let myself indulge, it would be a one-way street to doing or saying something I would regret.
He was family.
Marchetti blood flowed through Scott’s veins.
It didn’t change a thing.
And yet, it changed every-fucking-thing.
The sins of our forefathers had led us to this point, and now, it seemed we were the ones paying the price.
“Do you think he knows?”
“Who, Scott?” My jaw clenched, his name like acid on my tongue. “He has to, doesn’t he? No one can be that twisted without some serious trauma in their lives.”
Tommy shrugged, draining his beer. He slammed it down on the table and let out a heavy sigh. “Some people are just messed up. Maybe he knows, maybe he doesn’t, maybe it’s just in his blood... but he’s the enemy, Nicco. Don’t forget that.”
“Forget... you think I could ever forget what he did to Arianne?” I seethed. “I will never forget.” It was imprinted on my mind, engraved on every fiber of my being.
“Good.” Tommy nodded. “A shitstorm is coming. I’ve known men like Mike Fascini in my lifetime. Men so blinded by the need for vengeance that it destroys who they are. He won’t stop. There’s only one way this thing ends.”
He was right.
Michael Fascini had moved his family to Verona County with one sole purpose in mind: to destroy Arianne’s family.
To destroy my family.
Even Elizabeth had resigned herself to the outcome.
The Fascini had positioned themselves as one of Verona’s most powerful and influential families. The legal union of Scott and Arianne, and the business merger with Capizola Holdings would give them the resources, money, and power to destroy Roberto from the inside before going after the Marchetti.
“Why now?” I blurted out.
“Now is as good a time as any. As far as I’m aware, the Fascini aren’t an organized group. It’s just Mike and was just his father before that. But he’s set himself up as the perfect Trojan Horse.”
“Something doesn’t add up. There are other ways to make the Family suffer. Other ways to make the Capizola suffer.” The pieces were there but I couldn’t make them fit.
“Maybe Michael tried and failed? Maybe he realized he couldn’t do it alone?”
“Wait...” The pieces started moving, zipping around my head until they began to slow down, fitting together like a map.
Until everything zeroed in and became crystal clear.
“I don’t like that look,” Tommy said, his brows bunched together.
“I think I know,” the words came out a strangled whisper. “I think I know what happened.”
Chapter 10
Arianne
“This place is incredible,” I said, getting comfortable on the huge soft sectional dividing the open plan living space.
There was a big real fire, the crackle of flames and smell of charred wood filling the air. It was rustic and homey and unlike anywhere I’d ever been before.
“Yeah, it’s really something.” Nora tracked Enzo’s movements as he pulled Matteo out of earshot.
“Don’t worry about them,” Alessia said. “I’m so glad you’re here. Both of you.” She smiled at Nora. “I don’t get to do this much, hang out with girlfriends.”
“What about your friends at school?” Nora asked.
“School is... it’s not always easy. Those three had it easy being Marchetti. But it isn’t the same for us girls. Guys stay away because they’re scared, and girls usually want to use us as a steppingstone to get to the guys.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She shrugged. “It could be worse. If you two are sticking around,” her eyes went to her cousins, “you could at least make yourselves useful.”
Enzo’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don’t push your luck, Sia.”
“Relax, E.” Matteo slapped him on the back. “We’re here now, we might as well kick back.” He moved over to the kitchen and yanked open the refrigerator. “Bingo.”
“This is bullshit.” Enzo dropped onto one of the armchairs and pulled a blunt out of his pocket.
“Why did you come if you didn’t want to be here?” I asked.
His eyes snapped to mine, hard and assessing. “You’re Nicco’s girl. And he’s our...” Enzo pressed his lips into a thin line.
“What my cousin is trying to say is that you’re important to Nicco and Nicco is important to them.” Alessia flicked her gaze to Enzo. “Would it kill you be nice, E?”
He grumbled something before putting the blunt between his lips and lighting the end. The bitter scent lingered in the air, but no one seemed to mind.
“What are you hiding back there?” Nora got up and went over to Matteo. “I’ll take one of those.” She plucked a beer from his hands.