Arianna POV: With the detective on our side, he became an everyday occurrence in our lives much to Giovanni's irritation. He was convinced the detective had a thing for me, which I couldn’t see at all. I tried to remind him that I was with him, but all he said was. No man likes another to covet the thing he holds most dear. We had returned to the city a week after that horrible night, I hadn’t told Gio, but I could still hear their screams the glass shattering. It was some atrocious demon repeating itself to me over and over. I tried to push it from my mind and focus on what we were doing but every day I found it clawing at my ears, drawing up the images from that night whenever I closed my eyes. There was only one reason for my father to have made such a reckless move. He was furious I had gotten away from him, and he wanted me to know that those innocents I held over his life, over Guilia’s, they were the ones who would pay the price. You had to hand it to him, he was ever the tac
Giovanni POV: I hadn’t any idea what just happened, one moment we were discussing plans with the Detective and the next she had gone cold, in a way she’d never done with me. She was rigid and firm, her voice trembled with fear. I wanted to grab her and hold her, ask her what had made her so upset, but the look in her eyes strayed my hand. She went off without another word, it wasn’t my intention to ever see her in that state. We hadn’t told her about Marco simply for his protection, we didn’t know who could be listening in so it was only ever discussed in my home, in my room which was swept for bugs daily. I didn’t dare mention it at the office where anybody could walk inside. I waited in my office unsure of whether to follow her, part of me screamed that I should run after her and apologize even though I didn’t know what I had done wrong. The other part of me stayed put, hoping she would calm down and speak to me rationally. I went over and poured myself a drink as Luca walked in
Giovanni POV: After our one night into the world of normalcy, we were pulled back to our daily duties. Looking for cracks in her father's foundations, and plastering over our own. I had to hand it to her, she was a remarkable strategist explaining where she believed he might go, giving clever and devious answers as to why. She would be heartbroken if I ever told her but I understood why Domenico wanted her to take over. If anybody here knew how he thought it was her, her own mind ticked in the same way, her saving grace was that she had a conscience. We sat at our desks and worked over the problems that could arise, seeing what we could find on her father. It wasn’t the blood she had originally wanted but I think life in prison was still satisfying. The most grueling task of the day came when we called the Detective he would sit there and tell us how he had nothing more than we did, and still hadn’t found that P.I.If I didn’t know any better I’d say he was useless. “I have made so
Domenico POV: “I don’t care if the cops aren’t on our side anymore get it done!” I shouted slamming the door behind me. The whole pack of fools had begun to question me ever since I released them on this city. I had given them what they wanted let them settle whatever small petty grudges they held with the insignificant ants on the street, and they had the audacity to say we had gone too far. For so many years, I had left them chomping at the bit and now, now that they’ve had their chance they feel the pressure of their actions. Perhaps there was a reason then why I didn’t let them do whatever they wanted. To be fair my risk hadn’t paid off in the way I wanted, my daughter for some reason concerned herself with the lives of those scraps. She wished them all to be fruitful and successful in their own right. Most of them didn’t have the wherewithal for that, not enough ambition is many men’s great folly. I had wreaked havoc upon the city to show her how meaningless it is to care, th
Arianna POV: “I heard you were looking for me,” a woman called in our bedroom I turned on the lights looking between Giovanni and the woman. The two in a standoff my head rushing with adrenaline, the sound of a heartbeat pounding like a base in the back of my brain. Then it all went clear she hesitated looking over at me inquisitively. “Vanessa?” My mother's name floated from her lips and I stopped standing straight up. “How do you know my mom?” The woman put her gun away and put up her hands. “I’m Ryan Blake?” she gave her name and Giovanni put the gun down with a thump and turned to the woman with his eyes lit with fire. “We have a front door most people tend to just knock,” He scoffed going over and putting a shirt on. She eyed him with a mischievous grin. “Yeah, and most people haven’t been tailed by FBI agents or had their tax records pulled in the last 48 hours, not to mention the relentless calling,” she turned her attention back toward me. “Nice by the way my friends ha
*12 years ago* Ryan’s POV: It was late and I was getting nowhere on this hit-and-run case. I stared up at my bulletin board my mind numb from the hours I had spent trying to get this guy. The guy was a total creep but he had enough connections it would be hard to get a conviction. I didn’t like leaving this family high and dry though I’d find some dirt soon enough. A knock came at the office door behind me, hurried repetitive knocks, the only ones I ever got. I had tried the quiet life after retirement, but it made my skin itch seeing all the assholes get away with their dirty dealings, so I became a P.I. Sure my old comrades made fun of me, but while they protected freedom I protected the little guy. I walked over to the door slowly and the knocking continued all the way there. I opened up to see a fairly young woman standing there holding papers and her eyes were red. Her fist still raised she sniffled. “Hello my name is Vanessa Zeni,” she began her voice was hard and fierce. I
