“What the fuck?”
Gio and Jace come running out. Jace wraps around Gio, trying to stop him from running to the car. They both fall onto their asses and watch as the car burns.
I furrow my brows. It looks like Gio’s shoulders are actually shaking with tears. I’ll be…this motherfucker.
I don’t need to see a thing more. I climb over into the driver’s side and start the car, driving out of the other end of the parking lot. It’s time I leave these men behind.
CHAPTER 63
Andiamo
Gio
Now you understand us. You get why we are who we are. We’re not trying to force anything on anyone. This is us. What others like, what they do, that’s their business.
This has never been about labels. This has been about love, loss, and trying to find our way. We’re three souls that burn brighter together.
All I do is for Nyla. The day she was born, my heart started beating properly. Her first breath was a call to my soul to find her and Jace heard its echo.
Am I sorry for all the time we’ve lost? Yes, I truly am, but I’m not sorry for the things I’ve done and all I’m about to do. Not for a single fucking moment.
I think you also understand why we’re about to fuck shit up. We’ve lost enough.
I won’t lose Ny forever too. They say it’s lonely at the top. Well, from my view, I say fuck them. Everyone who’s meant to be here is here. I always finish what I start. They want to bring this to my doorstep.
Andiamo. I want all the smoke.
EPILOGUE
The Root
Where it began
Italy…
Don Di Lorenzo sat with the small bundle in his arms, trying not to completely break down. She was gone. His Bella hadn’t survived. They didn’t get enough time together.
Never in his life did he feel more helpless. What was he to do? He kept their love a secret to keep this from happening—he couldn’t take her being gunned down in the street like his two brothers. Someone was always looking to harm his family.
He did all he could to keep that from happening to his wife. However, fate still took his love away. This life had been crueler to him than he’d been to any of his enemies.
The one perfection, his only joy had been ripped right from his grasp and in her place was this small being.
“Ava,” he choked out. “I will name you Ava. It’s what she would have wanted.”
He drew his daughter into his chest and vowed in his heart he’d forever protect her. His only child. There would be no sons, for he knew he would never love again. He would teach Ava their way and she would be greater than any son given the title of Don.
“Che prometto sulla mia vita,” he whispered, making the promise on his life.
“Don Di Lorenzo.” Giuseppe looked up at the mention of his name.
He vaguely acknowledged his home was filled with people, the midwife, the staff, his men. His grief was so deep he didn’t want to talk to anyone. However, when his gaze landed on Marcello, he knew this was one person he couldn’t send away.
This man grieved with him. It was his loss too. Giuseppe stood with his daughter in his arms. Marcello cupped the back of Giuseppe’s head and kissed both of his cheeks before looking down at the baby in Giuseppe’s arms.
“Thank you for coming,” Giuseppe managed to say.
“Alessia was so full of life. This pains me greatly.”
Giuseppe gave a nod. Marcello held his arms out for the baby. It pained the new father to release her, even for a moment. Ava was the last part of Alessia he had left. However, he did hand her over to her adopted uncle.
“Have you named her?”
“Yes, her name is Ava.”
“Bella. She’s as gorgeous as her mother. Will you return to Naples?”
“I don’t know what I plan to do.”
Marcello nodded. “I understand. It pained me greatly to send my brother, his wife, and son, to the Americas. Now I have no one left here.”
“Their lives were in danger. You did what you must.”
It was the truth. He understood the other Don’s choice. His twin brother and his family were safer in America. Giuseppe hadn’t known of Alessia’s adopted relation because of all the name changes to protect them.
She was never given their last name. Rumor was she was the child of Marcello’s uncle, taken in by his father and mother.
Furrowing his brows, Giuseppe started to truly think of what to do next. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. He and Alessia had moved to the country to live a quiet life, on the land Marcello had given them as a wedding gift—something not many knew.
Giuseppe had seen too much war, too much death in his life. He wanted a taste of the simpler things. The farm had treated their union well until that day.