“And he will. You’re his nephew, my son. One day you’ll be the boss. He’ll get over it. Besides, once your ring is on her finger, she’s family too. She’ll be Marchetti.”
Fuck.
My heart flipped violently in my chest.
I liked the sound of that.
“Are you sure this is going to work?”
Fascini wasn’t stupid. He had to have his bases covered in case his cover was blown—reassurance policies, the best lawyers money could buy, not to mention his squeaky-clean business reputation.
Even if Johnny got to his most trusted inner circle... we couldn’t guarantee Fascini wouldn’t worm his way out. To the outside eye, Mike Fascini was an upstanding member of society. But everyone had secrets. You just had to know where to look and how to exploit them.
My father regarded me and scoffed, “Niccolò, have some faith. This will work. Mike Fascini and that son of his will pay. No one messes with the Marchetti and gets away with it.” His hand tightened around his glass. “No one.”
I gave him a small nod.
“I have to ask though, Niccolò. Are you sure you don’t want that piece of shit taken care of for what he did to Arianne? She would never have to know. I can arrange for it to happen discreetly. Make it look like a suicide.”
A bolt of anger rippled through me. “He lives. It’s what she wants.” No matter how much it pained me to say the words.
My father rubbed his jaw. “You are a stronger man than I. Either way, he will never get within a foot of Arianne again.”
It was enough.
It had to be.
“It could be a few days before everything is in place. We keep this between us, do you understand?”
“I know the drill.”
“There is something else...”
I went rigid.
Of course there was.
“She will need to return to her father’s estate until it is done.”
“No fucking way.” I lunged forward.
“Nicco, hear me out, Son. We can’t risk Fascini discovering our plan. There is also the small matter of Roberto sitting tight. She needs to talk to him.”
“She can call him—”
“This is how it has to be. She will be safe. The estate is heavily guarded, and Luis will be there with her. Right now, we need to make sure everything falls into place.”
“Then I’m going. I won’t leave her again. I promised her.” I’d promised myself.
My father’s hand slammed down on the table. “Niccolò, I am not asking you. I am telling you, this is the way it has to be. The end is in sight, Son. Do not lose your cool now. She’ll be safe there.”
“If anything... anything happens to her, I will hold you personally responsible.”
“I would expect no less. But she will be safe. Knowing she’s back at her father’s estate will appease Fascini until we make our move.”
I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like it at all.
But what choice did I have?
Arianne had made her deal with the Devil and now we had no choice but to see it through.
My father let out a heavy sigh. “You should go be with her. I’m sure you have much to discuss. She doesn’t need to leave immediately. Take the night, she can leave in the morning. And then you stay put at the cabin. Do you understand me?”
The urge to defy him burned inside me. But this wasn’t only about me.
It was about Arianne.
“I understand.”
“Good.” He gave me a swift nod. “It won’t be for too long, and then you can look to the future.”
“About that... Do you have stipulations for the wedding?”
“Once Fascini has been dealt with, I imagine Roberto will need some time to adjust to our new... arrangement. But I would prefer we handled matters sooner rather than later.”
I winced at his crass words. This was my life he was talking about. Mine and Arianne’s future.
Our wedding.
But he wasn’t my father right now, he was the boss.
“There is much to think about. Where you’ll have the ceremony, a honeymoon,” his lip curved, “where you’ll live, make a home for yourselves.”
I sank back in the chair, letting out a heavy sigh.
“It’s happening fast.” His expression softened. “I understand that.”
“Do you?” It came out harsher than I intended.
“You are my son. Arianne is to be my daughter-in-law. You will want for nothing. Just say the word and you will have everything you want.”
“I need to talk to her.”
He gave me a sharp nod. “Of course. Go be with her. I can handle things here.”