her. “I need to speak with my father. I’ll be back soon.” Pulling away, I didn’t look at her.
I couldn’t.
Because if I did, I was worried I might say something I would regret. Something I couldn’t ever take back.
Something that might destroy us both.
“Ahh, Niccolò, did Arianne tell you the happy news?” My father smirked, only provoking the storm inside me to rage harder.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” I seethed.
“Watch your tongue, boy.” His eyes narrowed. “Arianne came to me with an offer and I saw an opportunity. You should be thanking me. This will make her your wife. It will bind your life with hers permanently.”
“It shouldn’t be like this.” I shook my head.
“What you would you have me do, Son? Deny your woman and execute Fascini? Make her hate me and resent you? She’s not ready to have blood on her hands; you know I speak the truth.”
I did.
But it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“Arianne is strong,” he went on. “She has proved that. I have no doubt she will make you a fine wife, Niccolò.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” I looked at my father, silently pleading for him to fix this. But there was no magical solution.
He was right.
If he took out Fascini, Arianne would never forgive him. Forgive herself.
Maybe even me.
Or if he handed him over to the authorities and became a partner in Capizola Holdings like Arianne wanted, things might be okay for a while. But over time, Roberto would grow bitter and Arianne could end up resenting my family all the same.
And I couldn’t let go of the fairytale she deserved.
“You love her, no?” he asked me.
“You know I do. More than I ever thought I could love another.”
“Then perhaps it is time you trusted her.” My father’s expression softened. “Arianne has spent years having her choices removed. Now she is free, and she has chosen. I lost your mother because I couldn’t see past my own proclivities, Niccolò. She was a good woman. Strong and loyal and beautiful. God, she was so beautiful.” He stared off into the distance, shame washing over him.
It was a strange thing, watching Antonio Marchetti acknowledge his mistakes, watching him mourn for the woman he’d let slip through his fingers.
“Don’t do something you’ll regret, Son,” my father offered me a sad smile. “That girl is everything I could wish for my son. I see so much of your mother in her, it scares me. But it also gives me hope. Hope that you will get a chance to right my wrongs.”
Was he right?
Was I focusing on the wrong thing here?
Arianne seemed so certain, so sure of her love for me. But part of me couldn’t accept that. It couldn’t fathom that a girl like Arianne Carmen Lina Capizola could love a guy like me.
I kept pondering what Arianne deserved, but maybe the issue wasn’t her.
It was me.
What I deserved.
What I was worthy of.
“Look, I know this isn’t how you wanted things to go. But life doesn’t always go to plan, Niccolò. Sometimes opportunities arise when you least expect them. If the outcome is the same does it really matter what path you took to get there?” He ran a hand over his jaw. “I cannot give you what you most desire, I cannot free you from this life. But I can give you this.”
My body shook with anger, frustration, and uncertainty. I was Niccolò Marchetti. Nothing would ever change that. But a life with Arianne by my side would make it all worth it.
“You know I’m right, Son.”
I stared at my father, giving him a sharp nod. I still didn’t know what I felt. I was too wired, too volatile.
“Go calm down,” he ordered. “And then talk to her. She needs to know you support this, Niccolò. She needs to know you support her.”
I didn’t go to Arianne.
I sent Alessia instead, asking her to keep my girl company. My father was right, I needed to calm down. Which meant, I needed space and time. But I did text Arianne.
I promise I’m not running. I just need to figure out some things.
Her one word reply had almost gutted me.
Okay.
But when I came back, I wanted to be clearheaded and present. I wanted to be everything she deserved.
A whistle pierced the air, and I saw Enzo waiting over by his car. “So what happened?”
“Not here.” I yanked open the door and ducked inside.
Enzo got in and fired up the engine. “Where’s Arianne?”
“Inside with Alessia.” Leaning