Page 79 of The Cost of Silence

This man is going to break my heart when we end and right now I don’t even care.

22.Nico

We pay,haul the obscene amount of decorations out to the car, and then I drive us to a boutique tree shop, the kind that sells high-end artificial trees so realistic they might as well be breathing.

She circles them slowly, touching needles, comparing heights, humming under her breath.

I watch her and then I text my brothers, telling them to meet me at my place and for Adi to bring Letty. She wants family and fuck knows we need it. I realize I’m not even pretending to mind this trip anymore. I’m enjoying it.

“Which one?” she asks.

“You choose.”

Her mouth falls open. “I get to decide?”

“You’re the one decorating.”

Her cheeks flush. “Nico… this means more than you know.”

I do know. And that’s exactly why I’m doing it.

She picks a tall, artificial pine with fake snow and warm, built-in lights. Elegant. Soft. Beautiful. Just like her.

By the timewe get back to the penthouse, I can hear voices inside before the door fully opens.

Isabella frowns. “Are you expecting someone?”

I step aside for her to enter the room first.

Adriano is in my living room with Letty on his lap, eating a candy cane. Matteo is on my couch, feet up, stealing cookies from Letty’s plate.

All three freeze when they see me. Then they see her.

Matteo’s mouth curves into a knowing grin. “Well, well, well.”

Her shock is immediate. “Oh! Hi! I didn’t know…”

Letty hides her face in Adriano’s shoulder the second we walk through the door, the way she always does around anyone she doesn’t know. Big dark eyes, curls bouncing around her face, wearing one of those ridiculous sparkly sweaters she loves.

Isabella freezes mid-step, a box of glass baubles in her hands, surprise flickering across her face. She looks at Letty like she’s not sure if she’s allowed to step closer, which, for once, is the correct fucking instinct.

Adi is careful with his daughter. Careful to the point of paranoia. He doesn’t let just anyone near her, and especially not near whatever danger still shadows the Mancini name and that, in his mind, is still Isabella.

But he gives a little nod. Subtle. Permission.

Letty peeks her head around, studying Isabella with quiet, serious concentration, the same look Adi has when he’s deciding if someone is a threat. Before she slides her feet to the ground and gets off her father’s lap.

I watch Isabella soften, slow and warm, like she doesn’t want to scare my niece. She crouches a little, enough to make herself smaller, approachable.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she says gently. “I’m Isabella.”

Letty considers that. Considers her. Then she looks at Adriano. “Papa?” she whispers.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs, brushing her curls back. “She’s a friend.”

Something in my chest pulls tight at hearing that. A friend. Of ours.

Letty steps forward, tiny and brave, and Isabella’s smile widens just enough to make my ribs ache. She doesn’t touch her first, she waits. Smart. Respectful.