by L A Cotton
“I know this is hard for you.”
“You don’t know anything,” I snapped. “I have been lied to and used and... raped. Maybe death should befall Mike Fascini. But it feels like the easy way out for him. He deserves to rot in Hell for his crimes.”
He’d orchestrated everything.
The failed hit on me when I was younger.
The business merger with my father.
The engagement.
The wedding.
The engagement.
A plan slowly began to take shape in my mind. Mike Fascini had positioned himself as someone of worth to my father. That was something I could exploit.
Something I could use.
“Arianne?” Luis asked as I stared off into the distance.
Blinking, I let my eyes drift to his. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Why do I not like the sound of this?”
“I need you to take me to see Antonio.”
“Are you out of your mind?” His eyes were the size of saucers.
Quite possibly. But I didn’t tell him that.
“I know Nicco has gone there to make arrangements.” The word soured on my tongue. “But I need to talk to him.”
“I’ll call Nicco. We can get Antonio to come here.”
“It can’t wait.” Now that the seed was planted, I knew what I had to do.
“Ari, I’m not sure—”
“I’m going. Whether you help me or not, I’m doing this, Luis. I have sat by letting these... these men trample all over my life, but I won’t sit idly by while a man is murdered in cold blood. Mike Fascini deserves to be punished. But this is not the way.”
His expression turned grim. “It is their way.”
“Will you take me or not?”
“You really want to do this? It isn’t safe...”
I glared at him. This was happening. I wouldn’t rest until he delivered me to Antonio’s house.
“Fine,” he grumbled, disapproval etched into his expression. “I’ll take you.”
“Thank you.”
Antonio Marchetti might have been the boss of Dominion, but he was a businessman at heart.
And I had an offer he needed to hear.
WE PULLED UP OUTSIDE the Marchetti house an hour later. Luis had been quiet the entire ride. He didn’t approve of me being here. But it was too late now.
The door flung open and Enzo appeared. “What the fuck?” He marched to the car, yanking open my door. “What the fuck are you thinking?”
“I need to see Antonio.”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Indignation trickled up my spine. I climbed out and met Enzo’s glare with my own. “Well, I’m here now, and I’m not leaving until I speak with Antonio.”
“Nicco is going to lose his shit when he realizes you’re here. And you.” Enzo jabbed his finger at Luis. “You had one fucking job. Keep her at the cabin.”
“She was going to find her way here with or without me.” His eyes settled on me. “She can be quite stubborn.”
“You don’t say.”
I didn’t wait for them to approach the house. Slipping inside, I followed the sound of Antonio and Nicco’s voices, finding them in the same room I’d found them in the morning after the gala.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
“What?” Antonio barked.
Pushing open the door, I stepped inside.
“Arianne?” Nicco blanched.
“Well, if this isn’t a surprise.” Antonio glowered at me, sliding his eyes to his son.
“What are you doing here?” Nicco rushed over to my side.
“I need to talk to your father.”
“You should have called me.”
“So you could talk me out of it?” My lips pursed.
“Niccolò, what is this all about?”
“I’m sorry to just barge in here like this, but Nicco had no idea I planned to come here. I didn’t until I woke up,” I said, meeting Antonio’s cloudy eyes. “But I need to speak to you, Mr. Marchetti. Urgently.”
“Please, Arianne, call me Antonio.” He relaxed back in his chair. “Well, I am waiting...”
“Actually, I’d like to speak to you... alone.”
Nicco let out a low groan. I peeked over at him. He looked confused, betrayal glittering in his eyes.
But I needed to do this.
“Very well. Niccolò, leave us.”
“Wait a minute,” he shot forward, “maybe I should—”
“Niccolò! Arianne has asked for privacy, and she shall get it. Wait outside.”
“Why?” Nicco asked, the hurt in his eyes almost too much to bear.
“I had to.”
He stalked out of the room, and guilt snaked through me. But I would worry about Nicco later. Right now, I needed to talk with his father.
“It would seem I underestimated you, Arianne,” he said. “Please, sit.”
I took one of the leather chairs. “I am sorry for just turning up like this, but I couldn’t just stand by. Mike Fascini and his son deserve to be punished, Mr. Mar—Antonio. But murder?”
“In our line of work, we prefer the term execution.” He was so matter of fact it made my chest constrict. “Mike Fascini plotted against my family, Arianne. I’m sure you can understand I can’t just let that go unpunished. He has directly threatened you, and now your father.” He steepled his fingers. “Can I ask you something?”
I nodded.
“Would you rather sacrifice yourself to save Roberto?”
“No, that’s not—”
“Sometimes we must make hard choices.”
“That’s what Nicco said.”
“This life doesn’t come easy for Niccolò. I suppose, in part, I am to blame for that. He blames me for his mother leaving. He blames me for a lot of things. And his blame isn’t misplaced. I have done things, Arianne. Despicable things. But it is who I am. Just as you sit before me now as who you are.”
“Is there another way?”
Antonio’s brows morphed into a scowl. “Another way?”
