around her waist, resting his chin in the crook of her shoulder. They looked so content, so happy.
My gaze collided with Enzo and time stood still. He had issues, I got it. I did. But I didn’t really understand why he insisted on pushing everyone away. I didn’t understand choosing loneliness.
It wasn’t like Nicco had been looking for love either. He had responsibilities, a whole empire resting on his shoulders. Falling in love was the last thing he’d needed. But he couldn’t resist destiny’s plan. Arianne was made for him, and he for her. There was no escaping that, no matter how much he tried.
And now they were stronger than ever, and one day he would be the boss of the Marchetti Family and Arianne would sit at his side as his queen.
Love didn’t make you weak, it made you strong. I truly believed that. It gave you something worth fighting for.
For the right person.
And therein lay the issue. Maybe I had to finally accept that me and Enzo weren’t written in the stars. There was no happy ending for us. Because while I wanted all of Enzo, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly, the truth of the matter was, he didn’t want all of me.
I felt tears well in my eyes and I averted my gaze, breaking the connection.
No one except him noticed as I slipped away and retreated to my room…
And of course, he let me go.
I’d just pulled on my sweater after a quick shower, when a loud crash boomed through the cabin, followed by raised voices.
I rushed into the living room to find Enzo hunched over, bracing his hand, blood seeping from his knuckles.
“Oh my God, what happened?”
The girls, Sia and Bella, were huddled together on the couch, while Matteo stood between them and Enzo. Nicco was still in the chair, Ari curled in his lap, and Tristan was nowhere to be seen.
“What happened?” I asked, and everyone’s head whipped up to me.
“Uncle Toni called,” Matteo said. “It wasn’t the news Enzo hoped for.” His grimace told me all I needed to know.
“Somebody should clean that up.” I motioned to Enzo’s hand. “I’ll find a first aid kit.”
“It’s nothing.” Enzo protested.
Matteo whispered something to him, both of their eyes fixed on me.
“What?” I asked.
“Fuck this, I need some air.” Enzo spun around and headed for the door, taking the air with him.
I stuffed down all the hurt and joined the others. “What happened?”
Matteo looked to Nicco and he let out a heavy sigh.
“Girls, go hang out in your room.”
“Seriously?” Alessia hissed. “You’re going to—”
“Alessia, do as I ask, please.”
“Fine.” She got up, pulling Bella with her. “But I’m not a kid anymore, Nicco. I know what you and my cousins do. I know what Daddy does. You don’t have to protect me from this stuff.”
“I will always protect you, sorella. Now go.”
They took off down the hall.
“What did I miss?” Tristan appeared.
“I need you to do me a favor. Go keep the girls company.”
“The girls?” He frowned. “You want me to babysit them?”
“No, I want you to make sure my sister stays put in her room. There’s a difference.”
“Fine, whatever.” He stalked off after them.
“This is fun,” Matteo said. “The whole family together. It’s a shame Bailey didn’t—”
“Bailey stays out of this,” Nicco growled.
“Relax, cous. It was a joke. I was joking.”
“Yeah, I know. I just don’t want him anywhere near this.”
My eyes flicked back and forth to the door Enzo just stormed out of.
“He’ll be okay,” Nicco said.
“Will he?”
Enzo had lashed out in front of his younger cousins. That seemed out of character, even for him.
“Are you going to tell us what’s going on?” I looked at Arianne and she flinched. “You already know,” I added, the weight of my words pressing down on my chest.
Nicco wasn’t supposed to confide in Ari, not about everything. But she was his wife. The center of his universe.
“If I tell you this, it cannot leave this room.”
“You don’t trust me.” Why did it hurt so much?
Enzo didn’t trust me. Nicco didn’t trust me. I was beginning to wonder if Arianne, the girl who knew me better than anyone, trusted me.
No, I knew she did. But her loyalties had shifted in the last few months. She was a part of a world I didn’t inhabit now. A world I walked the periphery of, crossing in and out but never truly knowing.