Page 52 of Isabella

I have to leave her.

I have to cut ties completely.

I have to convince her I never loved her.

Until I can come back and make her mine again.

So without hesitation, I say, “When do I leave?”

* * *

PRESENT DAY

I tell Isabella what happened the day after the meeting. How my dad questioned me on who I was seeing, and he was sending me to Italy because of it. That what I did was to protect her.

“So your dad knew about me?” she mutters.

“Not exactly you, but he knew there wassomeone.”

“So who was that girl? She was with you guys at the pizzeria the other day.”

“She’s Dante’s cousin. She lives in Chicago and was passing through. Dante asked her to meet us there since he’s been busy and hasn’t been able to see her. It was a last-second thing.”

“So you decided to ask Dante’s cousin to pretend she was sleeping with you, and made up this lie that she was going to be your fiancée, all to get me to fall out of love with you because then I would think you were the world’s biggest piece of shit?”

Well, shit. When she puts it that way.

“Yes,” I say.

Isabella’s phone is shaky and having trouble focusing on her. “Nicco, why didn’t you just communicate that to me? We could’ve avoided all of that had you justtalkedto me.”

Does she honestly believe I didn’t think about that?

“No, I couldn’t have. You know how ruthless my dad is. If I had told you the truth, you would’ve convinced me that we could continue seeing each other even if it was long distance.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, was I not good enough to do long distance with?” she snaps, and all I can do is shake my head. I know this is a lot of information and things could’ve been different between the two of us. Had it been anyone else, I wouldn’t have cared as much, but I wasn’t going to put Isabella in any amount of danger after my dad caught onto us. I would risk nothing regarding her.

“It doesn’t matter how far or wide the distance is when it comes to you and I, Isabella. You were always meant to be mine, just like I was always meant to be yours.”

“Then why didn’t you talk to me back then, Nicco?” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and the desperate plea in her voice rings through the speaker. “Why wouldn’t you just come and talk to me about your dad? We could’ve made it work.” Her last statement comes out as a choked sob, pulling at the deepest parts of my soul. “I would’ve understood.”

“It wasn’t that easy?—”

“Don’t.”Her tone is sharp as she shoots up to a seated position, her hair falling forward in front of her shoulders. “You decided to make a decision that affectedbothof our lives without consulting me. That’s unfair and you know it.”

I take a deep breath and let it out before responding. “My dad has resources. He already knew I was distracted by a woman. I knew he was going to have eyes on me, on my phone, on anything and everything I did while in Italy. There was no way in fucking hell I was going to put you in a dangerous position. I wouldn’t risk your life for anything, Isabella. If I could take away the pain that I’ve caused you, I would, but I won’t apologize for making a decision Iknowsaved your life.”

32

ISABELLA

Nicco has no idea the pain he’s caused me. Seeing him with that girl broke my heart, and now he’s telling me it was all a lie? Shutting me out of his life when he didn’t have to reopens those shallow wounds, and I’m struggling to come to terms with what he did.

Had he justtalkedto me instead of concocting this atrocious plan behind my back, we could’ve made it work. Iknowwe could’ve.

I shake my head and let out a humorless laugh.

“What’s going through that head of yours?” Nicco’s voice breaks through my thoughts, reminding me I’m on the phone with him. His tone is soft and caring and has me reminiscing on the Nicco I fell in love with. It hurts that he did this to us.

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