family has strong ideals when it suits them. Take me for example; you think any guy is ever going to be good enough in Nicco’s eyes? Or my father’s?”
“That’s... rough.” Nora grimaced.
“It’s bullshit. They make out that their women are the most precious thing in the world but then most of them are screwing around with goomars or using them as a punching bag.”
My heart sank, and I snatched my hand back, clutching the cushion in my lap.
“Shit, Ari, I didn’t mean... Nicco would never do that to you. Not after what happened with our mom.” Alessia gave me a weak smile. “I should probably stop talking now. Tonight was supposed to reassure you, not send you running for the hills.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I smiled back. “What was she like?”
“The best. She was just a good person, you know? She was always feeding a house full of people. Loved to take care of everyone. And my brother, he doted on her.”
She dropped her gaze, pretending to pick her nails. “I love my daddy, but he’s a mean drunk with a short fuse. He thinks I don’t know about the bruises. About all the nights Mom spent crying herself to sleep. But I see things. They think I don’t, but I do. I always have.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Her shoulders lifted in a half-shrug as she met my gaze again. “It could be worse. In this life, it could always be worse. But I never saw it coming. One day, Mom was there, the strong resilient woman she’d always been, and the next... she was gone.”
“Do you know where she went?”
“She just vanished. Wherever she is, she doesn’t want to be found.” Sadness clung to Alessia’s words.
I didn’t know what it was like to lose a parent, but I did know what it was like to have your world ripped apart, to discover everything you thought you knew was a lie.
“I hated her for a long time, but I’ve made my peace with it.”
Her expression said otherwise, but I didn’t push. Alessia was still young. She still had to find her way in the world.
I’d felt the same when I’d arrived at MU, but everything was different now.
I was different.
The vibrations of my cell phone startled me. “It’s Nicco,” I said, digging it from my pocket.
“What does it say?” Alessia sat straighter, peering over to try to see. I pulled it closer to my chest.
Nora chuckled. “Trust me, you don’t wanna know.”
“Nor!” I shrieked, the same time Alessia grumbled, “Ew, gross. That’s my brother.”
Waving them both off, I read the text.
Found out some things today. We need to talk, but I want to do it in person.
You can’t come back here. It isn’t safe.
I know. That’s why I’m going to arrange for Luis to bring you to me. But we can’t tell anyone else.
“Ari, what is it?” Nora asked.
I hesitated. I knew better than most people that secrets and lies only led to heartache. Even if you thought you were protecting someone, even if they were told out of love.
I have to tell Nora. I won’t lie to her.
Fine. But only Nora.
When?
Tomorrow. I’ll set it up. I love you, Bambolina. Be safe and say hello to Alessia for me.
“Nicco says hey.”
“Tell him he should come home soon.”
“I wish he could.” My heart ached.
“How is your cousin... Tristan, right?”
“There’s no change. His condition is stable, and doctors say it could be any day now. It’s just a waiting game.”
“God, I’m so sorry.” She clutched her throat. “I can’t even imagine what that must be like... if it was Nicco...”
“But it wasn’t.” I gave her a tight smile. “And what happened was just a terrible accident.”
“I really hope he gets better.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Tristan, despite his serious lack in judgment, was still family. I didn’t want him to die. I wanted him to wake up and realize the truth about my father, about Scott.
I wanted him to do the right thing.
“Wow, we really know how to party, huh?” Nora said around a smile.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I glanced between her and Alessia. “This is nice.”
“Yeah.” Alessia beamed. “It is.”
We stayed at the cabin for hours, talking and laughing. Matteo and Enzo eventually joined us, although Enzo had worn a scowl for most of the night. Luis and Jay drove us back to University Hill. Nora was half asleep by the time we made our way up to the apartment.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she murmured, staggering toward her room.