“Nicco would give his life for mine. Do you understand that? He would risk everything... for me.”
“I know, but—”
“No, Mamma. I am eighteen. I can make my own decisions, and I choose him. I choose Nicco.”
Nothing would come between us. Not my father, my mother, or his family.
“You need to talk to him.” I lifted my chin in defiance. “You need to make him understand that this is happening. It would make everything a lot smoother if he gets on board.”
“Very well.” She gave me a small nod and stood. “I will let you get some rest.”
I waited until she was almost out of the door. “Mamma?”
“Yes, sweetheart?” Her voice was laced with sadness and regret.
“I would really like it if you were at the wedding. Father should be there too, but I’ll understand it if he’d prefer not to come.”
“I will speak to him,” she said.
They were my parents. To not have them there felt wrong. But they had to decide what they could live with, just as I’d had to decide.
And if they couldn’t come to terms with me marrying Nicco, then I wouldn’t beg.
After spending the rest of the afternoon and evening in the fragile sanctuary of my bedroom, I’d fallen into a restless sleep. I didn’t want to be here, but I knew it was the only way, for now.
I showered, taking my time to wash away the lingering pain of yesterday’s meeting with my father. When I went back into my room, my cell phone was ringing. My heart swelled at Nicco’s name flashing across the screen.
“Bambolina, how are you?” he asked.
“I hate it here,” I confessed. “I hate him, Nicco. For everything he’s done, for everything he’s put me through...” A whimper escaped me, but I steeled myself. We were so close now. So close to putting all this behind us. Antonio and his men would make sure Mike Fascini was no longer a threat, and Nicco and I would be married.
“Amore mio, what is it?”
“I hate him, I do. Yet, I can’t help but feel sorry for him.”
“He is your father; you can love him and hate him at the same time.”
“I guess you’re right. Part of me knows that deep down he probably had my interests at heart, but then I think about everything Scott has put me through and I...” My body trembled with pain, with the sting of betrayal.
Nicco hissed under his breath. “I should have killed him.”
“No, Nicco,” I rushed out. “I don’t want you to carry that burden. Not for me.” They had the evidence of what he’d done to me. It would be enough to seal his fate. Scott would follow his father to rot inside a prison cell, and I would be safe.
“When are you going to realize, Bambolina? I would do anything for you.” The intensity behind Nicco’s words made my breath catch. “I love you more than anything. The thought of him hurting you...”
“He can’t hurt me anymore. He’ll get what’s coming to him, Nicco.” I had to believe that.
“You are too good for this life, too pure.” His torment crackled over the line. “I fear I am a selfish bastard for tethering you to my side.”
“It is not your choice to make.”
“These violent delights have violent ends...” he whispered the words.
“You’re quoting Shakespeare at me?” I chuckled, but it came out strained.
Nicco was quiet, brooding. I knew he didn’t agree with the deal I’d made with his father, and part of me wondered if I was foolish to think it could all end peacefully. But I had to believe that after everything we’d been through, we deserved this. We deserved to walk into the future with our hands unbloodied and our consciences clean.
I knew life with Nicco would mean skirting the line between light and dark, good and bad. But this was different. I didn’t want this—what Scott had done—to come between us anymore than it already had.
When I didn’t reply, Nicco let out a heavy sigh. “I would die for you Arianne.” His voice was a low growl, “never forget that.”
A shudder worked through me. “Then I would die with you.” Because I didn’t want to live in a world without him.
“Bambolina...”
“No, Nicco. You don’t get to say stuff like that to me without expecting a reply. If something happens to you...” I couldn’t say the words.
“Nothing is going to happen to me. You made the deal with my father. He will keep