Page 1 of Arturo's Temptation

1

Friday,30th March, 11am

You never get over losing a loved one.

People said it gets easier, but the pain simply buries itself.

How do you even begin to explain such a loss to a five-year-old?

A five-year-old that only got to be held in his mother’s arms once?

“Auntie B, did you hear me?” My gorgeous, five-year-old nephew asked from the counter with widened eyes and an infectious smile as his fingers delved into a bowl of icing.

“Theo. That’s for the cakes. Whatever will Nana say?” I teased as he wrapped his sticky fingers around my neck.

“Please don’t tell,” he whispered before placing a kiss on my cheek. “You saw nothing.”

“If you say so,” I giggled as I helped him off the counter.

“I’m going to play with Red out by the lake,” he smiled as he stuck his finger in the bowl of icing once again, nearly toppling it onto the floor. Rolling my eyes in amusement, I picked up the bowl and popped up on top of the refrigerator.

A chuckle by the double doors leading out to the garden drew my eyes across the room to find Red.

“I can still reach that, you know?” Red teased.

“Keep your filthy paws off unless you want to lose them.” I winked with a sinister smile, one I was sure he taught me.

Red had been around since way before I was born, just as Gino, Emmet, and Nicolo had. They were the closest men my father had to friends—especially Nicolo, his cousin. It was Nicolo who discovered my mother’s whereabouts when she was taken all those years ago. A traumatic experience for both of my parents; not that they talk about it much.

“Just like your pa. I swear neither of you guys like sharing,” he tutted as he lifted my giggling nephew over his shoulders and out the door.

Red’s words brought thoughts of my father to the forefront of my mind. I hadn’t seen him today, which wasn’t unusual but we had planned to talk; or should I say he wanted to talk to me. My best guess was that he was holed up in his office sorting out “business”. Ugh, business. My twin brother, Luca, and I had always known our family was different, but unlike him, who wanted to learn the ins and outs from the second we became teenagers, I actively avoided it. Like our younger brother, Andre, who was happier playing football with his friends, my interests were elsewhere.

Of course I knew how to protect myself. My father wouldn’t have allowed it any other way. From the second we could all walk, he had us learning every type of defence fighting Red and the guys could teach us. There were days I hated the constant training and running, but my father wasn’t one to be argued with. Lorenzo Ricci was the current Don of the Sicilian mafia and notorious for being as tenacious as he is dangerous. My mother, Anastacia Ricci, on the other hand was the only person living who could quell my father’s rage. Not that anyone would haveseen that being the case. Their path to true love wasn’t exactly easy considering it started as an arranged marriage—one my mother never wanted—but of course, all that changed.

Sighing, I slapped the dishcloth in my hand onto the counter and made my way to my father’s office. Despite our reputation, our home was warm, open, and welcoming. Growing up my parents made it a home to all of our friends for as long as they ever needed. My father had always been a minimalist despite my mother filling every nook and cranny with endless vases of flowers. He often pretended to find this frustrating, but anyone with eyes could see my father would have allowed her to paint the walls luminous pink if that’s what made her happy. He was smitten with her, just as she was with him.

As I looked through the slightly open door of my father’s office, I heard a hushed conversation between him and Luca. Their words were hard to make out but it sounded as though they didn’t want any interruptions. Rolling my eyes, I chose to ignore it and make my way back towards the stairs. But before I could do more than a few steps I heard my father’s voice.

“Bella, can you come back here for a moment.”

Dammit.

I turned on my heel and took the few steps back towards his open door. As I entered, I was faced with Luca’s back which was ramrod straight. When I walked around him to the desk, I could see flickers of worry, fear, and regret swirling in Luca’s eyes.

What was going on?

My eyes flicked over to my father who was sitting back in his chair, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“Luca, you can go. We will talk more about this later, but I must know… are you sure?” My father’s solemn tone immediately had my back up. I searched Luca’s face, for a sign of what had happened but there was nothing. Nothing ever gave him away.

“I’m sure, Pa, it’s for the best.”

What was for the best?

“Bella, where’s Theo?” Luca asked as his hand slowly came down on my shoulder, giving it an awkward pat. I frowned at him. Something about the gesture was off, as if I was about to be given the worst news possible.

“He’s in the garden with Red.” I replied giving my twin a smile which wasn’t reciprocated. Dropping his hand from my shoulder, Luca quickly exited the room, leaving my father and I alone.

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