Arianna POV: The whirlwind that was Ryan Blake had flung into our lives and decidedly flung out rather quickly, I honestly hadn’t expected her to turn up again for months at the latest but after running out of the house the night before she strolled back in with a cup of black coffee and some pastries. “Okay,” she mumbled, her mouth full of croissant, “I went to your mom's house there was nothing there,” I could barely understand her as she spoke putting her boots up on the coffee table in the den. “You weren’t kidding,” she chuckled to herself. “They tore that place apart,” A wicked grin spread on her face. I felt my heart pang when I remembered the state of the home I had grown up in. Giovanni must have seen it cross my face as he set his cappuccino down and bit out, “The home your friend built being torn to shreds amuses you?” Blake didn’t miss a beat she took another sip of her coffee and with all seriousness explained. “Yes, the thought of Domenico going crazy looking for the
Arianna POV: “We need to use this now!” Mosley insisted. “He has more chance to get out of this if he knows it’s coming,” “No, I don’t want to move until Blake checks back in. If she’s out there or god forbid is captured, she’s in danger if we move,” I insisted, Gio rubbed my back as I stood my ground. Even though we had found the file, Blake was determined to find the new account. She was worried the past charge was too easy for him to wriggle out of. She wanted more, so she had gone out to find it tracking him just like she had before. It had been three days since she was supposed to check in and there was radio silence on her end. My father didn’t like getting caught twice, if he knew who Blake was from before I had no doubt he had gotten information on her. He may know how she operates and have people watching for her, he may have realized we reached out to her. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe Blake could survive him, it was that I knew the resentment my father felt for her.
Arianna POV:The next day, we headed out onto the boat piling on with baskets overflowing with blankets and pillows, wine bottles, meats and cheeses, and bread. I stopped onto the boat with Gio helping me aboard, and he began to show me around. “This is the top deck where we spend most of our time,” He explained. Comfy seats and benches lined the top of the ship, large enough for the whole family to sit and eat and relax together. “My mother wanted it so that no one felt left out,” He grinned. His mother began by fluffing out all of the blankets and coats, and her sisters went downstairs to unload all the food. Becca and Luca joined their cousins in readying the ship. Once again, I was struck with how much this family spent time together and how happily they moved around with each other. His father boarded the ship and entered the captain seat, not speaking or looking at anyone, sitting down with a canister of coffee and a newspaper or two. They all had their roles, but they loved
Arianna POV: We stopped for lunch at a little bistro, much like back in America they were heavily involved in helping businesses in their town. The owner came out and greeted Giovanni and Luca, snapping his fingers to get us a better table and the finest wine they had. I rolled my eyes as Gio winked and pulled out my chair for me, he knew damn well it wasn’t his connections that made me interested in him. Once again, the blonde from the store flashed into my mind. Did he, though? She was fawning over him so intently, praising him a cooing his name. I had never been a woman to constantly stroke her man's ego. I shook my head, removing the thought from my mind. No, I won’t do this. He’s taken me home to his family, he’s showing me the place he grew up. I won’t begin second-guessing now, not when we’ve faced demons together. As if reading my mind, he held my hand as if it was second nature, kissing it before answering a question Luca had asked him. He explained to me his favorites on
Arianna POV: “Let me take you out today to show you the town.” he grinned as we went downstairs to breakfast. I nodded happily at the thought of running around town with him, seeing everywhere he grew up. The places that he hung around as a child with Luca and his brother. I wanted to see the town that helped him grow into who he is, all the little memories dotted around shops and cafes. “Gio?” his mother called. “You going out?” she pouted for a moment before walking into the kitchen and then handing him a list. “Get me this, please.” She kissed the top of his head and patting his shoulder She patted the empty seat next to Giovanni for me to sit in, “Come on dear, I’ve got fresh fruit and pastries,” she gestured to the pile of breads on the table. “Mama, who is going to eat all of this?” he asked, going over the list. She scoffed and turned to him. “You and Luca have emptied my pantry before. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re capable of get me my food,” SHe scolded him, wav
