Hey you guys! Thank you again so much for your support. It's been so much fun reading your comments and knowing that people are getting attached to the characters and enjoying the plot.

(It is SO painful seeing all the people who love Caleb, who have no clue what is going to happen to him 😩💔)

XOXO Ami

***

Daniel still hasn't reacted much to her news. It confuses me.

So I bake cupcakes and invite him over Friday night, determined to discover the truth.

Daniel hasn't visited in a long time.

When I open the door to let him in, he pulls me into a strong hug and I missed this, missed the feeling of family.

As I guide him to the kitchen, I see his eyes wandering over my living room, his expression thoughtful and downcast.

Instantly, I remember the last time he was here. A couple months before Caleb died. We sat on the couch, me squeezed in between the two of them, watching Pulp Fiction and throwing popcorn at each other. I know he's remembering it too.

It sends an ache to the bottom of my gut. And a strange burning itch beneath my skin, that I vaguely recognize as the desire for revenge.

"I miss him, Ros," he says softly, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair. The roughness in his tired voice is palpable.

"I miss him too, Daniel."

I gently lead him to the kitchen, where I pour him a steaming cup of coffee and slide a red-velvet cupcake towards him across the counter.

I ask him about work, he asks me about work. It feels weird knowing things that he doesn't know. Like I'm itching to tell him everything.

Every part of me is so damn tired of secrets. I'll find a way to tell them eventually.

"So," I begin cautiously, raising an eyebrow. "What have you been thinking about Natalia's news?"

Surprise flashes across his eyes, confusion. I study him closely, trying to read his mind.

"She told you?"

I smile at him gently. "We're friends, Daniel. She's wanted to tell you for a while. But she loves you, and she didn't want to hurt you." I take his hand. "I told her you would understand."

He narrows his eyes, gaze fixed on my granite counter-top. "I..." He sighs, and there's hurt in his eyes. "I'm having a hard time with the fact that she didn't tell me sooner."

I squeeze his fingers. He looks guarded and unhappy but he doesn't take his hand away.

"Think about it, Daniel." My voice is gentle. "You and Dad and Caleb worked really hard to fight against those guys. Natalia knew how much you hate the mafia. How could she tell you that her cousins were all in the mob?"

He searches my face, and there's a suspicion in his eyes that makes me a little nervous. "Aren't you upset by it? You know what they've done."

Oh yes, yes I do. My heart, split into two different parts, aches.

"But Natalia doesn't talk to them, Daniel. She and her mom aren't a part of that world. They've tried hard to separate themselves for a very, very long time."

I can see the uncertainty and hurt and glassiness in his eyes. My brother is so fiercely loyal. It's a blessing and a curse.

"She's worried that you're shutting her out, Daniel."

He doesn't meet my eyes, but I can see the tenseness in his well-built frame. "I don't know what to say to her." He shrugs. "So I haven't said anything."

Oh Daniel. My eyes soften. I slip off my stool and give him a gentle squeeze, my arms circling him from behind. "Don't push her away, Danny. Talk to her. She cares about you and she's worried."

I feel the heavy breath that leaves his chest. "Okay. I will."

I plant a kiss onto his cheek. "And don't you dare be angry at her for telling me. Everyone needs somebody to confide in."

Or else the secrets will eat you alive.

The fight leaves his shoulders, they slump, relaxed. "Fair enough."

And so we move onto other, lighter topics. I think he's doing okay, despite everything. I even manage to make him laugh a few times.

When I eventually follow him to my front foyer, I feel better about things. Hopeful that we're moving into a brighter future.

And then, Marco's yellow grin fills my mind, making my blood go hot. I will find a way to get justice.

As Daniel tugs his coat on, there's a soft knocking against my door.

My heart jumps. Shit. A sinking feeling enters my chest.

I am definitely not ready for these two to meet.

Daniel doesn't think anything of it. I swallow my anxiety and open the damn door.

"Hey," Nero greets softly, running a hand through that thick dark hair. His rough, low voice and the sight of him makes something clench inappropriately between my thighs. He sees Daniel right away, and whatever else he was about to say dies in his throat.

The two of them take each other in, and I stand there between them, melting to my toes.

At least he's wearing clothes. Yesterday, I showed up to his place in only my underwear. The thought makes me flush.

"Daniel, this is Nero, my..."

Daniel raises an eyebrow, eyes flitting between the two of us.

Nero steps forward and extends a hand. "Rosalyn's neighbor." He tilts his head in the direction of his apartment. "I live next door," he says casually.

It's true.

