Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Eleonora
The next evening, a priest arrives at the estate for a small, private funeral in Domenico’s honor.
It’s just the four of us. Me, Sienna, Nico, and Marco standing in a quiet, secluded part of the grounds near the edge of the woods.
The air is cool and still. Sienna has barely been herself all day. She cried for hours, refused to eat, and withdrew into herself completely.
I tried everything I could, holding her, talking to her, reminding her she wasn’t alone, but nothing seemed to reach her. I don’t blame her. She’s lost the man she loved. Her pain is valid, even if it breaks my heart to watch.
As the priest speaks gentle words over the empty casket, Sienna can barely stand. I wrap my arm tightly around her waist, holding her up as silent tears stream down both our faces.
She trembles violently beside me, and every sob that escapes her feels like it’s tearing something inside my own chest.
When the ceremony ends, the empty casket is lowered into the ground in a quiet corner of the compound, a peaceful, shaded spot at the far end near the trees. A tombstone has been placed there with Domenico’s name.
I feel an overwhelming wave of gratitude toward Nico. He didn’t have to do any of this. He didn’t have to arrange a burial, provide a resting place on his own land, or give my sister this small piece of closure. But he did. Without being asked.
As we stand there, I lift my eyes and meet his gaze across the grave. He’s watching me with that intense, steady look that always seems to see straight through me. I mouth a silent “Thank you.”
He gives me the smallest nod in return.
We haven’t really spoken much in the past twenty-four hours. He’s been busy fortifying security against my father and Gallo, while I’ve been completely focused on trying to be there for Sienna. But even in the silence, I feel him, his presence, his quiet support.
After the burial, we all walk back toward the house. I keep my arm around Sienna. Once we reach her room, I help her lie down. She looks completely drained, eyes swollen and distant.
A few minutes later, Lea knocks softly and enters carrying a tray with tea, soup, and some light snacks. She sets it down and gives Sienna’s hand a gentle, motherly squeeze.
“You’ll be alright, dear,” she says softly. “One day at a time.”
Sienna doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t pull away either. Lea gives me a small, understanding smile before quietly leaving the room.
I sit on the edge of the bed beside my sister, brushing her hair back from her face. She looks so young and broken right now. I wish more than anything I could take this pain away from her.
She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand and looks at me, her voice small and hoarse.
“Thank you for being here with me,” she whispers. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t. And… I need to thank Nico too. Even though the casket was empty, knowing Domenico got a proper burial… it gives me some peace.”
I squeeze her hand gently, my throat tight. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
We fall into a quiet moment, both of us sipping the tea Lea brought earlier. Then Sienna turns to me, her eyes searching my face.
“So… what’s the story with Nico?” she asks softly. “You don’t look like a prisoner. Your captor isn’t supposed to be arranging a burial for your sister’s lover. That’s not how this works.”
“I already told you he doesn't treat me like a prisoner.”
Sienna nods. “Yeah, you did. But I saw the way he looks at you, Ellie. That’s not how a captor looks at someone he kidnapped. He looks at you… like you’re everything.”
I stare down at our joined hands, my heart beating fast. How do I even begin to explain this? How do I tell her that the man who took me has slowly become the one I feel safest with? That I’ve gone from hating him to craving his touch, his presence, his voice?
I let out a shaky breath and meet her eyes.
“It’s… complicated,” I start softly. “At first, he thought I was you. He took me to use against Papa and Gallo. But things changed. Somewhere along the way, I stopped being afraid of him. And he… he started looking at me differently.”
Sienna listens quietly as I tell her everything.
I explain how Nico took me right after she left with Domenico, thinking I was her. How he later discovered I wasn’t, but still used the situation to his advantage, telling our father he had both of us to pressure him.
“So, what happens now that Papa knows the truth?” she murmurs.
“Nico is handling it. He’s working on keeping you safe too.”
She’s silent for a moment, then looks at me with soft, curious eyes.
“Wow, I never saw this coming.”
My cheeks burn instantly. I look down at our joined hands, feeling shy and exposed.
"Neither did I,” I admit quietly. “At first I hated him. I was terrified. But somewhere along the way… things changed. He protected me. He listened to me. He showed me sides of himself I never expected. I can’t really explain it.”
Sienna gives me a small, sad smile. There’s no judgment in her eyes, only understanding.
