Chapter 37
Present
Upper-East Side, New York City
WE MANAGED TO MAKE IT five steps into Natalia and Trevor’s townhouse before Francesca was dragging Kali, who’d just opened the door, with her, jumping up and down on the fluffy white rug in the center of their living room.
“I’m engaged!” Francesca squealed, laughter bubbling out of her.
Still jumping, she held her hand out to Natalia, who was resting on the couch with Maria.
Two seconds, then realization hit. A huge gasp escaped Natalia, both her hands coming up to her mouth, hiding her smile.
“Oh, my God!” Kali’s jaw dropped as she took in Francesca’s new ring.
“For real?” Maria’s eyes turned to stars.
“Yes! Matteo asked me a few days ago!”
“You guys!” Natalia sniffed, trying to stop her tears.
“Nat…” My ex-fake-wife and current-fiancée-to-be-real-wife took a seat next to her friend, hugging her close.
“Congratulations,” Kali smiled at me, opening her arms.
“Thank you,” I chuckled as I gave her a hug. “I assume we got your approval then?”
“One hundred percent!” Kali smiled bright, turning to Francesca as she got up. “I’m so happy for you!”
While Francesca, Maria and Kali looked at the ring, I walked over and took a seat next to Natalia, who was at the end of her pregnancy.
“So, how are you feeling?”
She smacked my arm, making me laugh. “Uh, congratulations, smartass!” I laughed as she pulled me into a tight hug. “Ugh, I’m so happy for both of you. I wish you all the happiness in the world!”
“Thank you, Natalia.”
She pulled back and looked me dead in the eye. “Are you happy?”
I smiled. “I’ve never been happier.”
She returned my smile and slapped my arm. “Take good care of my best friend.”
“I do.”
“Okay, I’m done.” Francesca flipped her hair, taking a deep breath. “We can celebrate you now.”
Maria laughed hard, throwing her head back as Francesca wrapped her arms around her.
“Happy birthday!” My wife cheered. “I’m sorry, I just had to tell you.”
The real reason we were here, was to celebrate Maria’s birthday. With Natalia having less than a month until her delivery, we all thought it would be nicer this way.
“I love you. This is the best gift you could’ve given me.”
Francesca pulled back with a raised brow. “Girl, don’t lie. I got your Dolce & Gabbana right there.”
Maria gasped as she spotted the huge bag in the entryway, trying to peek over her shoulder.
Francesca hugged her tighter. “You can look later!”
All the girls started laughing, making me chuckle too.
“What’s with all the shrieking?” Trevor asked, bringing a bowl of fresh fruit for Natalia, taking a seat next to her.
Francesca allowed herself to fall into my lap, knowing I’d catch her with ease. Wrapping my arms around her waist, she held onto my neck as she flashed her diamond to the guys.
“Matteo and I are engaged!”
Zach’s brows shot up with a laugh. “What?”
Trevor slapped his shoulder, his mouth open in shock. “No!”
Zane laughed, the first one to step up and congratulate us.
The room was still buzzing – laughing, disbelief, joy – when Gìo walked in from the kitchen.
Francesca was still curled comfortably in my lap, warm and light and real, her ring catching the afternoon sun as it streamed through the penthouse windows.
Her older brother’s eyes moved from me to her. His expression didn’t change at first.
“I don’t think,” he said slowly, eyes fixed on Francesca, “I’ve ever seen you this happy.”
Her grip on my neck tightened just a fraction before she answered, voice steady and honest. “I am.”
That was all it took.
Gìovanni stepped forward as she stood, and he wrapped her in a big hug. “Then I am happy for you.”
He turned to me next.
I stood, and met him halfway into the hug. “Congratulations.”
Natalia smiled, one hand instinctively cradling her belly as Trevor kissed her temple and raised his glass in salute.
Kali clapped once, elegant and sincere, while Zane stepped in close, murmuring something low to Francesca that made her laugh.
Natalia tilted her head, smiling at Gìovanni with mock suspicion.
“You know,” she said sweetly, “I think Gìo’s new nickname should be Cupid.”
Trevor laughed. “Deadliest Cupid I’ve ever seen.”
Gìovanni shook his head, but there was a smile there he didn’t bother hiding.
Francesca leaned back into me again, familiar and perfect, and I wrapped my arms around her without thinking – like this was always how it was meant to be.
For the first time in a long, dangerous life, I let myself believe in it.
The moment settled, softened – and then shifted, naturally, the way good gatherings always did.
“Twenty-two,” Trevor stated, pointing at Maria like it was a public service announcement.
Zach whistled.
Maria shoved him without missing a beat. “You’re all literally older than me.”
Trevor laughed and leaned back into the couch, arm around Natalia. “How come you took time off studying, though? I thought midterms were brutal right now.”
