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“Meaning?”
“You could have told her who she was when you arrived, but you chose not to. Just like all the rest of it you haven’t shared.”
“So, this is all my fault?” I shouted as I shot him a look not to go there.
“I’m saying we’re all to blame for what happened. Many of us have a part in her story. But pointing blame at Elio, the only person besides Sienna who was truly blindsided by all this, isn’t going to make the situation any better.”
“None of this would have even happened if my brother hadn’t been slaughtered by thatboy’sfamily in the first place. The Capris caused this.”
“I’m not doing this again.” He shook his head and stepped back, needing distance from me.
“Maybe none of this would have happened at all if you hadn’t picked the enemy,” I muttered, hoping to sting him like he did me all those years ago.
A dark smirk raced across his lips, and he let out a sardonic chuckle. “I didn’t pick the enemy. I chose my family. Let’s not forget that your parents hated me from the very start.”
“For good reason.” I snickered, wanting him to burn inside like I was.
He cleared his throat as he stepped closer, trapping me between two chairs. He lowered his voice as he stared into my eyes. “Your brother’s blood never touched my hands, and my family never had anything to do with his death either. But, as always, you’ll believe what you want.”
I let out the breath I was holding as he spoke and turned away. I refused to believe him, and I was infuriated that he still clung to the lie and refused to admit the truth, even to himself.
“And what about Noemi?” I said over my shoulder. “When were you going to tell me about her?”
“Need I remind you that I never met Noemi? I only knew her name. You told me about her but never showed me a photo, and I’ve never had any interaction with her. There’s no way I could have connected those dots. Her family had zero ties to the Coppolas. I’m still reeling about it.”
“I find that hard to believe.” I glanced back at him.
“What’s new?” He tossed his hands up, annoyed with me. “This right here,” he huffed, “is why we’re not together. It’s you and your hate. You can’t let things go and just be happy, and you’re dragging everyone you love down with you.”
“I am not!” I snapped but felt like a child with my reaction.
“Good Lord, Elenora! You have a silver platter serving you your daughter. It’s a second chance! Most would sell their soul for an opportunity like that, and all she wanted was the truth, and you couldn’t even give her that.”
“I did, and look where it got me!”
“Can you hear yourself? See the wake of damage you’ve caused?” His hands fisted into his hair. “You better tell her the rest, and while you’re at it, tell me the whole story of Noemi. My family has had enough pain for one lifetime.”
“I—” I stumbled with the truth on my tongue, wanting to shout it out loud, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t time yet. It was the only ammo I had left to take down the Capris. “I can’t.”
“Tea?” Oscar broke our moment, and I used that excuse to move across the room to the tray. I poured myself a cup as I waited for my heartbeat to slow. Francesco cursed then stepped out onto the balcony to take a call.
I allowed myself a moment and slipped into a memory that had pushed its way to the surface.
I opened the door to the little bistro that was only minutes from my place, as I’d spotted my broken-hearted brother sitting in the window like a statue. My stomach sank. It had been two months since Noemi had decided he couldn’t give her everything she wanted and had left him, leaving nothing but a note on his desk. Later that night, he had reached out to her in desperation to try to fix things, but she simply explained she wanted more out of her life than he was going to give her. She said she’d known he was supposed to take over the family business someday, and she’d been excited about it. She imagined the life they would have had with lots of money to travel, perhaps even visit the Seven Wonders of the World. She had come to realize Angelo wasn’t interested in any of that. He wanted the whole white picket fence, kids, and a minivan. He was a man who needed very little to be happy, and that life was not what she envisioned for herself. Once she realized it, she was out. He was left with nothing but the pieces of his own crumbled dreams.
“Hey,” I sank onto the stool next to him and wrapped my arm around his shoulders, “how are you?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Here, I guess.”
“Okay.” I nodded like I understood. “Any word from Noemi?”
“No, just me calling and leaving voice messages.”
“How many have you left?”
“I call every day—”
“That’s not so bad.”
