Page 58 of Isabella

I give him a small smile. “Thank you. I’ll be back in a bit.”

After throwing on my coat and grabbing the two bouquets of fresh flowers, I make my way to the tombstones that still have remnants of this morning’s rainfall on them. Small droplets of water pool at the indent of my parents’ names.

“Buongiorno, Mom.Buongiorno, Dad,” I say before placing a bouquet at the base of each of their tombstones. “I know it’s been a little bit since I was last here. I meant to stop by after my birthday dinner, but time seemed to escape me that night.” Nicco’s face flashes in my mind before I quickly try to bury it, focusing on my time with my parents.

“I miss you both every day.” The sharp sting behind my eyes starts up at that statement. “More than you could ever know.”

I update my parents on what’s been going on with our family. How Teo is now married and has taken over Angelo Mancini’s territory.

“I have a confession to make, Dad. And Mom, I could really use your advice.”

It seems insane to be speaking to my parents’ tombstones, but I need some clarity when it comes to Nicco. I need to speak these words out to someone who won’t necessarily have a response.

My mom never told my dad about Nicco and me, and I’ll always be grateful that she kept our secret when we asked, but it still hurts knowing we kept that information from him. Telling him now might be insane, but there’s something therapeutic about it.

I shove my hands in the pockets of my cashmere coat, shielding them from the crisp fall morning. “I never told you, Dad, but in college, I dated someone. Nicco Silvestri. He was the love of my life, but that took a sharp turn one night when he broke up with me.”

I tell the story of how Nicco and I broke up and how his reentry into my life has caused my emotions and my mind to be all over the place.

“I just don’t know what to do. He hurt me. Hereallyhurt me. How can I forgive him for not doing the one thing all relationships are based on?”Communicating.

I chuckle softly to myself, realization dawning on me. “Not that it matters. Even if I could forgive Nicco for what he did, we could never be together. Not when his family is responsible for your deaths.”

The anger I’ve harbored for Nicco has eaten away at me. I could let it go, forgive him, and move on with my life, but what if it doesn’t end there? What if I forgive him and all of those feelings of hate quickly turn back into the feelings I felt for him once before?

I crane my neck, looking up to the cloudy sky, and take a deep breath. “Please tell me what to do. Just give me a sign, because I feel so lost right now.”

A slight breeze picks up, and I silently laugh at myself for thinking I’d be able to find any clarity here.

So stupid.

I’m about to say my goodbyes and go back to the car when thesnapof a broken twig captures my attention. My senses suddenly heighten, and I avert my gaze in the direction.

“It’s just me,” says the intruder, and I let out a breath of relief when I see Nicco standing a few feet away by the large spruce tree, holding a bouquet of pink flowers.My favorite.

“What—” I glance over my shoulder, back to where Gianni is waiting by the car, and notice he’s talking to someone.

Dante.

“Dante distracted him while Leo dropped me off over there,” Nicco says, pointing to the road behind him where a blacked-out SUV is parked. “And don’t worry, Gianni can’t see me from where he is.” He taps his hand on the massive tree trunk.

“So you’re just going to stand there behind the tree this entire time?” I cock a brow at him.

“If it means I can be with you without causing a scene, then yes.”

I fold my arms over my chest and let out a frustrated sigh. “I told you now wasn’t a good time to talk, Nicco.”

“And I said I just want tobehere with you.”

I narrow my gaze on his but don’t have a rebuttal.

“Face forward again, back to your parents’ tombstones before Gianni catches on to me hiding over here.”

I peek over my shoulder once more and find Gianni watching me, but no Dante in sight anymore.

Where did he go?

Gianni glances at me before getting back in the car, and I let out a breath of relief at knowing he suspects nothing. I bring my attention back to my parents’ gravesite and fold my arms in front of my chest.

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