Epilogue: Dominic
Luca sat on the arm of my chair and Dante stood next to me while we all watched Ari talking to her parents across the living room.
The three of them occupied one couch, and Matteo and his wife whispered fast and furious into Ari’s ears from both sides.
They whispered, but their distressed words still reached the three of us loud and clear. “You don’t want to stay here, darling,” Matteo insisted. “You don’t know what these men are capable of. You deserve so much better. Come home to Baltimore with us.”
“I know perfectly well what they’re capable of.” Ari’s eyes darted over to the three of us. “And I’m not going anywhere. I’m starting at Harvard in a few weeks.”
“At least stay in the dorm,” her mother hissed from her other side. “You’ll be safe there. Campus police…”
“I’m safe here,” Ari countered. “I’m staying here. I’m happy here. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Matteo glanced over at us and then bent in close to his daughter’s ear. “Listen to me, darling. I worked for these people for decades. No one knows better than I do what kind of people they are. They’re criminals. They’re ruthless. They killed over a hundred men on the docks a few weeks ago.”
“I know that, Dad,” she countered. “I actually know more about it than you do.”
“But you’ve always been such a good, conscientious girl,” her mother lamented. “We just don’t know what to think. This place…”
“I was a good, conscientious girl because I didn’t remember where I came from. I know now, and I’m staying here.”
Matteo gave up the attempt to hide his agitation. He shot the three of us a hateful glance. “They put out a hit on me—on all of us. We all would have been dead if I didn’t go on the run.”
Ari rested her head in her hand. “I know, Dad. I know all about it. Believe me. I was there when Lorenzo and Marta Luciano were killed. I saw the whole thing.”
Her father blanched, and her mother shut her mouth real quick. Matteo’s face fell, and he looked over at us. “Well, if you’re sure…”
“I’m sure,” Ari replied. “I love them. I want to stay here.”
“But how can you love…” Her mother glanced at us over her shoulder. “How can you love ALL of them?”
Ari groaned and rubbed her temples. “It’s complicated.”
Matteo threw up his hands. “I suppose we have no choice but to accept it. We’re just worried about your safety.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” she replied. “The Vittorios are all on the West Coast, and the remaining Boston families are all peaceful, now that the Fortinos control the Council.”
Matteo spun around to stare at her. First he looked scared of his own daughter, and then he let out another resigned sigh. “All right. Just keep in touch with us so we know you’re all right.”
“Iamall right, Dad. You can see that I am.”
Both Matteo and his wife turned to look at the three of us, and Matteo got to his feet. “Yes. I can see that you are. Well, we’ll leave you alone now. We have a long drive back to Baltimore.”
Luca stood up. “You don’t have to go back to Baltimore, Matteo. You’re welcome to stay here with your family. We would be honored to have you back.”
Matteo surveyed him and then glanced at me and Dante. “Thank you, Padrino, but we’re settled where we are. We’re only sorry to be living so far away from Ari.”
“You’re always welcome to visit. You’re Ari’s family, which means you’reourfamily.”
Matteo gulped and nodded. “Thank you, Padrino… and thank you for looking after my little girl.”
“Ari’s safety and wellbeing is my top priority, Matteo. I wouldn’t have her staying here if I didn’t think it was the best thing for her.”
Matteo lowered his gaze. He still hadn’t outgrown his old Fortino ways, and he recognized a king when he saw one. “Of course, Padrino. I’m sure you wouldn’t.” He signaled to his wife, and they headed for the door.
Ari hugged her mother. “You’ll come back and visit me, won’t you?”
“Of course,” her mother replied. “We’ll video chat with you every few days to make sure you’re okay.”