Page 114 of Isabella

“It definitely is, and I’m so excited to see it. You deserve nothing less.”

Liana goes back to her desk, leaving me to design on my iPad. I was hoping the distraction of working on a matching veil to go with this dress would distract me from Nicco’s dad, but it’s not. And while I appreciate Liana’s words and trying to be positive when it comes to that situation, there’s still an inkling in the pit of my stomach that has my heart fluttering a million beats per minute. And I don’t think it’ll go away until Giuseppe Silvestri is gone.

65

NICCOLÒ

“Everything’s going according to plan,” I say to Matteo on my phone. “My dad flies back on Friday. I told him there was an issue with one of our capos and that I’m having a meeting with him at my place, so he’s going to meet me here.”

“What time?” Matteo grumbles.

I’m not quite sure why I thought Matteo would warm up to me after finding out about me and Isabella. I understand it doesn’t look great that his sister and I fell in love with each other behind everyone’s backs, but I thought he’d be more fucking welcoming. He’s not a total fucking dick, but any time we’ve had to speak about the plan for my dad, he always sounds likeI’mthe inconvenience.

“His flight gets in at seven p.m., so he should get here around eight, depending on traffic,” I say.

“Great. Anything else?”

I probably shouldn’t say this, but who fucking cares at this point.

“Are you ever going tonotbe a dick to me?”

There’s a slight pause on the other line before Matteo says, “Excuse me?”

I let out a sigh. “Look, I know I’m not your favorite person?—”

“Not even close,” he mumbles.

“But you’re going to have to get used to me being around. I know you love your sister, and I fucking do too. Quite literally more than anything in this world.”

Matteo lets out an exasperated breath like this isn’t worth his time.

“Look, you don’t have to fucking like me,” I say. “That’s fine. But you and I sure as hellat leastneed to be cordial with one another. All the grumbling and snapping doesn’t work for me. I respect you enough not to speak to you that way, so I’d really fucking appreciate it if you had the same courtesy for me. I know my dad is responsible for doing one of the worst things possible to your family, but I’m not going to be the punching bag for him. Plus, think about Isabella. Do you really think she wants us to be like this for the rest of our lives?”

“Are you fucking done yet?” he snaps.

“I can continue, but if you have somethingusefulto add to the conversation, I’m more than happy to hear it.”

There’s a pause on the other line, and I swear if he?—

“I get what you’re saying, Niccolò. Okay? I fucking hear you. And yes, I agree, I can be a little… set in my ways when it comes to people, but Iknowyou’re not the enemy, alright? I’ve spent the past few years with your family name being the sole thing on my mind when it comes to what I need to destroy, but I understand you didn’t have anything to do with the death of my parents, and I understand why you and my sister kept your relationship quiet for so long.”

He pauses, and I wait for him to throw a quip at me.

“And I appreciate what you did back when your dad sent you to Sicily. Itwasfucking dramatic, but I don’t think anything istoodramatic when it comes to the safety of the people we love.”

Holy shit. Are Matteo DiMaggio and I finally having a fucking breakthrough?

“I’d do anything to protect Isabella. She’s my entire world, Matteo. I just hope we can move forward and be civil with each other.”

“Yeah,” he says. “I think I can do that.”

Hethinks? You know what, I’ll fucking take it at this point. Matteo will see. My actions will prove everything to him.

“Great. I’ll see you on Friday. Be at my place at seven.”

“See you on Friday.”

Clicking the end button on my phone, I drop my head in my hands as I sit at my kitchen island. I take a deep breath while I rub my temples, realization dawning on me that I’ve officially signed my dad’s death warrant.

---