my outlet, the way I’d dealt with my demons. But Arianne was changing me, molding me into something new, something more.
“Do you think it’s done?” Enzo asked.
“He’ll call when it is.” It was almost nine, the sun long disappeared behind the tree line.
“Shit, I would have paid to see that fucker dragged away in a cop car. Smug asshole won’t know what’s hit him.”
I grabbed my cell phone and opened my messages. I hadn’t replied to Arianne’s earlier message, I’d been too busy breaking my cousin’s face.
Are you okay?
Her reply came straight through.
I am. Are you? I was getting worried.
Me and Enzo were working through some things...
What things?
I smiled at that. My sweet Bambolina always asking questions.
Just working off some steam.
You were fighting?
It’s not what you think...
So tell me, what is it?
I know this is what you want, Bambolina, but I really wanted to make that piece of shit pay for ever laying a hand on you.
I waited for her reply, my heart crashing against my chest.
I know, and I’m sorry I took that from you, I am. But I couldn’t do it, Nicco. I couldn’t stand by and watch you lose yourself.
Slipping off the stool, I turned to my cousins and said, “I’ll be back.”
“Tell Ari we said hey.” I heard the amusement in Matteo’s voice, and I flipped him off over my shoulder.
I knew they thought I was whipped. That Arianne held my balls—and heart—in the palm of her hand.
But I didn’t care.
All I cared about was her.
Doing right by her.
That’s why I was sitting here, following orders like the dutiful son—for her. Not for my father or the Family.
Only her.
Inside our bedroom, I closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed before dialing her number.
“Nicco?”
“I needed to hear your voice,” I confessed, running a hand over my head.
“Are you hurt?”
“You have such little faith in me, Bambolina?” My lips curved.
“I don’t like the idea of you fighting with your cousin.” Her voice was small, uncertain, but there was also a trace of disapproval there.
“It’s not how you think. He was... helping me.”
“Because you need to fight.”
“Sometimes, yes.”
“Because of me?”
I wanted to tell her no, that my demons were my own. But the truth was, I didn’t want to lie.
“Nicco?”
“I want to kill him, Arianne. I want to take my gun and blow his brains out. He deserves no less.”
“But don’t you see, killing him won’t change anything, and if you do it, I might lose you.” A beat passed, the blood pounding between my ears. “I can’t ever lose you.”
“You won’t. I’m right here.”
“I know you don’t understand it, Nicco. But this is just something I needed to do. One day, I hope you’ll see that.”
“Bambolina...” I breathed through the onslaught of emotion crashing over me. I was a mafia prince, torn between wanting to avenge the girl I loved, and honor her wishes.
The decision had been taken out of my hands, but I knew if I asked my father, he could make it happen. But I also knew that it still wouldn’t be good enough. I wanted it to be my hands stealing the air from his lungs as I squeezed his throat. My pistol poised against the small circle of skin between his eyes.
Just then another call came through and I checked the screen.
“Nicco, what is it?”
“My father is calling, I need to go. But I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Okay.” I heard her sigh deeply and the sound almost splintered me in two.
“It won’t be long now, I promise. Hold on for me, okay? I need you to hold on just for a little bit more.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” More then you’ll ever know.
I ended the call and hit answer, striding out of the bedroom toward my cousins. “Is it done?” I asked the second I heard my father’s breath.
“It is.”
Thank fuck. Relief spread through me. But I quickly realized he didn’t sound pleased.
“What happened?”
Enzo and Matteo shot upright, their eyes asking me a hundred questions I didn’t yet have the answers too.
“Mike Fascini was taken into police custody. He’s down at the local station now.”
“And Scott?” My skin vibrated.
“He got away. I don’t have all the facts yet, but it looks like he managed to escape.”
“You’re joking right? That’s a joke?”
“I wish it were, Son.” Disappointment lingered in his voice.
“You promised me... you fucking promised—”
“I know, I know.” He let out a heavy sigh, and I could imagine his dark expression. “I don’t know what happened, Niccolò, but I