Matteo stopped beside me.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For finding the photographer even if it was in vain.” Four weeks, and slowly I was starting to realize that this was it. That the love I’d taken for granted, I’d never experience again.
“Three years ago you kept a secret from Luca for me,” Matteo said in a voice gravelly with sleep. “If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Aria was too selfless, too good. I nodded slowly, realizing why she did it. She wanted me to appear strong. Aria wasn’t a weakness.

A beautiful blonde woman stepped in.

“It’s enough,” she said. Her voice was quiet and calm, but it held obvious power over Luca.

I could feel Remo’s eyes on me the entire time, but I didn’t care. I’d learned from my father that loving someone didn’t mean you were weak.

“I’m willing to sacrifice a lot for the Famiglia and this family, Dad. I’ll be a good Capo like you, but have you ever considered that you are a good Capo because Mom has your back? You have her by your side when the carnage and bullshit get too much. Without her, where would you be today?”

Luca looked at me and tears welled in my eyes. “I’d be in a very dark place and probably a worse Capo than my father had been.”

Romero lifted me into his arms under the excited cheers of our guests. I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d never felt lighter, as if any moment I would soar up into the night sky.  I risked a glance up, wondering if Mother was watching. I’d done what she’d wanted. I’d risked happiness, and it was worth it. Romero kissed my cheek, drawing my attention back to him.

I put my chin down on Sara’s head and closed my eyes, simply feeling the gentle movements of our child. Who knew that such a small thing could make me so happy?

Rage blinded my vision as I jumped off the platform before anyone could stop me, shoved into the crowd and slammed the man to the ground. My hand wrapped around his throat. It was all too familiar. I’d often wondered why Dad had used his bare hands to kill a man who insulted Mom. But feeling the frantic throbbing of panic against my fingertips as I choked the asshole was fucking beautiful and so much more satisfactory than the detached use of a knife or gun.

Luca is Capo. And he’s the best there ever was. Because he rules without mercy. Because he rewards those who are loyal. Because he protects those deserving of protection.”

I curled into a small ball and closed the box over my head.
I stared into the darkness, fighting nausea and trying to quiet the whooshing in my ears. Soon the dark and quiet took effect and my pulse slowed, and then later the whooshing in my ears settled down as well. Sweet oblivion.

He’s my father, of course I believe in him. And the drug you’re looking for is love.” I cringed inwardly at how sappy that sounded, but it was true. Dad didn’t only spoil me with presents and money, he spoiled me with love and affection as well.

“Growing up with Flavio and Aria’s third kid, she’ll pretty much have annoying siblings to spend time with.”
“No doubt.”

She, Flavio, and Valerio had always been inseparable

“Father’s chest heaved more and more, and blood trickled out between Matteo’s fingers still pressed against Father’s mouth.
“I’ll tell Nina you suffered through your last minutes. She’ll be ecstatic to hear it. Maybe Matteo and I will toast your death with her with your favorite bottle of wine,” I growled. Father’s eyes bulged and he convulsed and then went still. I pulled my finger out of his wound and Matteo released his mouth, and for a moment everything was silent.
Matteo’s and my eyes met, our hands covered with our father’s blood. Matteo gripped my shoulder. “He’s gone.”
Gone. Finally gone from our lives.”

“Your wife brings splendor and light to New York. In my almost seventy years I’ve never seen beauty like hers.

“We could spend the summer in the Hamptons. It’s too hot and stuffy in the city and we’re using the mansion not often enough anyway.” Aria touched Luca’s forearm and fixed him with one of her looks that always got him. “Please, Luca? I don’t want Lily to be stuck in the apartment. In the Hamptons we can lie at the pool and swim in the ocean and take trips with our boat.”
“Okay, okay,” Luca said with a resigned look.”

My face fell and Aria hurried to add, “But only because we’re leaving for the Hamptons early in the morning. We’ll be spending the summer at the beach.”

“Really?” I asked.

Aria smiled brightly, and suddenly the dark cloud over my head burst open.

We’d been rifling through a brochure that detailed events in the Hamptons for something to do in the next few days. Sunbathing and swimming were getting old.

The screaming and laughter of children filled the back yard of the mansion. We spent a few weeks in the summer together in the Hamptons every year. It was chaotic but also the best time of the year

I snorted, shaking my head. “I hope they hold back when we celebrate my birthday this month.” It would be a chilled affair in the Hamptons.

“I doubt it,” Matteo said. “We’ll have a nice barbecue and jump in the pool, and listen to exciting diaper stories.

I love that we’re doing this every year,” Lily said. We’d celebrated my birthday in the Hamptons every year in the last eight years because it was perfect out here in August

We always had the same room when we stayed in the Hamptons, so it felt like a second home away from home.

When I didn’t find anyone on the second floor, I headed downstairs. Aria, Liliana, and Marcella were singing some ridiculous kid song. When I entered the dining room, Aria was holding Isa on her hip and swaying back and forth, while Marcella sat in front of her, making silly gestures with her hands that seemed to match the song. Liliana had Flavio on her lap and was moving his tiny arms in rhythm to the music.

Luca, Amo, and Romero with Sara on his lap, sat at the table, having breakfast, which in Amo’s case was the cold pizza I’d forgotten all about, but Luca and Romero were throwing the occasional glance at the girls.

Mom had taken me, and my younger brothers, Amo and Valerio, to the Hamptons for a week of much needed relaxation. Of course, Valerio didn’t understand the meaning of relaxation. He was out on the waves, water-skiing while one of our bodyguards steered the boat in risky maneuvers to satisfy him

If you want you can invite her to the Hamptons too. She can spend time with you, Sara and Isabella when I go jetskiing with Maximus

“I’m always in awe when I come here. It’s just a beautiful place,” Sara said.

“I like to come here once or twice a year because it’s just a place where I spent many summer days as a child

I perched on the windowsill and took out my cell. Since the wedding, I had Isa’s number again so I texted her:

“What are you up to this summer?”

”Write a few essays in preparation for my courses. And hopefully escape New York’s heat and spend a few weeks in the Hamptons.”

”The Hamptons sound perfect. I wish I could spend the summer with you.”

”Do it.”

”I grinned. I need approval from my parents. Mom is having a chat with Aria tonight.

Will you be coming alone?”

”Just me.”

”Good. Keep me updated. If you want, I can chat with my mother.”

”That would be great. I need all the support I can get.”

”Done. We’ll have the summer of our lives.