left yet?"
"I'm not leaving," She stepped forward, her husband looking at her with mock surprise.
"Oh? Is that so?" He cooed. "Because I remember you saying that I can suffer alone and you'll go to your parent's if I don't go to a therapist,"
"I was wrong in saying so," Nicole spoke slowly, knowing that despite the calm exterior, he was just burning on the inside.
"No, you threatened me," Her husband cackled, before he looked at her with venom in his eyes and clenched jaws, a vein popping in his neck. "And who the fuck do you think you are to threaten the Mafia Boss?!"
"I am the Mafia Boss's wife!" She retaliated just as loud as him, slamming her hands onto the table because she realized talking to him in a gentle manner would only prove to be futile. "I have just as much Mafia background as you do, so don't you dare think for one fucking second that I'll let you treat me this way!"
"Ah, yes, a Lombardi," He mocked. "Where are you on the Mafia hierarchy? 12th? Or 15th?"
"I'm on number 1 because I am a Regnante by marriage,"
"Where was this spark with Jayson, huh?" He taunted with a smug smirk, Nicole's heart-stopping for a second.
"Last I recall, Jayson isn't my husband,"
"Oh, but you wanted him to be,"
"I'm sorry? Are you mad about the fact that I suggested you go to a psychiatrist, or that I dated Jayson Leone 3 years ago?" Nicole glared at him. "Tell me what you're mad at so we can talk about it,"
"There is nothing to talk about," Salvatore shrugged and stood straight, picking up a random page from the mess before him. "I'm not going to waste my time with this,"
"And what is 'this'?" She found herself asking. "Your wife?"
"My wife who thinks it's perfectly alright to demand something false of me and then proceed to threaten me!" He whirled at her, Nicole trying to keep the fear from showing, knowing that's exactly what he wanted. "My wife who has been so selfishly looking at everything from her perspective; never once stopping to consider how I fucking feel about this all because she doesn't know what it's like to have a bounty on your head! But most of all, I don't have time to deal with my wife who thinks numbing myself up is the answer to my troubles. Oh, and how fucking wrong you are,"
"I am not asking you to numb yourself up-!"
"-That's what antidepressants do-!"
"-Only some! You can ask for ones that don't have such effects, Salvatore!"
"What the fuck do you want from me?" He demanded from her, clutching his hair in frustration and glaring at her. "What is it you want, huh? You think I don't have enough troubles and problems to deal with without you prancing on my head?"
"Salvatore," Nicole shook her head and a ran through her hair. "I know you're going through a tough patch right now-"
"-You don't fucking act it-"
"-And I know you're angry," She resumed as if though he hadn't spoken. "But you're angry at me, take it out on me and not your men-"
"-Tazio," Salvatore suddenly realized why she was here. "Tazio came to you,"
"No,"
"That motherfu - Tazio!" He yelled across the room, about to march out before Nicole intercepted his way.
"You say that I never looked at this from your perspective, well you aren't looking at this from the perspective of your men!" She yelled at him. "You nearly smashed a glass against Russo's head, almost shot Piero, ordered 6 men to be killed in the span of 2 hours, and you expect them to take it? Get off your high pedestal and look at this from their perspective and try to see why I am intervening,"
"You can be cold-hearted, ruthless, and a fucking monster against your enemies, but you have absolutely no right being like this with your allies and your own men. Do you think they appreciate this treatment from the man they would gladly lay down their lives for? You're the world's most respected and feared Mafia Boss – even more so than your own father – so you fucking act like it and not like some petulant child who was denied a candy!"
By the end of her words, Nicole's face was red and the only sound infiltrating her mind was that of her heart pounding in her chest as her breaths came out labored. Looking up at her husband, she had to force down the bile in her throat at the cold glare he was giving her and how he had clenched his jaws to the extent she could hear him gritting his teeth.
"You are angry at me and you have every right to be," Nicole took a step back from him, her tone calmer now. "But that anger is for me, so take it out on me and not on your men."
A silence fell over the two as they looked at one another, the sound of the phone ringing on the table shattering it as her husband looked over his shoulder at the device.
"Get out," He stated bluntly as he walked towards the table and picked up the phone, looking down at the number.
"But-"
"-I will deal with you when I am done here, don't you think that you're off the hook,"
"And your men?" She inquired, staying rooted in her place as Salvatore closed his eyes to compose himself, knowing she wouldn't leave until she had his assurance that they wouldn't be harmed.
