Page 56 of Isabella

“Isabellaismy business,” I snap.

“Not what I meant, Nicco, and you know it,” he says, and I’m not sure if I should be more annoyed with his calming nature while I’m losing my mind over Isabella or the fact that he’s right. We do have important business we need to talk about.

I let out another deep sigh, fully knowing how irrational I’m acting, but that’s what Isabella does to me. She’s so close in my grasps I can practically feel her soft skin in mine. I need her to forgive me for what I did so we can move forward. Together.

“Fine,” I say, conceding. “Did you hear back from Panebianchi?”

“He’s ready to have a conversation,” Dante says. “Just as we predicted, your dad’s dwindling power and control is quickly pushing him to our side.”

“Good. And what about Castello?” I say to Leo.

“You heard about him, right?” Leo says. “He’s stepping down and letting his son take over, so we need to set a meeting with him.”

“Huh. Alessandro Castello? Don’t fucking love that. Let me think on it. I’m not sure I want to let him in on what we’re doing yet.”

Leo and Dante nod in unison before Dante says, “Your plan is finally about to come to a head, Nicco. Are you ready for this? Are you ready to finally take down your dad?”

I nod and say, “It’s been a long time coming.”

It’s cold and calculated the way I’m undermining my dad, but IknowI can run this family the right way. The few years I spent in Sicily gave me an earth-shattering amount of time to think about my future—including my future with Isabella—and this is what I need to do to make sure I get everything I want. I didn’t put Isabella through hell for no fucking reason.

I glance at my phone, willing there to be a message from her on it, but when I tap the screen, illuminating it, it’s void of anything.

Clasping my hands together, I let out a frustrated sigh while leaning forward and resting my arms on the counter. I understand she needs time to think about everything, but it doesn’t keep me from needing to see her. Needing to hear her angelic voice. Needing to feel her supple skin under my own.

While I sit here on the stool with my leg bouncing on its own volition, I know my impatience has reached its peak. I grab my phone and unlock the screen, doing the exact opposite of what Dante told me to do. I dial Isabella’s number and bring the phone up to my ear.

“What’re you doing?” Dante asks, but I ignore him as the ringing buzzes through my ear. Just when I think my call will go to voicemail, Isabella picks up at the last second.

“Hello?” she answers, but I detect something in her tone. It’s not anger or annoyance—something I would’ve expected from her—it’s sadness.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her.

She breathes out a small chuckle. “Of course you would sense something’s up with one word,” she mutters, but I don’t think she intended for me to understand her.

“What’s wrong, Isabella?” I repeat with more urgency.

“It’s nothing, Nicco. I’m just tired. Didn’t sleep well last night. I’m sure you understand why.”

Leo and Dante narrow their gazes at me from the opposite side of the counter, which I don’t like, so I swing myself around on the stool, turning my back on them to shut them out of my phone call with Isabella.

“I know, and I’m sorry for being the reason you didn’t sleep well,” I say. Silence consumes the other line. Not even Isabella’s breathing is detected, so I continue before she decides to end the phone call. “If it’s any consolation, I didn’t get any rest either.”

“It’s not any consolation. Seems like something you deserve,” she says deadpan.

I’m unable to contain the laugh that rolls out of me. “I guess you’re right there.”

“Is there something you needed, Nicco? I’m kind of busy right now.”

“I just wanted to check in on you after everything that happened last night.”

“You wanted to see if I was ready tocommunicatewith you aboutnotcommunicating with me three years ago?”

Some might take offense to Isabella’s abrasive attitude, but there’s that fire I’ve always known and loved. It’s something I would never change about her.

“I know, I’m a hypocrite. But you know me better than anyone. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s mine, and that’s exactly what I did.”

“Nicco.” She lets out an exasperated sigh, the sadness coming through again. “I can’t talk about this right now. I have somewhere important I need to be.”

---