His jaw clicked, eyes flicking away.
“He was a kid too. And he did what he thought he had to – run the business, avenge your parents. He protected the only legacy you both had left.”
Zach scoffed lightly. “You don’t get it.”
“Zach. I’m asking you as afriend. One you’ve known for over a decade.”
Silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.
“Look, Francesca,” He sighed. “You’re one of Maria’s best friends. You’re one ofmybest friends. But you can’t get involved between me and Matteo. It’s not your place.”
I didn’t move, didn’t soften. “Maybe not. But it’s mine to ask you to see where he’s coming from. He’s not perfect – no one is – but he loves you. More than you think.”
Zach swallowed, the smallest crack in his armor.
Before either of us could speak again, the door nudged open.
Maria peeked in, eyes flicking between us with instant intuition. She stepped inside fully. “Zach… Francesca’s right.”
Zach blinked. “You’re taking her side?”
“I’m taking both your sides,” Maria said softly, moving to stand between us. “You’re my love. I’ll always be here for you. But Matteo… He’s trying, Zach. Maybe meet him halfway?”
He looked away again – stubborn.
Maria’s presence helped – but only a little. Zach’s shoulders were still tense, jaw grinding like he was holding back more than he wanted to say. She reached for his arm, slow and gentle, running her thumb along the inside of his wrist the way only someone who truly knew him would. It grounded him, barely.
But then his eyes met mine – furious, wounded.
“There were periods where I didn’t see him foryearsat a time,” he said, voice dangerously low with the weight of it. “Did he tell you about that?”
“He did,” I whispered.
Zach let out a sardonic breath.
“Do you have any idea how that feels? Losing your parents, and then your brother?” His voice rose – not loud, but raw. “Except he’s not really gone. He’s living it up in Miami or Vegas. Taking meetings, throwing money around. Doing everything but visiting. It’s not that he doesn’t have the time! He justdidn’t want to see me.”
Maria rubbed comfort into his arm, eyes soft with sympathy.
“That’s what you think?”
The room froze.
Matteo stood there – shoulders square, expression unreadable, something dark flickering behind his eyes. His presence alone sucked the air out of the space. Zach stiffened, hand coming up to scrub through his hair in a restless, frustrated drag.
Maria immediately slid her hand down to lace Zach’s fingers with her own – quiet support.
Zach didn’t turn to look at Matteo.
“Alright,” he muttered, voice tight. “I’m going to go back–”
“That’s what you think about me?” Matteo asked again.
Zach’s jaw clenched. He finally faced him, just barely – head tilted, eyes shadowed with hurt that ran deeper than years.
“It’s the truth. You can try as hard as you want now. It doesn’t change anything. You weren’t there when I needed you – when I was still grieving. We were supposed to be there for each other.”
A beat of silence.
