Page 98 of Isabella

“But I didn’t,” he says. “I know you know why I didn’t, but what you need to understand is that if there was a chance for me to pull a complete one-eighty, then there’s a chance for Teo to as well.”

I consider those words, and while I get where Enzo’s coming from, Teo is still Teo. He’s driven by his need to avenge our parents’ deaths, and I love him for that. I really do. Giuseppe Silvestri deserves everything he’s going to get after taking them away from us, which is how I know he’ll never accept Nicco into our family.

“Just think about what I said, okay, Izzy?” Enzo says. “The longer you put this off, the worse it could get.”

I give him a small nod.

“Besides,” he adds. He’s now sporting a mischievous look on his face. “I have a big mouth, and you wouldn’t want me spilling the beans by accident, right?”

“Enzo, I swear,” I threaten, but he picks up my coffee and bolts out of the kitchen, leaving me alone to think about what he said.

I want to believe him, I do, but there’s this feeling in my gut that tells me it will not be nearly as easy as he’s saying. I think nothing that’s about to happen will be easy.

56

NICCOLÒ

Ihaven’t been able to meet up with Isabella again since her brother discovered us in her office. My dad’s been keeping me busy by having me run things while he’s away, and Isabella’s been falling into her role as a bridal designer with Liana just as well as I thought she would.

Having our jobs to distract us has been good, but when it comes to going to sleep at night, all I can think about is the empty side of my bed where my girl belongs.

“Alright, the meeting with Panebianchi has been set for tomorrow,” Dante says. “He’ll meet us here at ten in the morning.”

I glance around my office that has quickly become a home inside my home. It’s where I’ve spent most of my time going through the numbers every day and the freight from the last supply intake our capos received from our last port shipment. Luckily for us, we had enough to last a few months, but the rest of the shipment has officially been sold off.

“Sounds good,” I say to Dante.

“What’s your plan after you talk to Panebianchi?” Leo asks. “Things are moving quickly, especially since your dad has been in Florida for the past couple of weeks. Are we making our move when he returns?”

What the guys and I have been working on since I got back from Sicily is finally coming to a head. We’ve worked so damn hard to make sure we have a plan upon taking over. I’ve proven to the family that I’d be a damn good fit as boss. My dad failing to keep our family on top was the best thing that has ever happened.

“As soon as I have confirmation of Panebianchi’s support, then there’s just one more thing I need to do before I take over.”

“Isabella,” Dante says, and I give him a nod.

“I need her by my side before we start this. Plus, I think I’ve discovered a way to make this transition a lot smoother.”

“How so?” Leo asks.

“I don’t know why I didn’t think about this sooner, but the enemy of your enemy is your best friend, right?”

Dante and Leo exchange a knowing look before turning back to me.

“Matteo DiMaggio,” Leo says. “You’re going to get him on your side before the takeover. Makes total fucking sense. I don’t know why we didn’t think about it before.”

“It’s because our minds were stuck in this box we put ourselves in,” I say.

When we first structured this plan, Isabella was part of it, but I wasn’t going to try and win her back until after I took over the family. But since my dad suggested I get close to her, I couldn’t give up the chance to be with my girl again.

Now that I have her and that us being together is out there to almost everyone who matters, I’ve realized going to her brother might be one of the biggest weapons I can use against my dad.

“We need to move quickly, though. My dad is scheduled to come back next week, and I want all of this tied up before he’s back.”

Leo rubs his hands together and pastes a smile on his face. “I’m so fucking ready.”

I pick my phone up and dial a number before putting it on speaker. It rings several times, and just when I think the voicemail will pick up, he answers.

“Niccolò Silvestri. There better be a damn good reason for this phone call.”

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