"Will be left out of this,"
"Thank you," Nicole nodded and walked across the room and left, finding Tazio and Piero standing before her as she gave them a meek smile and nearly fell when her knees buckled. The four men surrounding her grabbed a hold of her at the last moment as she let out a shaky exhale, finally allowing the fear to show.
"Nicole," Piero murmured in concern, lowering her to the floor. "Are you okay? Should I call boss?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," She assured with a dismissive wave, swallowing thickly and placing a hand against her rapidly beat
ing heart. "There is no need to worry Salvatore with this,"
"What happened?" Tazio kneeled beside her, worry evident on his face at her sudden pale complexion.
"Don't worry, Tazio," Nicole patted his cheek. "Everything has been taken care of,"
"Did Salvatore do...?” Piero trailed, helping her up to her feet as she looked at him with wide eyes, realizing what he meant.
"No! No. God, no. He would never," She assured him, all the men around her instantly releasing a breath of relief. "No, we just...we had a little domestic squabble is all,"
"Will everything be okay?" Salvatore's bodyguard asked her in concern. "Because boss gets in a pretty bad mood when you two fight,"
"Yes, Dario," Nicole chuckled at their concern, feeling like a mother assuring her children that their parents aren't getting a divorce. "I just said something I shouldn't have and we'll deal with it once he's done with work,"
"Let me take you to your room, ma'am," The guard insisted.
"That's kind of you, Fio, but I actually have an errand to run," She pulled away from the men, giving them an appreciative smile before making her way out of the east wing and gesturing for her guards to get going.
Later that night, Nicole had been seated on the bed with Marina in her arms and Michele lying beside her when Salvatore entered.
"Hey," She called out to him gently, watching her husband settle down on the other side and sighing before he lay down beside the baby, running a hand down his back. "We should talk,"
"We should," Her husband murmured as he placed a kiss on the 1-year-old's temple, running his fingers through his hair.
"It's not bad to be depressed, you know," Nicole spoke softly, rocking the baby against her chest. "It's alright to go into depression; I would have if I were in your place,"
"That's the thing, you can afford to," He sat up with a sigh, rubbing a hand over his face, and holding a hand up before she could retort. "I am not saying that depression is a bad thing, it's a part of life and I am not denying that. But my life – at this point in time – is too messed up and complicated for me to afford to fall in depression where I can't get out of bed for days on end and sideline my work and my family, I can't afford to be miserable all the time because I have to retaliate to a vendetta, I have a Mafia to run, and a business to oversee. I have to deal with meetings and people and weapons and retaliate to a vendetta as well as keep my family safe from all of this. I have too much on my plate right now and depression is just going to worsen the situation for me."
"So, what?" She questioned his point of the argument.
"So I stand by my words: I can't afford to go into depression and risk the safety and lives of hundreds due to melancholy."
"Why...why didn't you tell me?" Nicole put down the baby, moving to be kneeling before him as her husband sighed tiredly.
"How do you expect me to tell you, huh?" He countered in response. "Should I just randomly go "Oh, and by the way, I can't afford to go into depression because of everything that's going on despite that being the only thing I want to do"?"
His wife blinked at him for a moment, before a chuckle escaped her at his words, Salvatore staring at her incredulously for a moment before a chuckle escaped him as well at the idiosyncrasy of it all.
"I'm sorry," She giggled and buried her face into his chest. "I'm sorry; it was just too funny,"
Her husband shook his head at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders before leaning back with his wife in his arms.
"I'm sorry," Nicole sighed again and cuddled into his chest. "I didn't realize your situation and was just so worried about you that I forgot to consider how it was for you,"
"It's alright," Salvatore sighed and kissed the top of her head. "Although, I'm sorry for whatever I said,"
"You were right-"
"-I was mean to my own wife, and I don't stand for that,"
Nicole looked up at his words and kissed his chin, Salvatore chuckling at her antics.
Swallowing thickly, she got up from his chest and began to walk towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back, I promise," She assured him and walked out.
Nicole returned a few minutes later with a glass of milk in her hand, Salvatore rolling his eyes when she handed it to him.
"I told you already, Nicole," Her husband sighed. "They won't work anymore,"
"I know, I know," She halted him. "But this is a special Greek remedy which my Yaya used to give me as a little girl and it works wonders,"
Salvatore raised an eyebrow at her words, relenting at the pleading look she was giving him as he grabbed the glass. Taking a sip, he nearly spit it out at the pungent taste. Swallowing it and gagged.
"God, what the hell is this?" He coughed at the bitter taste infiltrating his mouth.
