Page 68 of Isabella

“There is no risk I’m not willing to take to be with you.”

Shaking my head, I say, “It’s not worth it. Your dad could…” I can’t even get the word out because it’s too painful to say.

Nicco grabs hold of my hands. “Nothing will happen to me.”

“How do you know that? Your dad is ruthless. When he finds out your plan to undermine him, therewillbe hell to pay.” The nervous ache in my stomach has fully erupted, now extending throughout my entire body, causing an anxiety in me I’ve never experienced before.

Nicco pulls me close to him, so close the heat of his breath fans across my lips. Staring down into my eyes, the look of pure adamancy shines through his, and I already know whatever he’s about to say will change everything.

“Good. Because then that’ll give me a reason to kill him.”

42

ISABELLA

My mouth drops open at Nicco’s threat against his dad. “You’re planning onkillinghim?”

“If he tries to fight me on taking over, I’m prepared to.” His tone is unwavering.

“Nicco, your dad will never let you take over willingly, so if your plan is to kill him under that circumstance, then that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

He offers a loose shrug, as if he doesn’t care what he’ll have to do to take over the Silvestri family and be with me. As much as I hate Giuseppe Silvestri, something about Nicco killing his dad over me doesn’t settle well. It causes a churning in my stomach, especially when there’s a voice screaming in the back of my mind that Teo will never allow us to be together in the end.

“You know how my dad is,” Nicco says. “You can’t honestly think I wouldn’t be prepared to take the steps I need to take to ensure we can be together, safely.”

“I don’t know about th?—”

Nicco grabs my hands, stopping me. Gazing deep into my eyes, he says, “Now that I have you back, there’s nothing I won’t do to guarantee our future. This was always the plan. I’ve…”

Searching Nicco’s eyes, I see there’s something else he wants to tell me.

“I promised I wouldn’t keep you in the dark anymore, so I need to be honest with you about something. I’ve always had a plan to get you back, but originally, I was going to wait until after I take over for my dad. The only reason I’ve been able to do it now versus later is because of him.”

I raise a brow at Nicco. “Because of your dad?”

He lets out a long sigh, which has my heart picking up pace. What could his dad possibly have to do with us?

“He has this crazy idea that if I can get you to fall in love with me, then he’ll be able to get access to the ports.”

My mouth falls open. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I know, that’s what I said, but it gave me the opportunity to win you back sooner rather than later, and for that, I’m grateful.”

What the hell is Giuseppe Silvestri thinking? That plan would never work out. The hate for his family that runs through my brothers’ veins is far too strong for that. “I-I just can’t believe your dad thinks my family is that naive.”

“He’s desperate, which is causing him to make bad decisions, but in the end, I got you back.” He squeezes my hands. “I promised I would work on communicating with you. I want to make sure we’re going into this with everything on the table. No secrets between the two of us.”

I swallow deeply, my mouth suddenly parched by his words—no secrets between the two of us. Nicco was honest with me, so it’s my turn to be honest with him. One of the biggest secrets I’ve kept in my life.

Now it’s Nicco’s turn to search my eyes, clearly getting a good read on them. He furrows his brow and says, “What’s wrong? If it’s about my dad, I know it’s not the best reason for us to rekindle our relationship, but?—”

Shaking my head, I say, “No. It’s not that at all. I’m happy you were honest with me about your dad and his intentions. It’s just…” I drop my gaze, nervous to speak the next words to him.

Nicco gently lifts my chin with his fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze once more. “Talk to me, Isabella. Something’s clearly bothering you. Let me help.”

I shake my head, fighting back the tears that threaten to stream down my face. I never thought I’d have to speak these words to Nicco, and now that I’m about to, the emotions are hitting me harder than I thought they would. Is he going to be mad at me for not telling him? Is he going to look at me as less than for not being able to carry his baby?

“I have to be honest with you about something, but I’m scared.”

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