Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sienna
"You've forgiven me too easily," I murmur while setting up my easel. It's the afternoon following the party. While I slept, Nico informed Gianna about last night's events... omitting certain intimate details, hopefully. I ached for Nico when I woke to find him gone, but I understand he has a lot to deal with.
Gianna smiles at me from the armchair in her expansive library. I had the idea for a surrealist piece using the books as backdrop, with each volume containing a fragment of her essence: a penetrating eye here, a hand adorned with jewelry there. It's experimental, and I’m shocked and honored that she's willing to commission such an unconventional piece.
"My sweet girl, you weren't born into this life. And Nico explained how terrified you were about carrying out my depraved nephew's demands."
"That's true, but I was equally terrified of disobeying, so I'm not certain how much credit that merits."
"You're inherently good, Sienna. I consider myself fortunate to have met you— and my son even more so. If you were anyone else, he would banish you for what happened. When I inquired about his intentions, he said you'd already received your punishment."
My cheeks flush as I focus intently on arranging the easel. Last night encompassed countless emotional shades: desire, resentment, anger, confusion, connection. All intermingled like pigments on a palette.
"I didn't ask what he meant by that," Gianna remarks.
"I'm not entirely sure myself."
"Is that why you've turned crimson?"
"Gianna!"
Her laughter dissipates the tension. "I know. I'm terrible. What’s wrong?"
"Nothing," I murmur.
"You look as though you've seen a ghost."
"When you laughed, it brought me back to all those moments, Mom, and I laughed together like this. Things are progressing quickly with Nico, and..." I hesitate, reluctant to sound sentimental or weird.
"You're like the daughter I never had," she says. "If you see me as a maternal figure, I won't object, sweet girl. In fact, I'll consider myself blessed."
"I can't believe how complicated everything has become," I murmur.
"Life is inherently complex. It never follows a linear path. I believed I would remain my husband's, then my son's, prisoner indefinitely. Nico thought he would forever remain silent while his father and brother committed atrocities— all to safeguard me. We could never have anticipated this. Sometimes surrendering to fortune or destiny proves wiser."
"I've never believed in destiny," I say. "The world has always seemed too cruel."
"And now?"
"I don’t know about destiny. But with Nico—and with you—there seems to be something... something that goes beyond rational explanation."
"Something magical," Gianna suggests.
"I wouldn't go quite that far."
"When you envision the future, do you see Nico there?"
"Yes."
"You answered without hesitation. You didn't even think about it."
"He's a good person," I murmur. "Which sounds crazy after last night, but he truly is. I... I care deeply for him."
"Don't torment me like that. I thought you were about to confess your love."
"Life isn't a fairy tale, Gianna. People don't fall in love within days."
"They don't? Are you absolutely certain about that?"
"Mostly," I reply, unable to ignore the twinge in my heart. "Anyway, it's time to work. I need to paint; I need to silence my thoughts."
Gianna sits upright, tilts her head, and grins. "Proceed then. Make me beautiful."
* * *
Gianna and I are relaxing on the back porch, sipping lemonade, when Nico returns. He's attired in an impeccable suit with a grim expression. When he catches sight of me, the severity in his features softens slightly. He kisses my cheek, then sits beside me, taking my hand.
Gianna beams at us, clearly delighted by how intimate we have become.
I grip his hand firmly. To say I've missed him would be an understatement. In the shadows of the night, it was difficult to know if his forgiveness was true. Now, with sunlight illuminating his intense features, I recognize his genuine forgiveness.
"I have news," he says. "About your mother."
"Tell me."
"I can hardly believe it myself," Nico mutters. "My contact in law enforcement was reluctant to divulge everything."
"Why?"
"Viktor. The Bratva."
"I don't understand," I say.
He squeezes my hand reassuringly. "It appears Adrian has been working with the Russians for far longer than we suspected. Since before I became Don, since before the war. Police had surveillance on the Russians during the conflict. One device was monitoring Viktor. They recorded him instructing Adrian to target the Italian. He was the one who fired the shot. But they couldn't prosecute; the Russians exploited their connections to destroy the evidence."
"The stray bullet that killed my mom... it came from him ?"
"The bastard has been against us for years. Perhaps he wanted more money, or Viktor promised him leadership within the Bratva. I believe my uncle's presence must have kept him in check. After my uncle's death, Adrian felt emboldened to expand his operations."
"That's why we feigned promoting him to consigliere," Gianna explains. "We wanted to test his loyalty—and discovered it severely lacking."
I inhale slowly. "What do we do? What's our strategy?"
“ Our strategy," Nico echoes.
I glare at him. "These people killed my mother. Viktor is responsible because, without him, no shots would have been fired that day. And Adrian pulled the trigger."
"I'll handle Adrian, don't worry about that."
"I want him to face justice."
Nico hesitates. "What?"
"I want him to face justice," I reiterate firmly. "He doesn't deserve to get off easy. He deserves to rot in a prison cell for what he did. He needs to understand I sent him there. Not because he betrayed the mob... but because he murdered my beautiful, kind, witty, innocent mother."
Nico exchanges a meaningful glance with Gianna.
"It's the better tactical decision, too," I continue. "It means you won’t have blood on your hands. And you'll avoid a murder charge altogether. I'm not just doing this solely for Mom's sake, Nico. I'm protecting you, too."
"You can't dismiss the logic here," Gianna interjects. "If the Family witnesses us executing one of our own—even one who deserves it—it could create ripples with devastating consequences. But if Adrian faces arrest for a murder charge, we simultaneously avert a war and eliminate Adrian in one decisive move."
"I'll meet him somewhere public." I squeeze Nico's hand reassuringly. "Before meeting you, I survived alone for nearly five years. I navigated from one dilapidated neighborhood to another. I have more resilience than you think."
"I know you're tough, but if I lost you, I wouldn’t be able to take it."
"You won't lose me," I assure him. "I can handle this."
"Would our police contacts be capable of arranging such an operation?" Gianna contemplates aloud.
"Absolutely," Nico confirms. "They'd even let us monitor the meeting alongside them. But it's risky, Vignette. Adrian is unstable. Even in public, he might attempt something reckless. And if that happens, I'll lose it. Even with cops present, I'll snap. I'll eviscerate him before witnesses."
"I can handle this." When Nico regards me skeptically, I retort, "I lost my cool last night. I acknowledge that. I was terrified and confused. But fear can turn into rage. This man killed my mother. Then he tried to deceive me into thinking the only man I've ever cared for was the actual killer."
"I believe her," Gianna declares.
"As do I," Nico concedes. "But that doesn't mean I like it."
“Let me do it. You've both welcomed me into your inner circle. That wasn't necessary. But now that I'm here, I have to emphasize that Mom isn't the only one who deserves justice. Your Family does too."
"Our Family," Nico corrects. "If you do this, there’s no going back. Even if you and I..."
Break up. The unspoken words hang in the air, like he can’t say them.
"You'll still be tied to us. Forever. I wouldn’t be able to take the risk of leaving you unguarded. What if someone—an ally of Adrian's—sought vengeance?"
"It’s a good thing I’m not planning on going anywhere, then, isn't it?"
He gazes at me with raw emotion, displaying a vulnerability I never expected from him. "If anything happens, I'll be there, piccola pittrice. I won't let anyone harm you. Not now. Not ever. I... I care for you."
Was he about to say love? I think back on my conversation with Gianna. People don't fall in love within a week.
When I look at my complex, intense, bright, yet dark man, I’m not so sure about that.