Giovanni POV: I felt horrible the way she was sitting back in her chair, absentmindedly smiling as she looked around the room. My mother guided her up to my old room for me while we sat there finishing the meal. She followed a long like a child dead to the world around her. I thought once she knew we were going somewhere safe she’d relax, but it seemed meeting my family was very important to her. I tried not to grin at the thought that she cared that much for me. My mood soured though as I watched her leave and then turned to my father, he stared at me with a discerning look. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I knew that would only antagonize him. I was sure he’d tell me what was wrong with her soon enough, and I would ignore all of it. If he knew anything he would know there was no turning back for me, I had damned myself in his name to avenge my brother, now that an angel has swopped in to save me he is upset. “She's beautiful,” He commented. I didn’t say a word in response, waitin
Arianna POV: His father rose from his seat and set down his paper, I could see what his mother meant; they were similar. He had the same wide shoulders and strong jaw Giovanni had and the same nose, but Giovanni’s eyes were his mother's. If I wanted to see what he looked like thirty years later, it was at the other end of the table, salt and pepper hair, some wrinkles here and there, but still strong. The two men stood at opposite ends of the room like monoliths, refusing to bow to the other. One wanting the respect he’d earned, the other the respect he’d deserved, I sighed softly to myself. It wasn’t just looks that they were identical on; I stepped down the stairs and past Giovanni. “SIgnore Risci, thank you for welcoming me into you, especially given the circumstances,” I walked over holding out my hand. His father cocked his head to the side as he considered me for a moment, taking my hand and kissing it. “Oh, I see why my son has overlooked your past.” He looked at Giovanni,
Arianna POV: I didn’t find a wink of sleep the whole flight, my mind racing with the possibilities. I had never met the parents before, let alone a whole family. Even if I had I knew in my bones it wouldn’t be the same as it was now, my heart would flutter, my mind wouldn’t race, my palms wouldn’t be slick. Luca and Giovanni were both asleep, heads slunk to the side in the same manner. I wondered if Giovanni’s brother had done the same. I wondered if he looked more like his father or his mother, who he acted more like. I wondered if his family would begrudge me mine or if they understood my past. I was even more on edge by the time we got off the plane as I was sure I looked a mess, from the bitter cold of an east coast winter we stepped into the cool warmth of the mediterranean. I felt as if I dragged in the sludge and sleet with me, my eyes looking more akin to a racoons and less human. The one bright spot waited for me as we stepped down from our flight. “Arianna!” Becca excla
Arianna POV: It didn’t feel real; it felt like some wild fantasy I had found myself in. I watched on the news as they carted him out of our house and into the cop cars, a dark expression casting over his face. Then at the arraignment, I sat in the back so he couldn’t see me, like I was five hiding behind my mother's leg, but still. The judge set no bail, for fear he’d run off, the power of a federal judge and not one of the county guys, that we all knew my father had in his pocket. He was being held without bail until his trial. The judge seemed to be unbiased; still, I warned myself I told myself not to think it, but I felt like we had a chance of putting him away. I felt as if I thought it, it would flitter away and vanish. He had never been caught before, my father had been on trial a total of six times, and not once had they been able to put him in jail. He had the best lawyers, he had donated to the judge's campaigns, and he knew their families. Not once did they even come clos
Domenico POV: There are moments in life of crisp clarity, like a camera lens focusing or a breath of fresh air after swimming. You see things just as they are, not as you wanted them to be; every little piece of information you neglected to cover, your own fears they shine brightly. I’d experienced this once before when my wife ran with our daughter in the middle of the night. All her good intentions, all our quiet evenings, the distance between us over the past weeks. They glared at me in the eyes, forcing me to realize all I had missed because I didn’t want to see that she was leaving me. I felt the same when the FBI walked boldly into my house, that punk smuggly dangling the cuffs in my face. “Tax evasion's a bad rap,” he chuckled, dragging me out of the house as cameras flashed, blinding us, as he laid conquest to my home. In a matter of seconds, the last few months flashed into my head: Vanessa’s body in the morgue, the fear and hesitation on Arianna’s face when I returned t
Arianna POV: We were working closer and closer to my father's arrest, every day I caught moments when it felt like we would pull this off and I grabbed onto them tight. They kept me sane, most of the time I felt a green mist in the air. Something was coming for us we couldn’t see, shadows pulling at us as we neared our victory. The slimy and sinking feeling that though we had every scrap of evidence to put him away it wasn’t enough. He was too foul a beast to keep breathing. I could see the shiny strings he pulled to get us to move this way and that. Giulia had shown up and tried to get me to see some photos of Giovanni doing something that would “turn my stomach”. I had pushed her away and left but my skin had been crawling since. It was the simplest interaction she had let me go, and I felt as if I should cling to Giovanni ever since then. The rug was going to be pulled soon and we’d be sent tumbling. As hazy as the days were, never seeing where we were heading as I looked over