She smirked. “Spring break. I’m legally required to have fun.”
That was enough to get everyone moving. Trevor stood, helping Natalia get up, and we were all moving.
We drifted out of the living room toward the dining room – voices overlapping, laughter bouncing off marble and glass. The townhouse felt warmer now.
Halfway down the hall, Maria slowed, letting the others walk ahead. She fell into step beside me.
For a second, it was awkward. We hadn’t exactly started on friendly terms – too many crossed loyalties.
“Hey,” she said, softer than usual. “I just wanted to say… Congratulations.”
I looked at her, really looked at her. Young, sharp, loyal to the bone. Good for my brother. Good for the family in ways that mattered.
“Thank you,” I said honestly.
She hesitated, then stepped forward and hugged me – quick, a little stiff, but real. The first time we’d ever exchange anything more than a wave.
I patted her back twice, careful and respectful. “I’m glad you’re here,” I added. And I meant more than just today.
She smiled, relieved, and jogged ahead to rejoin Zach, slipping her hand into his like it belonged there.
I exhaled quietly.
If Zach could let the past go with me, I could damn well do the same with the woman he loved.
The dining room was already alive when I stepped in – sunlight spilling across the long table, white linen, flowers in soft pastels for Maria’s birthday. Plates clinked. Someone poured wine. Someone else turned the music down just enough to talk.
I took my seat beside Francesca without thinking.
She leaned into me immediately, shoulder against my chest, familiar and grounding. I wrapped an arm around her, pressing a kiss to her hair, breathing her in – jasmine, warmth, home.
Francesca’s fingers laced with mine under the table.
Around us, voices rose and fell. Laughter. Teasing. Easy conversation. Family.
We left Maria’s birthday just as the sun began to sink, the city washed in that soft early-evening gold that made everything feel forgiving.
Matteo drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on my thigh, thumb tracing slow, absent circles like he’d done it a thousand times before.
The skyline fell away behind us, replaced by bare trees and long stretches of quiet road.
Long Island always felt like a threshold. Between worlds. Between who I was and who I was allowed to be.
My parents’ mansion glowed when we pulled up – every window lit, the house warm and alive against the cool March air. Gravel crunched beneath our shoes as we walked up the steps together. Matteo squeezed my hand once, grounding me.
Inside, everything smelled like home: lemon polish, fresh flowers, espresso lingering from earlier. My parents welcomed us, inviting us to stay for dinner and catch them up on business.
My mother’s voice floated faintly from somewhere down the hall. My father was in the sitting room, standing near the fireplace with a glass of wine, jacket off, sleeves rolled up.
I inhaled.
“Dad… I need to tell you something.”
He turned, brows lifting slightly. “Bene. What is it?”
I glanced at Matteo – just for a heartbeat – then faced my father again.
“Matteo and I… we won’t be splitting up.”
His expression didn’t change, but his eyes sharpened. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
My palms felt damp. “Umm… We’re dating.”
Matteo cleared his throat beside me, just enough to remind me he was more than my boyfriend.
“Well,” I added quickly, words tumbling now, “Actually, we’re engaged, but – ”
“How can you be engaged when you’re already married?”
“We’re engaged for real,” I said, voice firming as I found my footing. “Not for business. Not for the Cosa Nostra. We’re doing it for us.”
“For who?”
“For me and Matteo.”
“You and Matteo, what?”
“We’re in love.”
“Who’s in love?”
“Matteo and I.”
“What?”
I felt heat rush to my cheeks, but I didn’t back down. “Dad! Matteo and I are in love.”
My father stared at us like we’d grown three heads, his gaze moving between our faces – searching, measuring, reading truths he couldn’t intimidate away.
“You two…” He said carefully, “Are in love?”
“Yes,” I said. “We are.”
Blood roared in my ears as my father stood, standing eye-to-eye with Matteo, and not looking happy at all. My heart was beating out of my chest.
Then he surprised me by smiling. Relief crashed through me so hard I nearly laughed.
He stepped forward and clasped Matteo’s shoulder, then pulled him into a firm embrace. “Welcome to the family, Matteo.” he said gruffly. “For good this time.”
Matteo nodded, chuckling. “Thank you, sir.”
My mother appeared in the doorway, drawn by the raised voices. “What’s going on?”
“We’re engaged,” I said, unable to keep the smile from my face. “For real.”
Mom gasped, hands flying to her mouth, eyes shining instantly. She rushed forward and wrapped both of us in a hug. “Oh, my heart,” she murmured. “I knew it. I knew it. Welcome to the Family, Matteo.”
The room felt brighter somehow. Warmer. Like something heavy had finally been set down.
I slipped my hand into Matteo’s and leaned into him, my heart full in a way that felt terrifying and perfect.
For once, nothing about this was strategy.
It was just us.