Page 29 of Sins of Bliss

“You fell in love with the enemy,” he says simply, his voice devoid of emotion.

“She is not the enemy,” I growl. “She is not responsible for her father’s actions.”

We turn to face each other at the same time, both of us on edge.

“She shares the last name and the DNA of the man who killed my dad. That makesherthe enemy, just as much as he is.”

“If you truly believe that, then your ignorance runs deep. She is the kindest, most amazing person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, let alone loving.”

He scoffs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Then why did you leave? Why is she marrying another man?”

My jaw tics as I grit my teeth. Looking down at my glass, I curb my anger and swallow my pride. “I don’t know. There is something off with the entire scenario that I cannot figure out.”

I can feel my eyes well with tears again and I tilt my head toward the ceiling, shaking it slightly. I have never been this emotional of a man, but when it comes to Vincenza, it’s like my soul is torn in half, and the piece I still possess is battered and bloodied, laid out in front of me.

When I look back at my cousin, his expression has softened as he watches me.

Lorenzo has been my best friend since I was a child. We grew up together. Became brothers after his father passed. This wedge between us cuts almost as deeply as the one between me and Vinnie.

“She came to visit me in Ridgewood after I was shot,” I continue. “I could feel the love between us was just as powerful as the day I left. The way she spoke—the way in which she let me hold her and touch her. Yet, she still insisted she was marrying him. Something is not right, Enzo. I just can’t put my finger on what it is.”

The words flow from my lips as though there is no animosity between us. He is simply my cousin again, and I am no longer angry. There are still many things we need to speak about to repair what has been broken, but at this moment, I just need my cousin.

“August is a piece of shit,” he says after a minute of thinking. “While I’ve been researching Joseph, I’ve been looking into August, too. They’re both terrible excuses for humans.”

“Why are you researching them?”

Enzo’s eyes darken, narrowing slightly as a smirk graces his features. “To destroy them.”

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Enzo?—”

“The Paladino family has gotten away with far too much, Sly. I won’t let this go. Not until I feel the weight of what they’ve done lift from my shoulders. It’s been a heavy load to bear since I was a child. The Paladinos are not a good family, despite how much you say you love Vinnie. Youknowthis.”

“Sì, I do. Her brother—August. They’re not good men.”

“Neither is their old man.”

I nod, agreeing with my cousin but silencing my words. I expect the conversation to be finished, but what he says next surprises me.

“Does she really mean that much to you?”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod. “The world. Trust me, cugino, I never thought I would fall for a Paladino. I fought against it for a long time, but ours is a love that could not be stopped no matter how much I tried.”

There is a turmoil in his eyes, but after a moment, his head bounces with a few soft nods. “I’m not sure I can ever accept her, given who she is. But if she makes you as happy as you say she does, I won’t stand in your way.”

My chest inflates with relief. It’s not acceptance, but it’s a start, and I feel the anger between us dissipating. “Grazie. Having to choose between la mia famiglia or amore mio is not something I want to do. I am confident you will grow to love her. She has that effect on people.”

“We’ll see,” he says skeptically. “So what are you going to do about the wedding, now that you’re back?”

“What is there to do about it?” I ask. “She says she is set in her decision. There seems to be some hold over her, making her committed to seeing this through.”

“And that’s enough to keep you dormant? That doesn’t seem like the Sly I know.”

“Sully told me something that’s been bothering me. He ran into her at the market, and she was acting strange. She was jumpy and wouldn’t make eye contact with him.”

“Well, that’s not surprising, since Sully is a giant child. Maybe she just doesn’t like him?”

A small chuckle leaves me, but it doesn’t feel sincere. “I don’t think that is it. He said she was playing with her necklace a lot, almost in a way that was subconscious.”

---