“You don’t have to explain love,” she says softly. “No one ever means to fall in love. It just… happens. It knocks you off your feet when you least expect it. You love him, right?”
“I think I do.”
I try not to think about what Nico means to me, but when I’m honest with myself, I know it’s love.
A smile spreads across her face. “Then I'm happy for you.”
Her words make my chest ache. I squeeze her hand tighter and continue. “Thank you, Sienna.”
She sighs. “So, what now?”
“He proposed to me the other night.”
Sienna’s eyes go wide. “He what?”
I nod. “He wants to marry me.”
She stares at me, processing. “And… what did you say?”
“I told him I need time to think about it,” I whisper. “I haven’t given him an answer yet.”
I tell her about Gallo, how he no longer wants her, but has set his sights on me instead. How he’s pressuring our father to arrange the marriage. Sienna’s face pales, but she doesn’t look surprised.
“So that’s why Nico wants to marry you,” she says slowly. “To keep you away from Gallo.”
I nod, feeling a strange mix of emotions. “Partly, yes.”
Sienna is quiet for a moment, then she looks at me with surprising strength.
“You should marry him, Ellie.”
I blink. “What?”
“At least with Nico, you’ll be safe. You’ll be happy.
I’ve seen the way he looks at you. That’s not the look of a man who just wants to use you.
That’s the look of a man who wants you.” Her voice softens.
“You deserve that. You’ve spent your whole life protecting everyone else. For once, let someone protect you.”
Tears sting my eyes. “But what about you? What about Rosalia, Daniela, and Camilla? If I marry Nico, I won’t be part of the family anymore. I won’t be able to protect you girls. What if Gallo goes after one of you next? Or Papa decides to punish you because of my decision?”
Sienna squeezes my hand hard, her eyes fierce despite the redness.
“Stop,” she says firmly. “For once in your life, think about yourself. Stop carrying everyone else’s weight. You deserve to be happy, Ellie. You’ve already given up so much for us. Let yourself have this.”
Her words hit me deep. I don’t know how to respond.
“You’ve always put everyone else first,” she says softly. “Even trying to marry Gallo in my place… you were ready to throw your life away just so I could be happy with Domenico.”
I blink, confused. “Of course, I did. I wanted you to be with the man you loved.”
She raises a shaky hand, stopping me. “But it didn’t work out, did it? Look where we are now. Domenico is dead. And you’re here, still trying to carry everything on your shoulders.”
Her words hit me hard.
“You’re missing the point, Ellie, “ she says quickly, shaking her head. It doesn’t matter what you sacrifice or how hard you try to save everyone.
Sometimes things are just beyond your control.
You can’t keep throwing yourself in front of bullets for us.
You need to put yourself first for once. Stop trying to save the day.”
She takes a shaky breath, her voice softening.
“You have a chance at something real with Nico. And you care for him too. I can see it. So stop hesitating because of us. If any of us has even the smallest shot at a real happy ending right now… it’s you.”
I’m stunned into silence. Her words sink deep, stirring something I’ve been avoiding. Part of me wants to argue, to say that I can’t abandon them. But another part, a quieter, exhausted part, just wants to be selfish for once.
Maybe Sienna is right, maybe I’ve been using them as an excuse not to reach for my own happiness.
No words are spoken after that. And I stay with her a little longer, holding her until she falls asleep. I quietly leave the room and head over to Nico’s study. I knock softly on the door.
“Come in,” his deep voice calls.
I step inside and find him behind his desk with two of his men. Maps and documents are spread out in front of him.
He looks exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, shoulders tense, jaw tight. The last twenty-four hours have clearly taken a toll on him too.
When he sees me, he immediately dismisses his men. “Give us a moment.”
They nod and file out quickly, closing the door behind them. The room falls quiet, just the two of us.
“How is she?” Nico asks, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Sleeping,” I whisper. “For now.”
“And how are you?”
I shrug. “Trying my best to be strong for her.”
He stretches out his hands. “Come here.”
I don't move. I stand there for a moment, my heart hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat. Then the words finally leave me.
“Yes.”
Nico blinks, rising slowly from his chair. “To what?”
I don’t speak. I just hold his gaze, letting him read the answer in my eyes. It only takes a second for understanding to flash across his face.
“You’ll marry me?” he asks, voice low and rough.
I nod, barely able to breathe. “Yes.”
“Say it again.”
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’ll marry you.”
“Again.”
“Yes, Nico. I will marry you.”