The Truth Hurts: Part Two: The Twisted Betrayal Duet

Chapter 12

“So, how does this work?” Enzo asks, gesturing between me, Luca, and Levi. He’s leaning back on the chair opposite my desk, one arm slung loosely over the back of it. “Do you tag team, or—”

Levi jumps up from the chair beside his cousin, about to lunge for him when Luca grabs his wrist and yanks him back down.

“Enzo!” I snap, rolling my eyes. “Is that really how you want to start this?”

Enzo shrugs his shoulders, falling into an abrupt silence. But he can’t even do that without a smug smile on his face.

I brought us all in the den to clear the air and bring closure to the animosity floating between us all. After the conversation I had with Enzo, I want the guys to get along, but Enzo has resorted to being a petulant child. While I don’t expect anyone to be best friends anytime soon, I want us all to be on the same page. With the way Enzo is acting, I doubt it’ll be that easy.

But there’s no other way to solve this. There needs to be harmony, regardless of what has happened.

Enzo still has a place in my heart, despite the lies, despite the hurt, despite the betrayal. He will always be my best friend. He will always be the guy I turned to when I was sixteen, crying into his shoulder as I begged him to help me find a way out of the toxic relationship I had found myself in. He didn’t fail me then, and I can’t say he ever has. He might have lied about his death, but that wasn’t his fault.

My father on the other hand; he knew what he was doing.

But Enzo’s sincere words soothed me, allowing me to give him a piece of my grief. It was effortless, the way his heartfelt apology fell from his lips, attempting to repair the heartbreak. It was easy to find it in me to move forward and forgive Enzo because he was another victim of my father’s plans, just like me. But that’s not the only reason I forgave him.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Levi mumbles.

I swear, these guys look like they’ve come to the principal’s office for a reprimand, when really, it’s about time we all put what happened behind us and focus on what we need to do.

“Well, you’d better believe it.” I cross my arms and lean back in my oversized computer chair, attempting to ignore the agony that ripples through my chest from my broken ribs. I’m under strict orders by the doctor to stay in bed, given that I have two cracked ribs and concussion. The rest of my wounds have already started to heal. The bruise across my eye is now edges with slight green tinges, and the split in my lip is barely a cut now. My wrists are still bandaged up, but it’s mostly superficial now. The slice across my face will heal, but I’ve already been told it could scar, and as for the long bandage running across my back, well all I can say is I’m thankful I don’t have to look at that because I know it’s nasty. I just have to take things one step at a time, but that’s proving difficult when the amount of testosterone in this house is like walking into a roid-filled gym.

“Nobody leaves this room until we all make amends,” I snap my orders.

Luca scoffs at that. “Does that include you?”

My eyes automatically drift towards Enzo, who raises a brow at me in question. “Yes,” I answer simply.

“You’ve forgiven him for everything?” Luca pushes.

“Not everything. But enough to put aside my anger.” I can see that answer pisses Luca off. He’s always been the one to hold grudges—I was no exception to that rule. But we aren’t a family if we can’t work together, and right now, we all need this one. “Look,” I sigh. “Enzo isn’t the one at fault for what happened.”

“Are we talking about his death, or your kidnapping?” Levi cuts in.

I wince at the sharpness of his accusatory tone.

“Levi,” I say through clenched teeth. It’s been a minute since he questioned me on anything. All this week he’s been tiptoeing around me, even when I decided Giovanni’s fate, he stood by my side. But it seems he’s past that now, and I’m on the receiving end of his attitude once again. “We have shit to get done,” I huff, taking on a no-nonsense tone. “I don’t have time to lead this family and referee your pissing matches.”

“Is that what you think this is?” Luca scoffs. “We stand by your side and now we’re having pissingmatches?”

“I’m not making amends,” Levi scowls.

It’s like talking to a bunch of teenagers.

“Fine.” I nod towards all three of them. I knew this would be difficult, I expected it to be. But I stand by my decision, and if these three men want to be in my life, then they need to get over their issues. “Then set aside your differences. I can’t do this without all three of you. What happened was…” I fail to finish my sentence because all I can think about is my father and his involvement.

I still don’t know how true Enzo’s words are. He’s never had a reason to lie to me before, and something tells me he isn’t about to start now that we’ve brokered a fragile peace between us.

“What aren’t you telling us?” Luca asks, stealing my attention. His eyes are narrowed on me as he cards a hand through his blonde hair.

Enzo clears his throat, shifting in his chair.

The weight of his revelation has been weighing heavily on me ever since he came clean. In all honesty, I didn’t sleep a wink last night because the thought of my own father puppeteering Enzo’s story hits somewhere deep. Despite our differences, I always thought my father and I had a good relationship. He’s never given me any reason to think otherwise. Our interaction from the Gala a few weeks ago was the first time I ever questioned his intentions.

“Dolcezza?”

I snap my gaze back to Luca, who waits patiently for my reply.

The dense silence I’ve allowed to fill the room clutches at my throat like an invisible hand. My heart feels like it could burst out my chest, my pulse racing so fast my skin grows hot and itchy. The idea of repeating what Enzo and I know—and possibly Raf— leaves me reeling in uncertainty. Levi still wears a bruise on his face. Then again, his whole face is currently covered in them from the amount of fights he’s gotten into. But I know he took a punch from my father for failing me, something I’m not so sure Enzo was ever on the receiving end of.

