Ballers 2: His Final Play

by Blue Saffire

  I wonder to myself if I would have been more like my nephews had I not lost my father. Right now, I don’t feel much like a leader or like I am in control. Reese is sitting in the seat next to me staring straight ahead as if I am not on this plane sitting right beside her.

  Uri and his family are all in the back cabin sleeping. The party wore them all out. Alee stayed behind in Texas for a few days, so she is not flying back with us. No, it is just me and my evil little Reese sitting here in this cabin.

  “I would like to know what I have done to be ignored like this,” I sigh.

  Reese does not reply; she just continues to look straight ahead. I blow out a breath, deciding I really have had enough. I am fed up with it all. We are going to have this out once and for all.

  “You sit here, Cara, as if I,” I point to my chest, “have wronged you. I should be the one with the attitude. I have done nothing but love you. When you need anything I am there and all I ask in return is that you become my wife.

  “Six years Reese, it is going on over six years that we have been in this relationship and I proposed in the beginning. I knew I wanted you from the start. Is that it, Cara, you are waiting for something better, someone younger?” I snarl.

  Reese whips her head in my direction and gets all the way in my face. “How dare you,” she hisses with tears in her eyes. “How fucking dare you? I love you so much I have gone against my own beliefs to please you. I haven’t gotten sick in years and now I’ve had two colds in the last five months. I don’t think that is a coincidence, Nico. Once you start with that poison, your whole body breaks down with it.

  “But I love you so much, I started those stupid pills just for you. Why Nico? Why take the one thing I want from me,” she sobs, ripping my heart from my chest. I go to speak but she is not done. “Why would you have my friend hide that she is pregnant from me? I was actually thinking of asking her to go through with being my surrogate. Do you know how I felt to find out she is pregnant, but wouldn’t tell me because you asked her not to? You have questions Nico, so do I.”

  “Because I love you,” I bellow. I lower my voice and cup her face. “I do everything I do because I love you. I can’t watch you go through it again, Baby. I didn’t intend to take anything away from you. I just thought maybe it’s time we try another way. Maybe once we have a baby through a surrogate it will take some of the pressure off of you. Perhaps then it will be easier.”

  I brush my thumb across her trembling bottom lip. I use my other thumb to wipe at her tears. I lean in and kiss her soft lips. “I’m sorry, I love you so much,” I say against her lips. “I won’t wait any longer, Reese. You’re mine, I want you as my wife. Nothing else matters.”

  Reese wraps her arms around my neck, allowing me to deepen the kiss. I reach to pull her from her seat into my lap. I need her. I will always need her. Reese completes me. We are in each other’s thoughts. We complete each other’s sentences. She is my better half.

  I break the kiss to turn Reese in my lap. Reaching for the hem of her dress, I pull it up until I can reach beneath it to get my hands on her smooth thighs. I nip at her neck from behind and kiss the shell of her ear.

  “Nico,” Reese whispers when my hand reaches to slip into her panties. She grips my wrist and looks to see if everyone is around.

  “Relax Cara mia, they’re in the back sleeping. As long as you are quiet, we will be fine,” I whisper in her ears.

  Reese releases the tight grip she has on my wrist. Her head falls back against my shoulder as my fingers slip into her tight channel. I groan slightly at the feel her warmth coating my fingers. Reese moans quietly and I chuckle.

  “You like that, Cara mia,” I whisper against her temple.

  “Yes,” she replies breathlessly. I bend my head and capture her plump lips.

  I circle her hard nub with my thumb as I work my fingers in and out of her. I place my leg between hers and spread her thighs further apart. The spacious private jet seats give me room to maneuver Reese just where I want her.

  “Mmm,” I moan against her lips. “Come for me, show me you understand who this body belongs to.”

  I feel her legs quiver and her body lock in place as she moves closer to her release. She is so close but not quite there yet. I put my lips to her ear and pump my fingers faster.

  “That’s right, let that wet pussy come all over my fingers. Come for me, Cara mia and I will fuck you the way you like,” I whisper and it is just what she needs to fall over.

  A smirk tugs at my lips, I know her so well. I shift to release my aching cock. I lift Reese by her hips as she comes reeling down for her climax. I have to cover her mouth when I pull her down on my shaft. I bite back my own groan.

  This never gets old. Every time I enter her it is like entering heaven over and over again. I love this woman in a way I can’t explain.

  It is something in the very cells of our bodies that links us together and leave us in need of each other. It is beyond sex. That is not what I am talking about.

  It is like that adrenaline rush I used to get when it was time to step out onto the field. It was like the pitch would call to my very heart and my soul would answer every time. With Reese the feeling is ten times as strong. She anchors me to this life.

  I thrust up into her, my hand still covering her mouth. Reese squeezes her legs shut and my eyes roll back. She starts to grind with each of my upward thrusts. She is so slick; I want to roar in satisfaction. Instead, I cup my hand under her chin and bring her face to mine once more.

  I thrust harder as she whimpers into my mouth. “I love you,” I growl against her lips as I feel her tighten and gush around me. “I just want you happy.”

