53
Piece Of You
Even one night away from you feels like too much. How am I supposed to go for years? —Enzo
Six months later
Izzy
“Izzy!Getoverhere!”Nate calls, waving me over with exaggerated gestures.
Despite the nausea churning in my stomach, I make my way slowly toward him and Enzo, stopping once I’m in front of them.
“Which of us is scarier?”
I blink. “What?”
“No, look—imagine you don’t know us. You pass us on the street. Who scares you more?”
I shake my head, lips twitching into a smile. “Enzo.”
Nate gasps, clutching his chest as if I’ve stabbed him. “How could you say that?”
“You literally skip down the sidewalk.”
“First of all—it’s apavement. Second—I do not skip.”
Carina slides her arms around his waist. “Hate to tell you this, but you do.”
Nate whines—actually whines. “I can’t help that I love life.”
Carina laughs. “No one’s saying that’s a bad thing. But it doesn’t exactly make you look like the big bad wolf.”
“But this guy does?” Nate points at Enzo, sulking.
“Yes,” we all answer in unison—even Tess and Kai, who’ve only just joined the conversation.
Little Nico bounces on Kai’s hip, babbling nonsense. He’s the cutest kid—no matter how much Tess insists he’s a devil child. Despite the ache of losing my own, I haven’t let it stop me from loving him. We’ve visited twice since his birth: once for Carina and Nate’s wedding last May—which wasinteresting, to say the least—and again for Nate and Tess’s birthdays in July.
The sharp clink of a glass hushes the room.
Enzo raises his, instantly commanding attention. “Thank you all for joining us—we appreciate everyone who traveled far.”
Nate and Tess heckle. Carina elbows Nate in the ribs. Kai slaps a hand over Tess’s mouth. Enzo glares while I smother a laugh.
“As I was saying—it’s great to have everyone here in one place.” His eyes lock on mine, stealing my breath with their intensity. “Happy birthday to my wife—my rock, my person, the most incredible woman on the planet. I love you.”
Cheers erupt around the room. We’re gathered at what used to be Massimo’s compound—it’s now where Enzo and I call home since Massimo stepped down as Don.
The dining room has been transformed with green and blue balloons and streamers. It’s not elegant—it’s chaotic and loud. Perfect.
Then a wave of nausea slams into me.
I bolt for the bathrooms and barely make it before vomitingup the delicious food Tess and the catering team prepared.
A hand rubs soothing circles on my back.
Mamma Giuliana.