“Her father,” Enzo answers, scratching his thumb across his forehead. “He’s the one who faked my death.”

I swallow past the thick taste of shame coating my throat, lowering my eyes to my lap.

“You knew about this?” Levi asks, anger lacing his words.

“Enzo told me yesterday,” I answer. “My father told everyone of Enzo’s death, but—”

“And you believed him?” Luca pins me with a glare.

“Yes,” I reply defiantly. “Why wouldn’t I?” There’s nothing worse than the feeling of betrayal. I thought Enzo’s stung, but now the thought of my own father’s part in this slices so much deeper. I have no reason to think Enzo would lie about this, because that would mean turning me against my father.

What purpose would that serve?

“What else should we know?” Levi asks his cousin. “Her father orchestrated your death. Did he have a part to play in her kidnapping, too?” He sounds wounded, broken from the inside out, though I know he’d never admit it to Enzo.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Enzo replies, but I can hear the uncertainty in his tone. I can see it in his eyes as he spins the ring on his thumb to distract himself, his gaze never leaving mine. There are secrets lying beneath his words, details he’s keeping from me. He gnaws at his bottom lip. “Your father always had me watching you, though.”

“What?” Luca barks.

“Always?” I question.

Enzo answers with a subtle nod, and that’s when his words from yesterday suddenly hit me. “You were the one who told my father about them?” I push up from my chair, my palms slamming onto the desk. Just when I thought I could move forward, I’m thrown backwards. It’s like as much as I try to grow, to lead this family, there’s always someone or something getting in my way.

“Yes,” he murmurs.

“And us working with The Vultures?”

“Yes.”

“What else?” I demand, glaring at him.

“There’s nothing else, I swear.”

“The attack after Greco’s wedding?” I push for more answers. I feel like Enzo is still keeping something from me.

“I didn’t get there in time,” he mutters, his eyes softening. “I paid Greco a visit and…”

“And?” Luca chimes in.

“Enough!” I snap. I can already feel a headache brewing. My temples throb and the heat crawling up my neck is pounding away at my brain. “No more lies! No more secrets! Got it? It ends now!”

All three men glance at one another before returning their attention to me.

“We have too much to do. I can’t deal with more betrayal.” My voice wobbles as my thoughts bring me to Giovanni’s daughter. “We need to get Luisa back, Gabriella too. I can’t do that if I don’t trust you.” My words are aimed at Enzo more than anyone else, though I know Levi and Luca feel the weight of them.

Exhaustion starts to smother me. Like a warm blanket I want to wrap myself in, I feel the sleepless night creep up on me. It’s only ten in the morning, but right now, there’s nothing more I want than to crawl back into bed.

“Dolcezza…” Luca’s voice comes from beside me, soft and sweet as he gently tangles his fingers with mine. He turns me to look at him and when I peer up into his bright blue eyes, the world seems to fall away. He doesn’t stop me when I bury my head in his chest, inhaling his fresh scent and sighing. He smells of mint and his woodsy aftershave, the delicious scent wrapping around me and instantly relaxing me. The guy that once held animosity towards me now holds me like he wants to take my burdens for himself. He makes it so easy to give into him, to let him take control. And it’s not a bad thing.

I turn my head to see Levi glancing at his cousin, hesitation making his sharp jaw feather. He’s beautiful when he’s angry, a portrait of refined art complete with sharp edges and vibrant tones. I lose myself staring at him, absorbed in his boyish beauty until he finally stands and grunts, “Fine.”

I watch him take Enzo’s hand, shaking it aggressively. If he wants me to believe this is a truce, he’s not doing a very good job. Then again, I’m just glad they’re not kicking each other’s asses.

“No more fights?” I ask sweetly, nuzzling further in Luca’s embrace.

“No promises,” Levi smirks before stepping towards me and planting a kiss on my temple. “But I’ll do my best.”

I guess that’s all I can ask from him for now. Looking towards Enzo for confirmation, he glances from me to the men I’m sandwiched between. There’s reluctance in his stance and a glimmer of apprehension in his eyes. I don’t miss the way he contemplates what he wants to say. Evidently, what he should say wins out because he nods his head towards us, his lips kicking up into a weak smile. “The past is the past.”

Luca’s palm grazes the nape of my neck, coaxing me to look up at him. Slowly, I feel a little less like my life is falling apart and more like the pieces of this weird ass puzzle are finally coming together. I had wanted to get more done today than just build a bridge for these three assholes, but a yawn takes over.

“Come on,” Luca whispers. “You need rest.”

I feel a smile creep across my lips as he strokes his thumb over the bandage on my cheek. I love how sweet Luca has been towards me. It’s rare, but it just makes it more special. The gentle caress of his touch burns my skin, but in a way that just makes me want him more.

I shake my head at those lurid thoughts. He’s right, I need to rest. As much as I want to defy the doctor’s orders, my body is begging for a reprieve.

Levi takes my hand, guiding me away from Luca and past Enzo. He doesn’t even look at me as we leave, and I don’t know why that somehow stings more than his betrayal did, but it does. Maybe we can’t go back to how things were, after all. I guess I was asking for too much.