her. Everything had just happened so fast, and now here we were.
“I should have told you,” I said.
“So it’s true? You broke his finger.”
“It was before I knew the truth about you.”
She inhaled a sharp breath. “I see.”
“Bambolina, please. You know who I am. What I do.”
“There’s knowing it, and knowing it, Nicco.”
“What do you want me to say?” The words came out raw.
This was who I was.
I couldn’t change my legacy.
Just as Arianne couldn’t change hers.
I was Marchetti. The Family came first. It would always come first unless I decided to walk away and bind us to a life in exile. It would be Emilio Marchetti and Elena Ricci all over again.
“Nothing,” she breathed. “There’s nothing to say. I just wish I knew. I wish Scott hadn’t used the truth against me like that. I felt stupid.”
“You’re not stupid, Bambolina.”
“No?” she seethed. “So tell me why I feel like this? I am sick and tired of having my life dictated to me by men. The only person who seems to understand that is Luis.” Arianne laughed but it was bitter and strangled. Nothing like the sweet soft melody that usually spilled from her lips.
“He gave me a knife, you know. I’ve been practicing with him.”
“He what?” My hand curled into a tight fist. Luis had never said a word during our check-ins.
“He said I should be able to protect myself.”
“Bambolina, you’re safe... I know it doesn’t feel like it, but we’re not going to let anything happen to you.” Even as I said the words, I wasn’t sure I believed them anymore.
This wasn’t only about Arianne.
It was bigger than her, than me.
Than us.
“You’re not here, Nicco.” Her ragged words were like a slap to the face. “You don’t get to reassure me of my safety when you’re not here.”
“That’s not fair.”
“None of this is...”
“Why do I feel like we’re having our first fight?”
She let out another sigh. “I should go. I’m meeting my mother and Suzanna Fascini for facials.” The lack of emotion in her voice concerned me.
I knew it was taking its toll on Arianne, but she seemed so defeated.
“I love you, Arianne Carmen Lina Capizola. You just need to hold on for a little longer. Can you do that?” For me? I swallowed that thought. Arianne was already pissed at me; I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.
But I needed her to fight just a little longer.
“Bambolina, please...” I added.
“I should go. I’ll talk to you soon.” Arianne hung up without warning.
I let out a guttural roar, launching my phone across the room. Luckily, it missed the wall, landing with a thud on the spongy carpet. My cell phone was my only way of keeping in contact with Arianne. If I didn’t have that, I had nothing.
Every day spent away from her was another day my soul ached. Another day the ties binding us weakened. I knew enough of this life to know that it required sacrifice. It required men to offer up a piece of their soul, to put the Family above all else.
But most men didn’t find a love like ours.
It transcended familial obligation and rational thought. It lived inside me, woven into the very fiber of my being.
I feared if I didn’t fight for Arianne; if I couldn’t be the guy she deserved, there would be nothing of me left to serve the Family.
Because without her I was not whole.
I spent the day hanging at the house, helping my aunt. She reminded me so much of my mom, her presence brought me an unexpected comfort. Aunt Maria didn’t have a housekeeper, she liked to get her hands dirty. But it was more than that, she respected my need for space, letting me help her in comfortable silence or mindless conversation.
When we were done in the kitchen, she came over to me and took my face in her small hands. “Such a good boy, Nicco. Arianne is lucky to have you.”
“Is she?” My brows drew together.
“You love her, no?” I nodded. “And you would do anything make her happy? To keep her safe?”
“You know I would.”
“Well, then. Stop with the pity party. You are Niccolò Marchetti.” She gave me a knowing wink and tapped my cheek. “I think I heard your cell phone vibrating. You should go check it. It could be her.”
I’d left it in my room to avoid checking it every five seconds.
Aunt Maria went to leave, but I called out to her at the last second. “Are you happy?”