Page 115 of Isabella

After busting my ass working on this plan, it’s finally about to be seen through. My dad wanted to control me, to take the thing that meant the most away from me. Well, now he’s about to lose everything… and at the hands of the person he least expects.

66

ISABELLA

My brother has been oddly accepting of me moving in with Nicco. I really thought he would’ve made a big deal out of it, putting his foot down and saying some crap about me and him not being able to move in together until we’re married, but he didn’t fight back once. Nicco told me to relax and go with it, but I’m still questioning his reaction.

There are still a few items at my house I need to collect, but other than that, I’m all moved in. It’s hard to believe this is where we’re at after all this time.

“I’d really rather you and Liana stay at Matteo’s tonight until I come and get you,” Nicco says as if I haven’t heard this request several times before.

I stop folding my clothes on the bed and turn around. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I say, “I know, but we have a ton of work to do tonight, which requires us using the office.”

“Why can’t you girls just bring whatever it is you need to Matteo’s? I’d feel a lot better about you being there with all the security.”

I furrow my brow as I gaze up into Nicco’s eyes. “What’s going on? I thought this was a straightforward plan? Is there something I should be worried about?”

“No, no, not at all,” he says in a soothing voice. “I just don’t think we can be too safe at this point.”

Running my hands down the soft fabric of his black quilted top I snagged from the samples Liana received from her new men’s line, I say, “I’m pretty sure if anyone should be worried, it’s me. You’re the one who’s actually going to be in the room with your dad.”

Splaying my hands out on Nicco’s chest, I widen my eyes and snap my gaze up to his as realization dawns on me. “Wait, is my brother planning on killing himhere?”

I don’t know why I didn’t think about this before, but I will not be able to live in this penthouse knowing Giuseppe Silvestri was killed here.

Nicco chuckles and says, “No. Your brothers are going to knock him out and take him somewhere else to do it.”

I give him a small nod. “You promise me everything’s okay, though? I havenothingto worry about?”

Nicco slides his hands over the curve of my ass and pulls me in closer. “You have nothing to worry about. That’s why I had him meet me here instead of an unknown place. I think he’d be skeptical if I was having him meet me anywhere else.”

A crinkle in my brow forms when I say, “Then why are you worried about Liana and I being at the boutique tonight?”

He lets out a breath. “Because your safety is my main priority in life, Isabella. There will never be a time where I don’t worry about you, and if there’s an option that puts you in a safer position, then I will always choose that option.”

My heart skips a beat at his words, but I still say, “But you think we’ll be okay, right? There’s nothing that Liana and I have to worry about being at the boutique?”

“I know you’ll both be okay, and I’m sorry I made you think you won’t be. Your guards will be there, and I have my dad’s location shared on my phone. I’ll be able to see exactly when he gets to my place. Just hang tight and stay there until I come and get you, okay?”

Nodding, I say, “Okay. I love you, Nicco. I know everything is going to work out just fine tonight, but I still have to say it. I love you… even when I thought I had lost you.” My gaze is focused straight ahead at his neck while I mumble these last words that have been eating me up inside. “And I’m sorry that choosing me means you have to lose another parent.”

He slides a finger under my chin, lifts it, then peers deep into my eyes as if he’s trying to read my soul. “Is that something that’s been bothering you? Me losing my dad?”

I give a small nod. I know Nicco and his dad don’t get along, and I know he’s responsible for the death of my parents, but he’s still his dad, and I’m the one who’s responsible for taking him away from him.

“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have made a deal with my brother to let him kill your dad. If it weren’t for me, you would’ve never thought of this idea to come back to NYC and undermine your dad so we could be together. If it weren’t for me?—”

Nicco holds his finger up to my lips. “I don’t want to ever hear you blame yourself for that maneveragain.”

“But—”

“Everagain, Isabella. Do you understand me?”

The determination behind his wide eyes has me nodding. His calloused finger rubs against my lips.

“I don’t care about him. What I care about isyou.Youare my family,” he says, and I do my best not to get choked up over his words, pushing away the stinging sensation that has developed behind my eyes. “My dad can fuck off for all I care. It will always be me and you, my sweet Isabella.” He brings his forehead down to meet mine and says, “Always” before kissing me.

When Nicco finally pulls away, he gives me a small smile and says, “Come on, I’ll drive you over to Liana’s.”

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