Niccolo (Blood Brothers) (2 page)

Chapter One

The Present

“Earth to Nico. Snap out of it!” Fingers snapped in his face.

Niccolo glanced at his brother. “Sorry, Ro. What were you saying?”

“I was saying there isn’t a lot of action at the club.”

Niccolo shrugged. “My clubs don’t run like the rowdy bars you frequent. I’m sure you wish you were in the middle of one of your infamous rumbles right now. Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

“Nope. You only have one life to live, unless you know a necromancer, that is. Why not live it doing what you love? And I love fighting and fucking. I’ve already done the latter tonight.” The blond vampire grinned, his dark blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

A smile curved Niccolo’s lips as he shook his head at Romeo’s antics. It was times like these when he felt like the elder sibling instead of the other way around. He turned his attention back to the large glass wall in his office. From where he stood, he could see everything on the dance floor in the club below.

A small woman with dark hair caught his attention. Her back was turned to him so he couldn’t see her face, but the sensual way she swayed her hips to the music made him wonder if she moved as fluidly in bed. When she twirled around, disappointment surged through him. He shook his head, in frustration for allowing his thought to stray to a woman who still haunted his dreams—the one he’d tried, but couldn’t forget.

It was obvious he must still be firmly under the witch’s spell. He’d been fighting it for years but had yet to shake these obsessive thoughts of her.

Romeo placed a hand of his shoulder. “Okay, spill it. What’s on your mind?”

“What?”

“You haven’t been listening to anything I’ve said all night. I could be hanging out with Wolf right now, busting some heads and getting my fill of pussy, not necessarily in that order. I’m not in L.A. often but I was hoping to spend time with you and do something fun besides watching you brood in the corner.”

Niccolo sighed. “I’m glad you’re here with me, Ro. I apologize for not being a more gracious host, but I suppose I do have quite a bit on my mind.”

“Your trip to Russia?”

“Yes.”

“You knew you would have to go back eventually, if anything to at least see Jagger.”

“You know I can’t make contact with him just yet.”

“I realize that, but you’ll eventually have to.”

“I know, but we never did find those bastards who killed Petra. You know how my fondest wish is to be reunited with my son, but whenever we come close to finding answers, something else happens to fuck things up.” Niccolo raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “How do you think I feel to discover I’ve been wrong all these years? Someone wasn’t only out to get me, but you, Marco, and Dante, too. I won’t place Jagger in harm’s way either. As long as his uncles and mother keep him cloaked from our enemies he’s fairly safe.”

It had torn him to pieces when he’d walked away from his child. A day didn’t go by when he didn’t think about Jagger, and wonder how things would have turned out if he had dared to take him all those years ago. It wasn’t enough that he sent money to Sasha for Jagger’s care, or that he paid someone to watch his son and take pictures when possible.

Whenever Niccolo returned home from a mission, he would take out his scrapbook of pictures and look at them before he went to bed at night. He had pictures from the time his son was a toddler to the present day. It was his only other connection to his boy. Well, Jagger was no longer a boy, but a man—a very handsome and well-rounded man as far as Niccolo could tell.

It was uncanny how closely Jagger resembled him. They shared the same jet-black hair, build, and amber eyes. The only things Jagger had inherited from his mother were her incredibly long lashes and full red lips. It didn’t surprise him when his informant told Niccolo that Jagger was quite the lady’s man. His chest swelled with pride at the thought of his son’s prowess.

“While you were there, didn’t you get a glimpse of him?”

“No. My trip was futile. As I suspected would be the case, the Romanovs weren’t very forthcoming with any information. They still blame me for Petra’s death.”

“But you weren’t even around when she was attacked.”

“It doesn’t matter. Those rogues had come for me. Had I been there, I could have protected her. Petra’s family isn’t particularly forgiving, especially her father.”

“And Sasha? Did you see her?”

“No. She keeps away from her parents’ compound and I didn’t stay long in Moscow. I didn’t think it was a good idea to see them as my visit would possibly draw unwanted attention.”

“I hate to see you this way, Nico. Sometimes I think you’ve come to terms with the situation, but other times, I feel this deep pain radiating from you.”

“How can I not feel pain? My son isn’t in my life. He seems to be thriving without me. Keeping tabs on him isn’t enough. Time hasn’t made this an easy burden to carry either, in fact it makes the hurt grow rather than weakening it.” Niccolo clenched and unclenched his fists. “He has suppressed his vampire side and is training to be quite the warlock under his Uncle Blade.”

