Chapter 2
Daniella
My parents are dead.
It doesn’t feel real.
I spoke to my mom on the phone a few hours prior, making plans for winter break.
She was supposed to come visit me in Coral Bay.
We were going to do a spa and shopping day.
Dad was in the background, reminding me that I’d agreed to come home for Christmas since we had gone skiing last year and he was too busy with work to go away again this year.
And now, they’re gone.
As the pastor wraps up his speech, Lorenzo holds my hand.
The first row is for family only, and sadly, we’re the only family that’s left, aside from my mother’s sister—who hadn’t spoken to my mom in years, not agreeing with the life she lived.
In her defense, my mother hadn’t asked to be the eldest daughter of Lorenzo Accardi—my brother’s namesake—a well-known Italian Mafia don, who chose to partner with my paternal grandfather in an arranged marriage between my mother and father.
Because of my father not wanting me to grow up around violence, I spent most of my life at boarding school, and then once I graduated from high school, I went to college in Coral Bay.
It’s about five hours northwest of Harbor Point—close enough to see my family, but far enough away to keep my father happy.
“You good?” Lorenzo asks, snapping me back into the present.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t realize the funeral had ended. We’ve ordered headstones to be placed in the cemetery in memory of them, but it’s just for symbolism since there aren’t any bodies to bury, thanks to the fire burning them to ash.
“Yeah,” I breathe out, feeling anything but good.
I was only a year away from graduating with my business degree, and then I was planning to finally move home.
When I mentioned to my father that I wanted to work for Russo Property Group alongside him and Lorenzo, he shocked me when he agreed, saying he would love to have me work for our family’s company.
Now that his business partners were dead and Dominick had taken over, things were different, and he was making the city safe once again.
Now, my dad is gone.
Both my parents are gone.
“We need to meet with Michael for the reading of the will,” Lorenzo says, referring to his attorney. “If you’re not up for it today …”
“I am,” I tell him, still sitting in the front pew, not making any attempt to move.
There’s a funeral reception being held at the Antonovs’ house since Larisa—the Antonov matriarch—was close with my parents. But I can’t fathom going there and having to socialize with people I don’t know. Most of whom were probably closer to my parents than I was.
“Okay,” he says, standing. “Let’s get this over with.”
Forty-nine percent.
That’s how much of the company Dad left to me.
Lorenzo gets fifty-one percent.
To say Lorenzo is shocked is an understatement, leading me to believe that Dad never told him about my plan to move home and work with them.
“When did Dad change his will?” he asks Michael.
“Six months ago,” Michael says. “He also left a letter for each of you.” He hands us each a white envelope with our respective names scrawled across the front in Dad’s handwriting. “If you have any questions, please let me know.” He hands me his business card and then stands.
“Should we read the letters now or …” Lorenzo begins, his brows furrowed in confusion, most likely due to the change in the will.
“I know you might be upset about sharing the company but—”
“What? No.” He shakes his head and turns toward me. “Confused, yes, but I would never be upset about having to split the company with you, Dani.”
“I spoke with Dad,” I tell him. “It must’ve been why he changed his will. I told him I wanted to use my business degree and work for Russo Property Group, and he agreed. I was tired of being away, and I wanted to come home.”
Lorenzo’s eyes widen.
“I missed my family,” I choke out, tears filling my lids. “But now, they’re gone.”
As sobs rack my body, I’m about to wrap my arms around myself when Lorenzo pulls me into his arms.
“Our parents are gone,” he says, “but I’m not. I’m your family, too, and I would love nothing more than for you to come work alongside me at Russo.”
“Really?” I murmur, looking up at him.
“Hell yeah. I didn’t even know that’s what you wanted. That’s why I was confused. Not because I don’t want you here. Once you finish your degree, whatever position you want is yours.”
He hugs me tighter, and I cry against his chest, hating that I barely know my big brother but so thankful that I still have him.
“Thank you, Lo,” I say, using the nickname Mom gave him. “That means the world to me.”
“How are you doing, Little Russo?” Matteo says with a soft, sympathetic smile.
Because of the age difference between my brother and me and my parents shipping me off to boarding school, I don’t really know my brother’s business partner and best friend well.
When we were younger, I’d see him hanging around the house, but as I got older and came home less, I didn’t see him as often.
From what I can remember, he’s a jokester, and he doesn’t take much seriously.
Lorenzo has mentioned on several occasions that he’s ruthless and hotheaded, but he would do anything for the people he loves.
What I forgot, thanks to being gone for so long, was how good-looking he was.
His brown hair is short on the sides and a bit longer on the top, giving him just enough length to run his fingers through it.
He has a few days’ worth of stubble covering his face, and there are several tattoos running along his neck and disappearing under his dress shirt.
In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him wear anything but a T-shirt and jeans, but he looks damn good while dressed up.
Despite his harsh exterior, with his dark blue eyes that remind me of the deepest part of the ocean and his disarming smile that contradicts the hardness in his features, when he looks at me, I feel like he can see into my soul.
“I’m not little anymore,” I sigh, rolling my eyes at the annoying nickname he dubbed me with when I was a child since I’m twelve years younger than him and my brother.
Matteo chuckles, and although I’m mourning, the gravelly sound goes straight to my lady parts.
“You’ll always be Little Russo to me.” He shrugs. “Seriously though, you doing okay? Hanging in there?”
We’re sitting in the living room of his house.
There are food and drinks spread across the tables, photos of my parents on various surfaces, and hundreds of people here, mingling and taking turns paying their respects to Lorenzo and me.
Larisa did a beautiful job, but the truth is, I’d rather be anywhere but here.
“Honestly, I don’t feel like I belong here,” I tell him. “All these people … they knew my parents better than I did.”
Matteo nods in understanding. “Your dad wanted to keep you safe.”
“Yet he was going to marry me off to Dominick.” I scoff.
“Better the devil you know than the one you don’t. Andrey was a fucked-up psycho, who didn’t show his true colors until after your dad got into bed with him. Giuseppe did what he could. Why do you think you didn’t have to marry Dominick the moment you turned eighteen?”
“Because Brielle wanted to go to college.”
“True,” he agrees. “But your dad didn’t have to include you in the agreement. The second Dominick planted the bug in your dad’s ear, he jumped on it, wanting to give you as much time as possible.” He glances at me, and our eyes lock. “Giuseppe was a good man, and he loved you.”
I choke up and nod. “I wish I’d had more time to get to know them.”
“You still have Lorenzo, and he said you’re coming home after you finish school.”
“Yeah.” I breathe out a puff of air. “But maybe I should stay. He was close with our parents, and now, he’s alone.”
“I’m not alone,” Lorenzo says, sitting on the other side of me.
“I have that fucker right there.” He nods toward Matteo.
“And Mom and Dad would want you to finish your degree. They were so proud of you, Dani, and you’re so close.
Two semesters left, and you’ll be done. Don’t give up now. If nothing else, do it for them.”
“Okay,” I agree. “Two semesters, and then I’ll be done.”
“You got this.” Lorenzo slides his arm around my shoulders. “And if you need anything, I’m only a phone call away.”