around to look at her. “It’s possible Mike threatened to harm you again unless your father complied, yes.”
“I- I don’t know what to say.” The blood had completely drained from Tristan’s face. “I came here ready to offer to talk to Uncle Roberto, to make him see sense. I didn’t realize... fuck. What are we going to do?”
“We?” I raised a brow.
“I’m here, aren’t I? I want to help.”
“You need to buy us some time while we figure out our next move. Arianne cannot go back now, no matter what happens.”
“Agreed.” Tristan gave me a sharp nod. “But what about my uncle and aunt? If Mike wants Capizola Holdings, there are other ways to make it happen.”
“I guess you need to make sure that doesn’t happen. Arianne is my priority, and until we can be sure Fascini doesn’t have a failsafe we can’t touch him.” He was one of the most prominent men in Verona County. If he turned up dead or missing, it would raise questions.
Questions that could lead back to the Family.
“What’s it going to require to take him down?” For the first time since he’d arrived, I saw the fight in Tristan’s eyes. He might not have been ready to bury the hatred between our families, but he was here for Arianne. And right now, that’s all that mattered.
“If we want to avoid bloodshed, we need to be able to pin something on him. Something that will make sure he never sees the light of day again.” He deserved to rot in Hell for what he’d done to Arianne. But a six by four cell would do all the same.
It all started with him, and it would end with him.
“And Scott?”
“He’s mine,” I ground out, feeling the familiar lick of fury skate up my spine.
“We have the evidence, Nicco.” Arianne tugged my arm. “We can take it to the authorities.”
Tristan caught my eye. He gave me an imperceptible nod, and I knew what he was telling me.
Scott was a dead man walking.
“Nicco?” Arianne spoke more forcefully this time, and I gave her my attention.
“It’s okay, Bambolina. I’m okay.” I pulled her into my side and kissed the top of her head.
I didn’t want to lie to her.
But she didn’t need to know that I wouldn’t rest until I’d had my pound of Scott Fascini’s flesh.
After we hatched a tentative plan, Tristan and Luis left.
Tristan would return home and try to find out everything he could about the nature of Mike Fascini’s plan. He would also try and buy some time. Our enemy had become a turncoat. It was a risk, but it was better than doing nothing.
“You’re quiet,” I said to Arianne. She was reading a book she’d found on one of the shelves. Except, she hadn’t turned a page in almost ten minutes, so she was either a really slow reader or she was using the book as a distraction.
I leaned over and snagged it from her hands.
“Hey,” she protested. “I was reading that.”
I gave her a pointed look and she let out a weary sigh. “Fine, you caught me.”
“It’s okay to need some space. If you want me to leave—”
“What? No!” She sat up. “I just... Do you think I should forgive Tristan?”
“That is not my decision to make.”
“They both let me down, Nicco. When I needed them, my father and Tristan let me down.”
“I know, Bambolina. Come here.” I pulled her into my side. “You are so strong. It’s okay to not want to forgive easily. But don’t let your resentment fester. Eventually, there will come a day when you must decide to forgive or forget. But know that I’ll be right here by your side and I’ll support whatever decision you make, okay?”
She gave me the faintest of nods before kissing me. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”
“It is me who should be thanking you. You make the world a brighter place, Arianne.”
Emotion swirled in her eyes as she suppressed a smile. “Tell me about L’Anello’s.” She cleared her throat. “About what you do there.”
“You really want to know this stuff?”
“I want to know everything, but I know there will always be things you can’t share with me. So all I ask is that you share the pieces you can.”
“Fighting helps me burn off steam. I guess you could say it’s a way to fight my demons.”
She tensed. “But you could get hurt.”
“Sometimes I want to hurt. It helps remind me that I’m alive.”