“Not under Ivan?”

“No. Apparently Sasha doesn’t want her father to have anything to do with Jagger, and I’m inclined to agree with her. He’s a cold, calculating man. He wasn’t a particularly warm father toward Sasha, so there is no telling how he’d be around her offspring.”

Romeo nodded in agreement. “I can’t really say I blame her, either, but I wonder how she managed to wriggle from under his thumb.”

“I don’t know, but I’m glad she did. I can only imagine the hell he’d put Jagger through otherwise.”

“You’re a better man than I, because I would have taken my son with me.”

“And have him suffer the life we have, the constant need to watch our backs because of who we are and yet without knowing why? Someone killed Petra because of me. And the attack on Maggie reaffirms that I’ve made the right decision.”

“Well, you know how I feel about entanglements, but look at Marco. Despite the dangers of being with a Grimaldi, Maggie has no problem being his bloodmate. They’re both so disgustingly happy it almost makes you want to throw up.” Romeo rolled his eyes.

Niccolo chuckled. “Do I sense a little jealousy?”

“Hell, no! I’m pleased our little brother has found happiness after everything he’s been through. Maggie is a great woman who has proved herself worthy by standing up to that rogue. She and Marco are perfect for each other, but that kind of life isn’t for me. I like coming and going as I please; a woman would try to curtail my activities—try to change me. After six hundred years, I’m too set in my ways. Besides, I just can’t deal with all that lovey-dovey shit.”

“I never realized you were this much of a cynic.”

“I’m a realist. I have way too much fun living life on my own terms. I thought you did, too.”

Niccolo narrowed his eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“There was a time when you and I weren’t so different. Wolf is like another brother to me, but he’s not you. I miss when you and I used to raise hell together.”

A small smile touched Niccolo’s lips, but he felt no humor. “I guess you can say I finally grew up.”

Romeo chuckled. “Are you implying I haven’t?”

Niccolo shrugged. “I thought my meaning was pretty clear.”

“Lucky for you I don’t easily take offense.”

“You know no insult was meant. Like you, I didn’t think I would ever want to settle down, especially after what happened to Dante and Marco. The pain they suffered didn’t seem worth it, but learning I’m a father changed that.”

“Not when you met Petra? You were quite smitten with her.”

“I suppose I was.” Now that he looked back on it, that entire period seemed cloudy. He had been so sure he loved Petra that nothing else had mattered, but after her death, he could barely remember what he felt.

You were under an enchantment
spell.
Those words still haunted him.

Niccolo had been in Russia on a mission for the Underground when he first met Petra, a member of one of the most powerful warlock families in the immortal community. He didn’t know how it happened, but he had fallen for her fast and hard. They had planned to marry, but everything suddenly came crashing down around them.

An anonymous source had left an urgent message for a meeting in St. Petersburg regarding the Romanov clan, but when Niccolo arrived at the designated location, his contact was nowhere to be found. It was only then that he had realized something was wrong. It had taken all of his vampire abilities to return to Moscow as quickly as he did, but still it had been too late.

By the time he entered the Romanov compound again, Petra was dead. All evidence pointed to rogue vampires, but there had also been the presence of one other: Sasha. Niccolo knew in his heart that she had not had anything to do with her sister’s death, but in his grief, he had lashed out at her, as did her father.

Afterward, he had found it tough to sit through Petra’s crossing-over ceremony, but it was later that night, as he was packing to leave the Romanov home, that he had betrayed her once again when Sasha had come to him.

He shook his head to dispel the memory.

“You know, Nico, I never thought I had any business saying this to you, especially since I try to mind my own affairs, but this thing you had for Petra ... It seemed so ...”

“Seemed what?”

“I can’t quite put my finger on it, but when you talk about her, you get an odd gleam in your eyes. It’s weird, because I can’t feel you sometimes. In fact, I haven’t been able to feel you for a while now. Your mind is cloudy and you’ve shut yourself off to me.”

Niccolo lifted a brow in challenge. “Are you trying to say I’ve been bewitched? Because if you are, I’ll give you that fight you were looking for.”