No lies to be seen here, keep on walking.

Daniel shakes his hand. I have a sinking feeling that he knows there's more between us. "Daniel," he introduces. "I'm her brother." I wish I didn't notice the suspicion lingering behind his neutral expression.

Of course, Nero knows who Daniel is, but he's a skilled liar and plays the part of my innocent neighbor perfectly. "Sorry to interrupt, Ros. I just needed to borrow some tape." I swear there's a dark sparkle in those eyes.

Bastard. Borrow some tape my fricking ass.

"Sure," I say casually.

Daniel offers him a small smile, but I can see the curiosity in his eyes. "I was just on my way out."

He brushes past me, running a rough hand messily through my hair. I slap him away with an annoyed protest. Nero steps aside politely, returning a weak smile.

We both watch as he walks down the hallway, sighing with relief when he rounds the corner.

I turn my attention back to Nero as he leans against my door-frame. I give his shoulder a shove, embarrassment staining my cheeks pink. "You have the worst timing."

He gives me a lopsided grin that sends heat to my toes. "You should have warned me."

He glances down the hall once more before stepping closer to me, hands reaching out to pull me against him as we stumble into my apartment. My front door shuts and he rests his back against it, our chests flush together.

"He knows that I'm fucking you, dolcezza." His breath is warm, it tickles my nose, and his words make my heart race with panic and exhilaration at the same time.

His fingers brush the hem of my t-shirt, teasing the sliver of skin above the waistline of my jeans. "He does not," I insist indignantly. My eyes flutter shut as his hand slips beneath my shirt and travels slowly up the ridge of my spine. We both lean in until the tips of our noses brush. "He's just... protective."

"Protective because..." His mouth presses softly into my neck, a hand against my back tilting me backwards as he leaves a mark against my skin, "...you're perfect and he's worried about the bad things I could do to you."

My fingers wind themselves into his hair, holding his body tight against mine. "Like what?" I whisper, and he captures my mouth, lifts me up with hands beneath my thighs like I weigh nothing. My legs wrap around his torso.

We slip off each layer of clothing and he has me on the couch because neither of us is patient enough to make it to my bedroom.

When I finally shiver around him, straddling his lap, my head collapses into his shoulder and he whispers, "Ti amo, cuore mio," in a gruff, tired voice and I mumble "I love you," against the hollow of his jaw.

Once I've come down from my high I ask softly, "Do you think he can ever know?"

He pushes the hair away from my face and is still inside me when he says, "Maybe, carina. But we have to sort things out first."

I know what he's talking about. We eventually untangle ourselves, laying together on the couch with a thin blanket covering our bareness.

His finger traces circles on my upper arm and I lean back into the warmth of his chest. "What if someone else turns Marco in? And Franco?"

He's quiet for a little while. "Like who?"

I haven't exactly figured it out yet. "Like me? Or Daniel or my dad."

His hand at my hip pulls me closer, and I can feel his breath near my ear. "It's too dangerous, Rosalyn. They would find you."

"What about an anonymous tip? Would Marco still think it was you?"

"I'm the first person he'd suspect, gioia." I can hear him thinking, can hear the preoccupation in his voice. It's a while before he says tentatively, "But I might know someone who owes me enough to risk doing it himself."

The amount of hope that fills my heart almost hurts. "Really?" I sound breathless.

"I'll give him a call later. I've been considering it for a while, dolcezza. Now I think we're out of other options. And out of time."

Some kind of protective instinct towards him unfurls in my gut.

He presses his lips against my shoulder and my arm reaches behind me to wrap around his neck. "I can ask my dad if he knows someone who can help."

"I would feel bad involving them in this, Rosalyn. They've been through enough." His fingers hold my hip, running up my side to rest in the curve of my waist. "You've been through enough."

There's a long silence where we're both busy thinking.

"I think they'd want to give Caleb justice, Nero." My voice sounds thick with emotion. "I want that bastard to rot in prison for the rest of his life."

His grip on me tightens, and his warmth is comforting. "If you can think of something to tell them, carina, that won't make them hate me, then maybe we can figure it out."

A small smile tilts up the edges of my mouth. "It's sweet that you care about what they think."

His hand rakes itself gently through my hair. "They're your family, dolcezza. They're important to you, and you're important to me." The soft sincerity of his voice makes my heart melt.

We hold each other, and I try to think of a way to be honest with my family without alienating them forever.

***

A/N:

Thoughts, feelings?

Also, definitely check out my new book Make It Known and let me know what you think :)

XOXO Ami

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