  “I love you too,” Reese says softly.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Not Again

  Reese

  A month later…

  Since our trip to Texas, a month ago, things have gotten better between Nico and I. We have been talking more and spending more time together, just the two of us. Well, most times it is just the two of us. Donatella is in the States this month and she has been helping with planning the wedding. Yes, I am marrying Nico.

  He has been the happiest I have ever seen him. He has these moments where he is so excited he can’t even speak English. I am used to it and we still hold a whole conversation in two different languages, me speaking English and him Italian.

  It doesn’t really matter we get each other. I think that is what I didn’t see before. Nico and I work because we get each other. Our age, the language barrier, none of that has ever stopped us from getting each other.

  Nico finally explained to me how he felt watching me lose our babies. I get it now. I understand why he was so adamant that I go on birth control. That is also the reason why I am sitting here in the middle of the floor with tears in my eyes. My wedding should be in three months, but I don’t think that is going to happen.

  I’m pregnant. I told Nico you can’t trust that crap they feed you as medicine. I knew the moment I missed my period what went wrong. It was the medicine he forced me to take before we left for Texas. It wiped out the birth control.

  I don’t know what to do. Whatever I choose, someone will get hurt. If I stay and loose another baby, I think it will break us both. If I leave, I am going to rip out Nico’s heart. I can’t tell him where I am going and I can’t tell him why.

  The only thing I know right now is that I have to do what’s right for this baby. I have to go within and finally heal myself. Doctor after doctor has said that they don’t know why I haven’t been able to carry to term. My last few pregnancies hadn’t been long enough to even have a cerclage performed, where they could stitch my cervix to hold the pregnancy.

  No, this is something deep within that I have to deal with. I believe that with all my heart. That is why I know I am leaving. I just hope the one person I need to help me will.

  g

  “How can I help you, Reese,” Uri says with a smile so much like Nico’s, I nearly
sob.

  “I need your help. You once promised me anything. I am calling in that favor,” I say reminding him of the promise he made me when Nico won his last professional game.

  Uri sighs and sits back in his chair behind his desk. “Why is it I feel you are about to ask me for something I don’t want to do, Reese. I will regret this promise, yes,” Uri says as his blue eyes settle on me.

  I squirm in my seat, before nodding my head. “It will be for the best in the end, but yes, you may regret your promise,” I reply. “I need to disappear.”

  “You are going to break his heart, Bella,” Uri frowns.

  “It is better than killing him, Uri. That’s what he told me I would do to him if it happens again,” I say softly.

  “What is it you are not saying, Love,” Uri says with a confused look on his face. “I need to understand because what you are asking me for, this will destroy my brother.”

  “I know…but Uri, I have to try this. I’m pregnant. It was an accident, if Nico finds out he’s going to be stressed and I’ll be stressed. I need to do this. I can have this baby; I know I can. I already contacted Dr. Hashem, I will stay with him until my seventh month. After that, I will come back. Nico will be furious with me, but when I pull this off, we’ll have our baby, Uri. Please,” I explain.

  Uri sits up straight and looks at me long and hard. He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head. His calculating eyes are telling a story of their own and I hold my breath to see what comes from his lips next.

  “I know my brother. He will not just let you go. He will come looking for you. Dr. Hashem will be one of the first people he will think to look for to find you, whether he knows of the baby or not. He knows he is your mentor. The two of you are close,” Uri pauses to groan.

  See this is why I had to come to Uri. I can’t do this on my own. It would take Nico less than a week to find me if I tried to run off by myself. I have seen the Donati brothers in action over the years. I don’t stand a chance. If I am going to do this, I need Uri on my side, without him I’m toast.

  I nod my head in understanding as I think of what Uri is saying to me. I never thought of that. I already know Nico can find Dr. Hashem when he is determined to. He has done it before.

  “I will help you, but we will have to do this my way. Do you think Dr. Hashem will be willing to come to you?” Uri inquires.

  I swallow hard and nod. “I think he would be willing,” I say and lick my dry lips.

  “Good, I will send you to my home in Italy, Nico will not look for you there. He will not know of my involvement. Even if he returns home to Italy, he will not know to find you at my home. You will remain hidden” Uri says as if thinking out loud to himself.

  “Okay,” I nod my head.

  “Michael and Sim will go with you. I want to make sure you are safe. Besides, Michael will be the first one Nico goes to, to find you. I will stall that process for as long as I can. My mother will be returning to Italy in a few weeks. She will be there for you as well,” I can see the wheels turning in Uri’s head. “We will not be telling my wife of this. She has a soft spot for Nico. She will not like this.”

  “Thank you, Uri,” I whisper.

  “This can be done, Reese? You can see this through,” Uri wrinkles his brows in question. I can see the concern for his brother in his eyes.

  “Yes, Uri. I’ve got this this time. I’m ready,” I say with conviction.

  “You do know he would be happy just marrying you,” Uri says as he watches me closely.

  “Yes, I am aware of that, but I am also aware that God has something more for me and Nico. This is not about my relationship with Nico anymore, Uri. It is about my relationship with God.