“Hold on a second! You know damn well if I had something to say, I would come right out and say it. You never really talked much about that summer in Russia, but when you mention Petra’s name, you get a sort of dazed look in your eyes. She was a witch. How do you know —”

“Romeo, if you care anything for me, you won’t finish that thought. I loved her ... I must have.”

“Sounds to me like the person you’re trying to convince is yourself. Besides, it was Sasha who gave you a child. That’s only supposed to happen with your bloodmate.”

“Witchcraft.”

“I never understood this animosity you felt toward Sasha. In fact, at one point I thought the two of you got along pretty well. It just doesn’t make sense.”

“I’d rather you didn’t mention Sasha’s name. I don’t need this tonight. I’d appreciate you dropping the subject all together,
fratello mio.
I won’t get on your case about your hell-raising and you can get off my back about Petra.”

“Fine.”

Niccolo felt like an asshole for hurting Romeo’s feelings, but his feelings for his deceased lover remained a sore spot for him. Though he loved his brothers Dante and Marco, Romeo was the brother closest to his heart. No one understood him like Romeo and no one understood Romeo like he did. When their parents were killed, Dante had been so much older than they were and Marco was still an infant. He and Romeo had had to rely on each other.

Because there was only a two-year difference between them, they had been inseparable and would sneak off, give their elder brother a hard time, and cause trouble when they could. Niccolo usually followed Romeo’s lead, never questioning his daring brother. It had been that way for over five hundred years, but his mission to Russia had changed everything.

Sometimes he wished he had turned down Dante when his brother had handed him the assignment. Then someone else would have gone in his place and Petra would still be alive. But if he hadn’t gone, there would be no Jagger either.

Romeo broke into his thoughts. “I guess I should be moving on. I see I’m not really wanted around here.”

Niccolo sighed. “Stop it. Of course you’re always welcome here and I’m very pleased to see you. It’s been over a month. I just have a lot on my mind so I’m sorry if I’m a bit short with you.”

“Come out with Wolf and me tonight. It’ll be fun. There’s a little off-road bar not too far away. It’s a little on the rowdy side—my kind of place. Hanging out with us might clear your head a little.”

“No. I think I’ll pass. I can’t leave the club.”

“You’re the boss. Can’t your employees handle things around here? I’m sure you wouldn’t have hired them if you didn’t think they were capable of taking care of this place in your absence. Come on. Live a little. I noticed the way you were eyeing that brunette on the dance floor.” From his second-floor office, Romeo looked through the glass way to the crowd below and licked his lips. “How about inviting her up to your office and we can get a little pussy? The way she’s moving, I bet she knows how to work those hips over a cock.”

Niccolo zoned in on the dancing temptress. The brunette did look appetizing. She gyrated her bottom against her dance partner’s crotch. As appealing as she was, he wasn’t really in the mood. Tonight, he had the strangest sensation that something wasn’t right.

“I’d only ruin the mood. I’m sorry.”

“Well, if you don’t feel up to it then I won’t twist your arm. But you’d tell me if something was really the matter, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course.”

Romeo placed a hand on his shoulder. “Then tell me now. I may not be able to read you like I used to but I can still tell you’re holding something back.”

Niccolo realized Romeo had no intention of dropping the subject. “I can’t shake the feeling that something is off. I don’t know what it is though.”

“Could it be Jagger?”

“I’m not sure. I spoke to my contact earlier who said that all was well, so I don’t know what’s bothering me.”

“I know you want to keep him safe, but Jagger is a man now. Maybe it’s time for you to meet him again. From what you’ve told me, he’s been training under his Uncle so I’m guessing he should have a pretty good handle of his powers. He’s no longer a boy, and you two will have to meet again eventually. Why not make it sooner rather than later. You know I’d back you up as would Dante and Marco.”

“I’m sure you would, but Dante has the Underground to worry about and Marco has his new family to think of. This is my problem and I’ll have to handle it on my own.”

“But as long as this problem remains a distraction to you, are you really handling it? I’m going to head out now but I’ll give you a call tomorrow. Perhaps we can hang out then. Think about what I said.” Romeo gave Niccolo’s shoulder a light squeeze before removing his hand.

When his brother was gone, Niccolo took a seat behind his big metal desk and rested his head in the palm of his hands. Perhaps Romeo was right. It was time to see Jagger. But seeing his son also meant facing Sasha again and for reasons he couldn’t explain, the thought of seeing her again made him nervous. And he didn’t like it one bit.