“To deal with the Fascini. You are a well-connected man, you have the evidence of what Scott did to me, surely there is a way to take that to the authorities...”
“There is always another way, Arianne, but it doesn’t mean it is the right way.”
“I don’t want anyone to die.”
“Death is inevitable.” He stroked his jaw, studying me, as if I was puzzle he was trying to solve.
“I want them to pay, I do. But not like this.”
“You know, there are people who might think you should be sitting here thanking me. I am, after all, offering to save your father. My enemy.”
“But you’re not doing it for me, are you? You’re doing it for you. For the Family. Kill two birds with one stone.”
“Explain.”
“If you get rid of the Fascini, it leaves my father in your debt. You can use that as leverage to ensure he doesn’t come after La Riva. If Fascini is gone, my father’s position is weakened. And the Marchetti come out on top.”
“Interesting.” His eyes twinkled.
“What is?”
“You’re more like your father than anyone gives you credit for.”
“Whether I like it or not, I am my father’s daughter. And I am here to negotiate.”
He sat forward; hands folded on the desk. “I’m listening.”
“What if you didn’t have my family in your debt but as a partner?”
“I’m not sure you are in any position to make that offer, Arianne.”
“My father’s life hangs in the balance and one day, Capizola Holdings will be mine. I think I’m exactly the person to make such an offer.” My brow raised.
“Your terms?”
“Figure out another way to take down the Fascini. You said it’s possible. If you can guarantee no one will get hurt, I’ll make you a silent partner.”
“Your father will never agree to thos
e terms.”
“It’s not his decision to make.” My voice shook. “We both know he’s indebted to you either way.”
“It’s ballsy, I’ll give you that. Our families are on opposite sides of morality. Bringing us together—”
“Is righting history.”
“This won’t change who we are, Arianne. It won’t change who Niccolò is. Do you understand that?”
“I know.” My voice was small. “I’m not a fool. I know what you do. I know what your family does. But this is different. This is personal. And I’m not sure I can carry the burden of murder.”
“Say I was to consider your offer; I’d need reassurances.”
“I give you my word. After the Fascini are dealt with, I’ll have my father’s legal team draw up all the necessary paperwork.” My father would listen, he’d have no choice.
Not after Antonio saved his life.
Besides, he owed me.
My father owed it to me to let me have this.
“I appreciate your tenacity, Arianne. But it is all just words and paper. These things are easily broken.”
My stomach sank. This was my Ace card, my final plea. If Antonio didn’t take it... I didn’t know what would become of me and Nicco.
“I’m sorry,” I kept my voice even. “I’m not sure I understand. I can try to have the paperwork drawn up sooner, but we’re running out of time. Mike is going to kill my father, Antonio. He’s going to—”
He silenced me with his hand. “My son is prepared to kill for you, to die for you, Arianne... What are you prepared to do for my son?”
I frowned.
What did he mean?
“I love Nicco, I would do whatever I could to protect him.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” His lip curved, a dark expression crossing his face. It sent a shiver rippling through me. “The bonds of marriage are sacred in our world. They bind together two people far more than any promise.”
Marriage?
“You want me to marry Nicco?”
“Mike Fascini might be blinded by his thirst for vengeance, Arianne, but he knew what he was doing convincing Roberto to promise you to his son. One day you will be the Queen of the Capizola empire and your child will be the heir. Fascini knew this. He knew if you gave Scott a child, the Ricci bloodline would supersede the Capizola line.”
“I’m not... that doesn’t...” It was crazy talk, yet, deep down, I knew he spoke the truth.
“My son loves you, Arianne. He has chosen you as his woman. One day, he will ask for your hand in marriage. It is inevitable. I am not asking anything of you that isn’t already written in your destiny.”
Antonio’s eyes narrowed as he watched my reaction. I realized then, it was a test.
He was testing me.
I didn’t belong in their world. I was too pure, too righteous. He wanted to know how far I would go to prove my loyalty to Nicco.
To his family.
Staring him right in the eye, I gave him a small nod. “I’ll do it. Do this one thing for me. Save my father, and I’ll marry Nicco.”
“You will?” Antonio looked oddly relieved.
“Like you said, I love your son, Antonio. I look into the future and see a life with him. So yes, I’ll marry him.” My body hummed with nervous anticipation, with the idea of binding my life with Nicco’s so definitively.
“Do you want to tell him, or should I?”
“Let me talk to him first.”
He nodded. “As you wish. But, Arianne, you should know he might not like this. Niccolò has never taken well to following orders, especially my orders.”
But this was different.
This was me giving myself to him completely.
Heart.
Body.
Soul.
And in marriage.
“NICCO?” I ENTERED THE kitchen and he looked up. His expression was crestfallen, tugging at my heart strings.
“You shouldn’t have come here, Arianne.”
“Yes, I should.” I walked over to him, stopping just out of touching distance. “Can we talk? Somewhere private?”
His eyes swirled with uncertainty. I’d driven a wedge between us by coming here, and I knew he felt betrayed. But there was no going back now, only forward.
“Please,” I added.
He pressed his palms against the counter and stood up. “Okay, come on.”