"I know it tastes bad, but just drink it," She urged, tipping the glass. "If it doesn't help you sleep, I'll stop," Nicole stated as Salvatore swallowed the entire glass, shuddering at the taste and putting it away.
"Thank you," His wife smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek, the guilt burning her from the inside.
Chapter XXXIV: Wrongdoings
Soft music swam through the interior of the bedroom, Nicole cleaning around with a bounce in her step and gently humming along to the instrumental symphony as she fluffed the cushions with the 1-year-old toddlers too occupied by the blocks laid before them. Humming to herself, Nicole turned around to grab something but instead was greeted by her husband's chest.
"Oh," She jumped in surprise, never having heard him enter much less come and stand behind her.
Nicole looked up at him as he was giving her a gentle smile. She watched him wrap an arm around her waist with the other taking hold of her hand, and he began waltzing as his wife laughed at him, Salvatore's smile growing at the sound.
The two of them swayed around the room and danced to the music, Nicole too lost as the occasional giggle would escape her at his antics.
Salvatore had been getting better. Sleeping more, he had begun eating, his concentration and focus returned, in his free time he would be found with his family and he had even resumed working out – granted given it was November, he didn't do the trail, instead opted for the indoor gym; but the color had returned to his face, his eyes and cheeks weren't sunken anymore and he would sometimes even take out his wife. He was doing better and Nicole was beyond relieved to see the improvement.
Despite the guilt, she was happy.
As the song came to an end, Salvatore spun her around, a laugh escaping Nicole as her hair swayed with the movement before she found herself with her back towards his chest and her arms crossed over her front. She giggled when he leaned down to pepper kisses across her neck and released his hold on her hands in order to hug her close.
The sound of the two toddlers giggling had them pull away and look back at the two standing with a hold on the coffee table before releasing it to clap after which they sat down again.
"They liked the dance," Salvatore chuckled, turning back to look at his wife.
"They liked the music," She contradicted her husband, looking up at him with adoration in her eyes.
"If you say so," He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and just looking down at her.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear he ran the back of his hand down her cheek as she leaned into his touch, closing her eyes to revel in the sensation.
"I want you," Her husband murmured quietly, pressing his palm into the small of her back to bring her closer. "Now,"
"We're babysitting," Nicole responded with an eye roll, gasping when her husband's hand snaked under her sweater, rubbing circles onto her warm skin. "We can't,"
"Just a quick session," Salvatore leaned down so that his lips hovered over hers. "Please?"
"Michele and Marina-" She tried to reason.
"-Marco agreed to look after them for an hour,"
"But we said, we would,"
&nbs
p; "It's just an hour; it'll pass in the blink of an eye," His hand snaked to her sides under her sweater, Nicole letting out a shuddered breath and clutching onto his arm at the warmth that spread through her. "Please?"
"Just an hour," She relented with a groan, her husband grinning deviously before pulling away from her. Walking over to the door, he returned a second later with Marco at his heels. Both of them went over to the little babies on the floor and cooed at them, Salvatore helping his younger brother pick one into each arm.
"Thanks," Salvatore said to his brother who sent a smirk his sister-in-law's way.
"Use protection, you two," He spoke and began walking away.
"What? You don't want more of them?" Salvatore taunted, referring to the twins in his arms as his wife blushed a deep red.
"Not as of yet," Marco laughed and walked out, allowing the Mafia Boss to close the door and lock it behind him.
His wife swallowed thickly at the look he gave her as he approached.
"Now, where were we?" He grinned deviously and pulled her to him, Nicole looking up at him with wide eyes as he smirked down at her.
"You said one hour," Nicole murmured drowsily and placed tender kisses against his lips, who only chuckled against her lips and held her naked body close to his.
"Did you mind that it stretched on a little longer?" He inquired with a soft smile, his hair all over the place and his eyes bright.
"No, but," She groaned, tangling her legs with his beneath the covers. "You're horrible at time estimates,"
"You're acting like you're the one who has to run a Mafia," He tenderly kissed her cheek, affection swelling in his chest for her as he just wanted to give her whatever she wanted, see her smile and giggle, and blush; he loved it when she blushed and gave him a shy smile, it always had his heart racing.
"No, but I run the man who runs the Mafia,"
Salvatore laughed aloud at that, Nicole smiling against his skin as she felt the vibrations pass through her. Once his laughter died down, she rested her chin on his chest, looking up at him with hazy eyes and disheveled hair, her body still warm and the feel of his touch still lingering against her skin.