  “I have lost six children, Uri. If that is not the universe talking loud and clear, I don’t know what is. I have a spiritual journey that I have to get right this time around. I need to get rooted in my faith in God, not in man. So I can love Nico to the ends of the earth, but I will always have to answer to whatever is calling my attention in spirit, one way or another. It’s time I deal with this, for me,” I look down at my hands.

  “There is a difference between being religious and spiritual. Once you become aware of that fact, more is required of you. I gained that awareness when I chose my career. I have to accept what that means for me. I can do this, Uri. I just have to trust that God will touch Nico’s heart while I do. I’ve got this. All I need is your help.”

  Uri looks at me with the most respect I have ever seen in his eyes. “Done,” Uri says with a final nod.

  I sag back in my chair in relief. My hand goes to my belly and a smile touches my lips. It’s you, me and God, kid. Your daddy is going to kill me, but he is going to love you to pieces.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Where Are You?

  Nico

  I walk into our home and I know right away something is not right. Uri asked me to meet him at the new hotel we are building downtown. He wanted to finalize some of the details before he takes off to London for some family business.

  I still don’t envy the world of Uri and Luca. I’ve become grateful over the years that Uri has kept me at arm’s length when it comes to that part of our lives. I can only imagine what is calling him to London.

  Reese was working on making arrangements for our stay in Texas for Tam’s engagement party when I left. She and Tam had been on the phone for hours this morning. I remember my last thought being that I can’t wait for our wedding. The plans have been coming along and I have been the happiest man on earth to see my ring finally resting on Reese’s finger.

  However, now that I think of it, Reese has been acting a little strange the last two days. She has been jumpy and last night, when we made love, it felt different. If I think of it now, it had become desperate as if we both were afraid to lose each other.

  As the feeling from last night returns to me, I rush through the apartment in search of Reese. I pull my phone from my pocket and start to call her. I hear the ringtone she uses for me drifting from the bedroom and I rush in there to find the phone on the bed.

  Next to the phone is a note. My eyes bounce back and forth from the note to the phone. The worst comes to mind. What if I have not distanced myself enough from the life. Just being with a Donati puts Reese in danger every day. I pick up the note and scan it quickly.

  Dear Nico,

  I love you so much. I have to do this for us. Please forgive me. Don’t come for me.

  Love always,

  Reese

  I blink at the note a few times, to make sure I am reading what I think I am reading. Crushing the note in my palm, I close my eyes and try to calm down. I cannot believe Reese is doing this shit. We are good. Things have been great. We are getting married.

  My eyes fly open at the thought that I may have pushed her too hard too soon. It’s been six fucking years. Longer than that. I don’t understand what she could be thinking. I love her. I’ve shown her this. Why would she leave me?

  “No,” I roar through the room as I pick up her phone and toss it into a wall. The phone crashes into the wall and shatters. “Fuck!”

  I pull my phone from my jean pocket and dial my brother right away. I pace the room as the phone rings. I curse when I am greeted with voicemail. “Hello you have reached Michael. Leave a message.”

  “Michael, I need your help. Call me,” I growl into the phone.

  I hang up and dial Uri. I feel my anger run through me as the phone rings repeatedly. His voicemail picks up as well. I don’t bother with a voicemail.

  I dial everyone I can think of, starting with Reese’s parents. Her mother answers the phone, when I tell her what I came home to she sounds as surprised as I feel. According to her, Reese had called her last night and they talked about the wedding. I didn’t mean to worry her mother, and I feel terrible when we hang up the phone and she sounds distraught.

  I continue to call anyone that I believe Reese would contact. She doesn’t have her phone. No one ha
s heard from her and as I check our closet some of her things are missing.

  I continue to try Uri and Michael, but I continue to get their voicemail. I stumble out to the living room, not knowing what to do. I collapse onto the couch and place my head in my hands. My phone rings pulling me from my despair.

  I rush to answer placing it on speaker. “Hello,” I rasp into the phone pass my clogged throat.

  “Nico,” Valentina’s voice comes through the phone questioningly.

  “Val, where is Uri? Have you seen Michael,” I rush out, without clearing up her confusion.

  “Slow down,” Val says with concern in her voice. “Uri left for London. I believe Michael and Sim went with him. I got your message. What’s going on?”

  “Reese left me,” I choke out. The words don’t even sound real to my own ears. “She left a note. Why would she do that? Did she say anything to you about not being happy?”

  “Oh God, Nico, no, she never said anything about not being happy. She was so excited about the wedding. We talked yesterday, she seemed happy to me,” Val says thoughtfully. “Nico, I really don’t understand. We’ll find her. You know we will. I will talk to Uri as soon as his plane lands. If he has to come back home tonight, we will find her. I promise we will.”

  I shake my head as if she can see me. “This is my problem. He has business to handle. I will not tear him from that. Thank you, Val. If she calls you, please, tell her to come home.”

  “I’m sorry, Nico,” Val says softly.

  “This is not your fault,” I reply.

  “I feel like it is. Reese is my friend, I brought her into your life,” Val insists.

  “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Reese is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don’t know what is going on, but I know I don’t regret loving her. I never will,” I reply honestly. “Thanks Val,” I’ll come by to spend some time with you and the kids while Uri is away. Talk to you later, Bella.”