a ragged breath. “So no, I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to try to explore my feelings about what happened. I want to carry on as normal and pretend that I still have the power to make choices about my own life. I want to pretend that I’m not just waiting for the next bomb to drop. I want—”
Nora rushed over, pulling me into her arms. “I’m sorry, I’m so fucking sorry. Whatever you need, I’m here. I just... I was so worried when Luis texted to tell me what happened.”
“He did that?” I pulled back, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“He cares about you, Ari. We both do.” She smiled weakly. “He also told me you made him promise not to tell Nicco.”
“He can’t know, Nor.” Pain splintered through me. “He just can’t.”
“That’s not... yeah, okay.”
“I just need to be more aware of my emotions around Scott. He deliberately pushed my buttons most of the night. He wants to see me crack.”
“Piece of shit,” she sneered. “I can’t wait for the day he gets what’s coming to him.”
“Nora.” I wanted Scott to pay, I did. But I wasn’t sure I wanted Nicco to spill any more blood.
Not for me.
She shrugged. “He deserves everything he has coming. I won’t apologize for that.”
“Who are you right now?”
“A girl who would do anything for her best friend.”
“You’re a little scary,” I admitted around a weak smile.
“I just... God, he makes my blood boil. And don’t even get me started on your dad.”
“My life was never my own, I realize that now. I will always and forever be the Capizola heir.”
“No. No way. I refuse to accept that.” Nora shook her head. “You are so much more, Arianne. You are kind and compassionate and humble. And strong... you’re so fucking strong. And what you’ve found with Nicco is rare. It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth hurting for.
“Nicco and his father will come through, babe. I don’t doubt that. Because family is everything to Antonio, and you are everything to Nicco. So we’ll do it. We’ll keep on pretending everything is fine while we figure this out.”
“Thank you,” I breathed, relief spreading through me. Maybe one day, I would stop and take stock of everything that happened to me. But today was not that day.
It couldn’t be.
Because if I stopped, my control on things would slip. And if I slipped, if I lowered my guard for even a second, that’s when Scott would strike.
If I’d learned anything since arriving at Montague it was that the good guys weren’t always good, and the bad guys weren’t always bad.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said, “We can stop at the coffee shop on the way.”
“We already ate.”
Nora shrugged. “I can always make room for a blueberry muffin. Luis,” she called, and he slipped into the room. “We’re going to walk to the coffee shop and then head downtown.”
“It’s a nice morning for it.” He gave her a tight nod, his gaze flicking to mine. “How are you?”
“I’m okay, thank you.”
He nodded again.
I had just grabbed my bag when my cell started ringing. “Mia cara,” Mom’s voice filled the line. “How are you? How was...?” She trailed off.
“It was okay.” Nora caught my eye and gave me a reassuring smile. “Something happened though. I fainted.”
“Oh gosh, Arianne.” She smothered a cry. “I am so sorry, sweetheart. I wish things were different, I wish I could... But your father, he’s withdrawn. He won’t even talk to me about it. Something is happening, but I don’t know how to—”
“It’s okay, Mamma.” It wasn’t but I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t carry her guilt as well. “I’m just about to go out with Nora. Can we talk later?”
“Of course. Your father has asked... he wants you to come to the estate later to talk about the...” She inhaled a shaky breath. “There are arrangements to make, for the party.”
The permanent knot in my stomach tightened. “Very well,” I said flatly. “I will see you later.”
“Wait,” she rushed out. “I love you, figlia mia. I love you so much. And we’ll get through this, I promise.”
I mumbled goodbye and hung up.
“Everything okay?” Nora asked from the door.
“My father has summoned me. He wants to see me at the estate later.”
Her expression faltered. “Did she say why?”
“The party...”
“Oh.”
“Arianne?” Luis appeared over Nora’s shoulder. The second his eyes landed on me he paled. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
Nothing I said right now would change anything. Not unless I asked him to take me away from