24. ENZO
24
ENZO
“We’ve done a thorough examination of the area,” the chief informs me. “All signs point to the same thing.”
I raise my eyebrow.
It's been a few days since the fire, and the police has been working together with the fire department to get to the bottom of the situation. This meeting was set to update me on their progress.
"The fire was no accident—it’s arson."
"Mr. Marchetti, do you know who might be behind this?" the police chief asks.
I exchange a knowing look with Marcel, who's also present at the meeting.
"Our guess is that Mr. Silvano Salvatore might have something to do with it."
The police chief nods, not seeming surprised. Knowing Silvano and his penchant for trouble, he probably already knows him well enough.
"I can see that as a probability, but we need more than just an assumption to file criminal charges."
"I am afraid that speculation is all we have at this point."
"We will continue investigating it, but until we have proof, our hands are tied." The police chief frowns. "But rest assured, Mr. Marchetti, we are on your side and will not rest till this gets resolved."
I exit the meeting feeling frustrated still. Silvano is a criminal hiding in plain sight, and there's nothing we can do about it.
"Sir, we should talk about the..." Marcel follows me out of the meeting room.
"Not now, Marcel. I have something I need to do first."
It might be the anger simmering in my veins or just my impatience, but I decide to take matters into my own hands.
I drive over to Silvano's office, which is close by.
His guards stop me once they see my car.
"Where is he?" I bark, looking around. "Tell him I’m here to see him."
"I’m sorry, sir. But unless you have an appointment, we—"
"Let him through," a familiar voice comes up from behind us.
Silvano must have seen my car pull up in the driveway.
"Well, well, well. I didn't expect you to show your face around here so soon. Have you finally come to your senses about the property agreement?"
I march over to him, squaring him up.
It doesn't matter that I'm on his territory and his guards are armed with heavy weapons just inches away from me. This is personal, and I am not about to back down like a coward.
"There is no agreement," I bark. "I've come here to warn you."
"Warn me?" His gaze flashes with a smugness I want nothing more than to knock off with my fists.
"Don't you have other things to worry about at the moment? My condolences, by the way, about your poor vineyard burning down."
"Drop the act. I know it was you who’s behind it."
His eyes widen, feigning innocence. "Me? But why would I ever do such a thing?"
"You're the only one capable of stooping this low. All I need to do is prove that, and you're done for."
His maniacal laughter fills the air between us. "I wish you the best of luck trying to pull that off. It'll be nothing short of a miracle."
He snaps his fingers to alert his guards to escort me off the property.
I shove past them before they have a chance to lay their hands on me and get back into my car. Anger is pouring out of every fiber of my being.
If I had any doubts before about who was behind this, it’s crystal clear now.
I drive back to the house and find a spot to sit down by the pool. My phone rings, and I pick up thinking it must be news from the chief.
“Enzo, got a moment?”
“Right now, Michael?” I sigh. This feels like the worst possible timing.
“I really think we should talk.”
I cannot find it in me to just hang up on him, especially given how tumultuous our recent history has been.
“Fine, what do you have to say?”
Right now, Michael is the only connection I have to Quinn. As sad as it sounds, I hope he has some news about her.
Is she safe? Did she make it back okay? Did they get a chance to talk about me?
“I’ve been doing a fair bit of thinking these last few days, and I’m not okay with how things are between us. We’ve been friends for years.”
“You know it was not my intention to upset you, Michael. Nor was it Quinn’s. It was just an unfortunate coincidence.”
“I know, but it’s quite a significant one.”
“We are not seeing each other anymore,” Bitterness seeps into my tone before I can help myself. “I’m not sure what else you want.”
“I know that. That’s part of the reason I called. I wanted to tell you that you both did the right thing by ending it—whatever it was. That’s what I’d asked Quinn to do, and I’m sure that you had your own input as well.”
For a second, red flashes in front of my eyes. Is it possible that Quinn only left because of her father? Even though I understand where he’s coming from, it irks me that he has such a large say over her actions.
“Right, of course,” I mumble instead. “It was for the best.”
But was it really?
I know that question is going to haunt me forever.
“It was. I am glad that the both of you were finally able to see reason. And as for our friendship…”
I’m waiting for him to pull the plug. In a strange way, ending my friendship with Michael would make a future with Quinn actually possible. But I stop myself before my mind can go any further with that train of thought.
“I know it’s going to be awkward for some time, but from my end, I can try to keep this going.”
“Don’t worry about it, Michael.” I drop my gaze to the floor. “It’s in the past.”
“Glad to have this conversation with you, then.”
The phone clicks shut, and I nearly throw it across the pool.
I said nothing that I really wanted to. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t want any of this to end, even though it was the right thing to do. I’ve fallen in love with her in the brief period that we got to be together, and it feels like she left with a piece of me that can never be recovered.
A month with Quinn had been enough to make me feel things that had been missing in my life for years. I was alive again.
My eyes glaze over as I put my phone beside me instead.
A splash of water hits me, and I realize I’m not alone here.
Luciana is doing her laps in the pool. She notices me but doesn’t say anything, instead keeping her head down and focuses on her strokes.
She’s gotten quite good at it.
My memory flashes back to a summer day, much like this one, years ago, when Valentina gave Luciana her first swimming lesson in this very pool.
To my surprise, the memory is less painful. The ache of not having Valentina anymore has been dulled by the fresh, seething pain of losing Quinn.
Two lost loves in a lifetime? I can only curse my own luck.
I’m still lost in my thoughts when Luciana finishes her swim and steps out of the pool, beads of water trailing behind her as she sits down next to me.
“You okay?”
I look up at her and give her my fakest smile. “Of course.”
She crosses her arms in front of her. “I saw the video, Dad. Alessio showed it to me earlier.”
I search for any signs of anger in her eyes, but there are none.
“So, tell me for real this time. How are you doing?”
“I guess I’ve been better.” I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “But I’m hanging in there.”
“How is Quinn?” she asks like it is the most natural thing in the world that I would know the answer to that question.
“I don’t know.” My voice chokes up a little.
“Don’t you think it’s a good idea to find out?”
I snap my gaze back to her. “Luciana, you were there when she said she was leaving. I think it’s best if I leave her be and not interfere in her life anymore.”
“Dad, don’t you love her?” Her expression is pleading. “I really thought you were going to do something about it.”
“Sometimes, we don’t get the person we love.” I sigh.
I should know that. I had it happen to me twice.
“Yes, but do we just let them go like that?” Her inquisitive gaze on me feels scorching, and I look away.
“Luciana, you know all that is going on with the vineyard right now. That’s where I need to put my focus on.”
There’s an air of finality in my tone. I don’t use this tone with my children often, but when I do, they know better than to argue further.
“Everything else needs to wait . ”