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“She’ll have plenty to say tomorrow.” I smiled, thinking about finally putting a bullet in her father’s head.

After years of waiting for the perfect moment, it was finally here.

16

I barely slept last night,still unable to get the argument Lorenzo and I had out of my mind. I had nowhere to go. I would have slept beside my grandfather’s grave if it wasn’t for Red taking me to Carmella’s house.

She did more than I ever expected her to. For the first time, I felt numb, unable to fathom what had happened or why he wouldn’t believe me—the woman who was supposed to be his wife or so he kept reminding me.

Carmella tended to me, and despite me saying I didn’t need anything, she didn’t take no for an answer. She took care of me, something my own mother hadn’t done in a while and forgot how to do. I found a safe space in Carmella’s home. I found someone who treated me as her own.

“He hasn’t always been this way.” Carmella sighed, handing me a photo of Lorenzo when he was a boy.

His boyish grin beamed up at me from the frame. My eyes fell to the two who sat beside him, Carmella and Franco. Looking at Franco was like looking at my own husband. Lorenzo was the spitting image of his father. It was clear he took a whole lot more from him than looks.

“He used to have a heart. He used to care, but the day he lost his father that changed, and I’m so sorry you’re caught in the middle of everything. You don’t deserve to be.” She wrapped her arm around me, something I wasn’t used to. The only people I ever felt that love and affection from were my grandparents.

“How could they do that to me? How could Lorenzo even suggest such a thing?” I let a tear escape and, for the first time, felt as though I was letting go. Something I hadn’t done in a long time. I didn’t need to scream or shout to let it out. I just needed to open up a little.

“I don’t know but perhaps give it some time. He might surprise you.” She smiled, but I wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince me or herself. “Why don’t you get some sleep? Everything will seem better in the morning.”

“I don’t think anything will ever look better, Carmella.” I sighed, pulling the covers up around my chin.

“You never know. For now, get some rest. Red and I will be downstairs if you need anything.”

She flicked off the light, and I fell into a deep sleep until Lorenzo haunted each and every dream.

“Mornin’,A,” Emmet greeted as I entered the kitchen.

“Morning.” I glanced around quickly. “No Lorenzo this morning?” I asked.

“Nope, but let me introduce you to the next best thing.” I heard a voice from the garage door.One I never heard before.

"A, meet Nicolo, Lorenzo's cousin," Emmet said, nodding towards the new arrival with a welcoming smile. Nicolo strolledover to where we stood by the island, his footsteps softly echoing on the tiled floor. He was a tall man with dark, wavy hair that framed his face and intense brown eyes that seemed to take in every detail of the room. He couldn’t have been much younger than Lorenzo. Maybe mid twenties. His presence seemed commanding yet approachable. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee was already enough to brighten my morning.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Anastacia. My aunt has told me so much about you.” He kissed both cheeks before gripping me tightly in a hug.

“I’m so sorry I can’t say the same.” I breathed, taken aback by his gesture.

“Get your hands off my wife.”

And there he was, like clockwork.My so-called husband.

Nicolo released me as he turned to face Lorenzo, whose face was a vision of rage. “Alright, cousin, nice to see you!”

“Nice to see me or nice to put those grubby hands all over my wife?”

“Oh, calm down. There’s no need to get so territorial,” he teased. “From what I understand, you seem to keep messing up, am I right?” Nicolo was skating on thin ice, though he didn’t seem to care.

“Keep talking and I’ll slice that tongue right out of your mouth,” Lorenzo snapped.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to…” I pondered for a second. “Actually why lie? I just don’t want to be anywhere near my bastard husband.” I turned to Nicolo, capturing his attention. “It was nice to meet you, Nicolo. I guess I’ll see you around.”

I barged past Lorenzo, who, of course, was hot on my heels before I had time to stop him.

“Ana.” His voice was firm as he spoke my name, causing me to stop in my tracks for a moment.

“You should catch up with your cousin and get away from me. I’m here because I have to be, don’t think it’s because I want to be.”