It stung when he didn’t take my hand, but I took a shuddering breath and followed him out of the back door to the fire pit where we’d once sat with his cousins and Alessia.
That night seemed so long ago, when it was only a couple of weeks. I was different now.
We both were.
But the truth was, I’d never felt stronger.
I no longer had to sit around and let other people determine my fate, I could carve my own path.
I just needed Nicco to see that.
He sat down in one of the lawn chairs and I did the same. The air was cool between us, and not only from the frigid fall temperatures.
“What did you offer him?” Nicco didn’t look at me, his eyes staring off into the distance.
“How did you—”
His gaze finally shifted to mine, filled with so much intensity my breath caught. “I know you, Arianne. I think I knew last night that you wouldn’t let it rest. So what did you offer him?”
“We negotiated,” I said calmly, fighting every instinct to go to him and beg him to understand. “I offered to make him a partner in Capizola Holdings if he’ll hand the Fascini to the authorities.”
“And he accepted?” His eyes narrowed, dark and menacing. A shiver skated up my spine.
“He has terms of his own.”
He scoffed. “Of course he does.”
“I love you Nicco, and I want a life with you. I know who you are. I know what it means to be in your world, but I’m not ready to...” I swallowed the words. “I can’t just give up my morality. I can’t.”
“So you decided to make a deal with the Devil?”
“That’s not...” I pressed my lips together. Nicco had a point. “I can’t really explain it. All I know is in my heart of hearts, I couldn’t turn a blind eye to this. Maybe it makes me a fool or naive, maybe it makes me unworthy of your love, but this world has proved itself to me as a dark place. You said I was the light. I’m not ready to give that up.”
Taking me by surprise, Nicco stood and came to me, falling to his knees before me. “You are the light, Bambolina, but it doesn’t change the fact Fascini needs to pay for his crimes.”
“I know.” I brushed the hair from his eyes. “But there is always a choice.”
“What did he want from you, Arianne?” Defeat washed over him.
“Nothing I wouldn’t have one day given anyway.” Leaning down, I cupped his face, touching my head to his. “He wants my name, Nicco. He wants us to marry.”
Chapter 25
Nicco
“No,” the word was out of my mouth before I could stop it.
Arianne paled, jerking away from me, leaving me cold and desolate.
“No?” She cried. “But I thought... you don’t want me?”
“Not like this.” Never like this.
I wanted our future to be born out of love, not obligation.
“But it solves everything,” she said unable to disguise the pain in her voice. “Your father will help make sure Mike and Scott pay for their crimes, my father’s life will be saved, and we’ll be together.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” I ground out.
I wanted a life with Arianne, a future. But she deserved more than... than this. She deserved an engagement and a bridal shower. She deserved to enjoy all the planning and lead up to her wedding day.
She deserved so much more than a last-minute wedding arranged as part of a business transaction.
“Your father said you wouldn’t be happy.” Sadness laced her words. “But I thought... I’m just trying to do the right thing.”
A soft sigh escaped her lips. “Is the idea of marrying me so unappealing to you?”
“Bambolina, that’s not...” I inhaled a sharp breath. “This is not how I want it to be.”
I wanted to put this all behind us and enjoy being a couple. I didn’t want her to rush headfirst into something she wasn’t ready for.
Something we weren’t ready for.
“I know what I want, Nicco,” Arianne’s expression fell as if she could hear my thoughts and sense my torment. “Did I imagine I’d be married at eighteen? No, I didn’t. But I also didn’t imagine that I’d meet someone like you. I didn’t imagine that everything I thought I knew would turn out to be a lie.”
Frustration laced her words. “Nothing about this is what I’d ever imagined, but here we are. I love you, I love you so much...” Silent tears trickled down her cheeks but I was paralyzed, unable to reach for her.
My father had said all along that Arianne could be the leverage he needed over Roberto, and he had gotten his wish.
It didn’t matter if Arianne thought the choice was hers. I knew the truth.
I would always know the truth.
And one day, it would drive a wedge between us.
“Nicco, please, say something.”
“I need to talk to my father.” I stood, running a hand over my jaw.
“It is already done.” Panic overwhelmed her voice. “I made my decision. I don’t understand why you’re fighting me on this?” Defiance burned in her eyes. “Unless you don’t want—”
“Bambolina, stop.” I curved my hand around her neck, holding her close to me. “I love you, but I don’t want you to do something you’ll one day regret.” Something she might one day resent me for.
“This will unite our families, Nicco.” She eased back to look at me. “It will right things.”
The sincerity in her gaze almost killed me. But you couldn’t just rewrite a bitter history with a wedding—a wedding born out of business.
“Don’t you see,” I said, angling her face to mine. “You are just replacing one cage for another.”
“No, that’s not what this is. I’m choosing this, I’m choosing you. I want this, Nicco. I want you.” Her bottom lip quivered. “I thought you felt the same about me. I thought—”
I pressed a hard kiss to her forehead, silencing her. “I need to speak with my father. I’ll be back soon.” Pulling away, I didn’t look at her.