of a series of events that had forever changed me. Yet, I still had faith in humanity, in people choosing to do the right thing. The morally just thing.
I closed my eyes and inhaled a shaky breath. There had to be another way.
There had to.
Nicco was gone when I woke up. He’d left a note in his wake. Four little words that eased the knot in my stomach.
I’ll see you later.
When I finally dragged myself into the living room, Luis confirmed what I already knew. Nicco had gone to see his father. I felt conflicted. On the one hand, I knew he was trying to protect me from what was to come. But on the other, it seemed cowardly.
“This is the right move, Arianne,” Luis said over his coffee.
“Is it?”
“He tried to kill you. That is not a man you want to negotiate with.”
“But to murder him?” Bile washed in my stomach.
“I know this is hard for you.”
“You don’t know anything,” I snapped. “I have been lied to and used and... raped. Maybe death should befall Mike Fascini. But it feels like the easy way out for him. He deserves to rot in Hell for his crimes.”
He’d orchestrated everything.
The failed hit on me when I was younger.
The business merger with my father.
The engagement.
The wedding.
The engagement.
A plan slowly began to take shape in my mind. Mike Fascini had positioned himself as someone of worth to my father. That was something I could exploit.
Something I could use.
“Arianne?” Luis asked as I stared off into the distance.
Blinking, I let my eyes drift to his. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Why do I not like the sound of this?”
“I need you to take me to see Antonio.”
“Are you out of your mind?” His eyes were the size of saucers.
Quite possibly. But I didn’t tell him that.
“I know Nicco has gone there to make arrangements.” The word soured on my tongue. “But I need to talk to him.”
“I’ll call Nicco. We can get Antonio to come here.”
“It can’t wait.” Now that the seed was planted, I knew what I had to do.
“Ari, I’m not sure—”
“I’m going. Whether you help me or not, I’m doing this, Luis. I have sat by letting these… these men trample all over my life, but I won’t sit idly by while a man is murdered in cold blood. Mike Fascini deserves to be punished. But this is not the way.”
His expression turned grim. “It is their way.”
“Will you take me or not?”
“You really want to do this? It isn’t safe...”
I glared at him. This was happening. I wouldn’t rest until he delivered me to Antonio’s house.
“Fine,” he grumbled, disapproval etched into his expression. “I’ll take you.”
“Thank you.”
Antonio Marchetti might have been the boss of Dominion, but he was a businessman at heart.
And I had an offer he needed to hear.
We pulled up outside the Marchetti house an hour later. Luis had been quiet the entire ride. He didn’t approve of me being here. But it was too late now.
The door flung open and Enzo appeared. “What the fuck?” He marched to the car, yanking open my door. “What the fuck are you thinking?”
“I need to see Antonio.”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Indignation trickled up my spine. I climbed out and met Enzo’s glare with my own. “Well, I’m here now, and I’m not leaving until I speak with Antonio.”
“Nicco is going to lose his shit when he realizes you’re here. And you.” Enzo jabbed his finger at Luis. “You had one fucking job. Keep her at the cabin.”
“She was going to find her way here with or without me.” His eyes settled on me. “She can be quite stubborn.”
“You don’t say.”
I didn’t wait for them to approach the house. Slipping inside, I followed the sound of Antonio and Nicco’s voices, finding them in the same room I’d found them in the morning after the gala.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
“What?” Antonio barked.
Pushing open the door, I stepped inside.
“Arianne?” Nicco blanched.
“Well, if this isn’t a surprise.” Antonio glowered at me, sliding his eyes to his son.
“What are you doing here?” Nicco rushed over to my side.
“I need to talk to your father.”
“You should have called me.”
“So you could talk me out of it?” My lips pursed.
“Niccolò, what is this all about?”
“I’m sorry to just barge in here like this, but Nicco had no idea I planned to come here. I didn’t until I woke up,” I said, meeting Antonio’s cloudy eyes. “But I need to speak to you,