Dr. Ever’s voice softened. “I understand. If you’d prefer, I can speak with another family member to help facilitate the arrangements.”
“Yes, I think that would be best. I’ll have my aunt, Emillia contact you to finalize the details.”
“Sounds good,” Dr. Ever’s said. “I am so sorry about your loss,” she added.
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “I appreciate it.” My grip tightened around the phone as if it were a lifeline slipping through my fingers.
“I’ll keep you updated.”
I ended the call abruptly, breathing heavily.
The moment was broken when Dante spoke. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother.”
The last thing I needed was a deep dive into my pain. As if sensing my reluctance to discuss it, he took the hint and diverted the conversation.
“Nico, I need you to brace yourself for Alphonse’s reaction. He won’t take kindly to the fact that his daughter was dragged into your world.”
“And what makes you think I would care what he thinks?” I asked.
“Because if you ever want a future with Gigi, then you better fucking care,” Dante shot back.
I scoffed. “You seem to forget who you’re talking to.”
He leaned forward, brows knitted tightly together as his gaze bore into mine. “No, I haven’t, Nico. Trust me, Alphonse is not a man you want to fuck with. I’m trying to help you understand that heownsItaly. He says what comes in and what goes out. He decides who is allowed to enter the country and who doesn’t get to leave. If he wants to shoot you on sight, there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop him.”
“I’m not afraid of death, Dante.”
“No, I suppose you’re not.” He sat back, took a drink of his water. “But you should be afraid of what could happen to Gigi.”
Anger bubbled beneath the surface of my skin, a heat that seemed to radiate like the scorching flames of a fire. It threatened to consume me, but I forced myself to shift the conversation. “Tell me how you knew Gigi.” It was still hard to get used to calling her Gigi instead of Winter—a name I had come to cherish, representing coldness yet warming my once-icy heart.
“I worked for Giuseppe, Gigi’s grandfather. Angelica asked me and Malik to watch over Gigi if anything happened to her. Whoever killed Angelica must’ve been working for her father in some capacity.” Dante shook his head, and his face contorted with pain. With his eyes shut, he continued. “Hours before Angelica left Italy, her own father beat the hell out of her and even planned for his men to rape her to teach her a lesson.”
I gaped at him. “What the fuck? Tell me the asshole isn’t still breathing.”
Dante opened his eyes and looked directly at me. “After I helped Angelica escape, I didn’t receive any updates. Alphonse told me he would find a way to tell me if it was safe to return. But all I got was radio silence ever since. I could only assume he was still alive.”
“Why the hell wouldn’t Alphonse have gotten rid of him?” I clenched my jaw. I would kill any motherfucker who laid their hands on my angel.
Dante shrugged. “That’s a question only Alphonse can answer.”
We fell into heavy silence before I pressed him again for answers. “You mentioned you and your brother were watching over Angelica and Gigi. Where is your brother now?”
“I don’t know,” Dante admitted, his frustration clear as daylight. “I felt something was off when Malik didn’t check in.”
“Do you think your brother is dead?” I ventured.
Dante dropped his head back against the headrest. “I hope not.” The sincerity behind his words felt like a quiet prayer.
“Was that why you went to see Gigi?” I asked.
He nodded, his expression grave.
“So, they were in hiding...” I murmured, piecing together the fragments of the story.
“Yes. I can’t figure out how Angelica and Gigi were found,” he replied, letting out a deep sigh. “And how he thought I was dead. Lots of unanswered questions.”
Before I could voice another question, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text message.
