The Italian

I stare at him as my mind goes to my two gentle brothers.

“Your family assets need to be protected, Enrico. Andrea can’t do this job. He isn’t strong enough. We both know that, and Matteo is too young.”

“Does she know?”

“Your mother?” Lorenzo asks. I nod. “No, and she never will. Unless you don’t do the right thing and she wakes up one day with a bag over her head or in the trunk of a car. Or perhaps she’ll be mourning the death of Francesca, instead,” he says sadly.

My stomach twists.

“How will it feel to have that on your conscience, Enrico?” Mario says. “The family needs your strength now. Our men need your strength,” Lorenzo pleads.

“Shut up,” I whisper. “Shut the fuck up.”

“You will not be alone. We have men to train you. Your staff are loyal. They loved your father. We will look after you. We are your family. Your grief is our grief,” Mario says.

“We?”

“I am a part of the business, Enrico. It’s not all bad, and you will be surprised who Stefano has on his payroll.”

“Get out,” I sneer.

He stands and puts his hand on my shoulder. “In time, you will come to appreciate the choices your family before you have made. You are very fortunate to be a Ferrara.”

I stare straight ahead, unable to make eye contact with him.

“Suck it up. You have funerals to arrange. Do your fathers proud.” Mario stands, leaves, and the door closes quietly behind him.

My breath quivers on the inhale as I try to control my breathing.

Lorenzo pulls me into an embrace and holds me while tears of rage run down my cheeks.

My entire life has been a lie.

6

Olivia

Sorrento. What a magical place.

I smile as the sea breeze whips my hair, and I gaze over at the breathtaking view.

The cliff face is covered with beautifully colored old buildings, and at the bottom, a deep shade of turquoise blue, is the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Perched high up above, I’m standing on the balcony of my room at the iconic Grand Hotel Capodimonte.

The room has a timeless feel, like something you would see in an old Hollywood movie. There’s Terrazzo tiled floors, luxurious bedding and furniture, and big white windows that swing open so that you

can gaze over at the priceless view.

Wow, Natalie really got this booking right. This is a lot better than the hotels I’ve been staying at. I should have got her to organize my entire trip. She got this for a steal too.

Natalie and I grew up in Sydney together. She lives in London now. I miss her desperately, even though we speak nearly every day on Facebook. Her flight arrives here in Sorrento this afternoon. This is our much-anticipated two-week holiday together. She couldn’t come for the entire time, but we swung it so she could meet me here for the remaining leg of my trip.

I take a seat on the balcony and smile to myself.

I can’t believe the weekend I just had.

I pick up my phone and scroll through the photos of Rico and I together when we were sightseeing in Rome.