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“It’s good,” the pilot called back.
“See? You can do anything,” Rocco yelled. He picked up my hand and raised my arm.
I let out a laugh.
“Hey, can you bring it down, Vance?” Rocco yelled.
The pilot lowered the plane closer to the water, and Rocco let out a woot.
I laughed.
“Look at the corals and fishes; you can’t miss this, Bella.” He placed his hand on my back, and I stared out at the aquamarinewater and could see the coral fishes moving below the surface. I lifted my chin to the breeze coming through the open window—the water’s air and mist cooled my skin. My eyes went to Rocco, and he was already looking at me with an expression I’d seen a few times but couldn’t read.
My brows raised. “Is everything okay?”
He touched my chin. “Yes. Still scared?”
I shook my head no. “It’s so beautiful.”
The plane slowed as we approached land. White sands and crystal waters appeared below us, along with the wild palms and plants of the tropical place. Amongst them were white stone and rock villas with swimming pools and a beach with boats on docks.
Rocco climbed out first, took my hand, and walked down the last few steps. The climate was hot, but a nice breeze came off the water, making it feel like a warm bath. It was soothing. I turned in a circle. Was this really me? I’d only seen photos online and thought of them as staged ads. I never thought I’d be a newlywed bride on a tropical honeymoon.
Rocco took my hands. “Excited?”
I grinned. “I am.”
“It’s only the beginning.”
Two cars pulled up to where we stood. Zane immediately transferred our bags to the Mercedes, and a driver walked up and handed Rocco the keys to a white Ferrari. It was a two-seater with flowers on the back and a sign in the back seat that said, “Just Married.”
My jaw dropped. “Wow. This is so wonderful.”
Rocco always tried to make it personal.
“Shall we?” Rocco walked over and held the door open.
I beamed at him and sat down in the tan leather seat. “We shall.”
Rocco took the seat behind the wheel and started the car, driving us through thick green hills and sand-covered roads.
“You’ve been here before?”
“Yes. With my grandparents. Grandpa loved it here. He gave this villa to us in his will and left the honeymoon to me.”
“He put so much into the wedding at that castle. He loved you, Rocco.”
“He loved you, Adelina. So very much.”
I swallowed hard and missed my friend. Like me, he did terrible things and good things. But he had remorse and worked hard to make it all better. I wish I could still have that conversation with him about it. Maybe our friendship could’ve survived afterward.
Rocco slowed, and we reached the stone pillars and a mahogany gate with vines and lions, Marini’s key signature. It was similar to Marini’s Westchester estate.
The gate opened, and Rocco drove into an underground parking area and pulled into a space next to a couple of luxury cars and a golf cart.
“You know what?” Rocco said mischievously.
I grinned. “What?”