“Always.”
There was no hesitation in his voice. Just quiet certainty, like it was a rule he lived by.
I smiled softly, tightening my hold a fraction. “How many sunrises do you think you’ve seen?”
He huffed out a small laugh, low and warm. “Since sixteen… As many as I’ve lived.”
For a moment, neither of us said anything. The ocean lapped gently against us. The horizon continued to blush brighter and brighter, the sun climbing higher like it had all the time in the world.
“What’s the most beautiful sunrise you’ve ever seen?” I whispered.
He didn’t answer right away – not because he didn’t know, but because he wasn’t searching for the memory. He wasinit. I could see it in the way his shoulders relaxed, the way his eyes softened.
“I would have to say this one.”
My breath caught. “Honest?”
His lips curved – not into a smirk, but something quieter, more deliberate. “I would never lie to you,mi Donna.”
Something inside me melted.
My hands, still resting on the back of his neck, tightened just a little more, almost unconsciously. And he held me closer in return, steady as the tide, while the sun painted the world gold around us.
“And… what do you do after you watch the sunrise?” I asked, my voice softer than the waves curling around us.
He shifted his grip on my waist slightly, keeping me steady as we floated together in the glowing water. The sun had climbed higher now, spilling molten light across the surface, turning every ripple into liquid gold.
“If I’m in a new place,” Matteo said, glancing toward the horizon as if it held the answer, “I usually go into the nearest town for breakfast.”
The air between us grew quiet again. Not uncomfortable – just suspended, like the world was waiting. My wet hair clung to the back of my neck, and the early warmth of the sun kissed my skin.
Then he looked back at me. His eyes caught mine with that same easy confidence, but something else shimmered beneath it. Somethingsoft.
Ask me.
“Would you like to come with me and have breakfast together, Francesca?”
For a heartbeat, my chest fluttered wildly. It was such a simple question, but wrapped in it was everything – the night, the laughter, the dancing, the sunrise.
“I would like that,” I breathed.
His smile broke fully then, brighter than the morning sun cresting behind him. It wasn’t the usual Matteo grin,sharp and teasing. This one was open, golden, like sunshine poured into human form.
“Let’s go then,” he said, voice low and warm.
And just like that, with the ocean glittering around us and the day stretching awake before our eyes, it felt like something new had quietly begun.
Chapter 16
Present
Hawaii, New York City
THE SUN WAS CLIMBING FAST now, casting the beach in molten gold and soft rose hues as Matteo and I walked back along the sand toward the villas. The resort was still sleepy – only a few early risers strolled by with coffee cups in hand, their flip-flops making lazy slaps against the wooden paths. My nightdress clung damply to my skin, hair tangled from the wind and saltwater, but I didn’t care. Matteo walked beside me barefoot, shirt draped casually over his shoulder, and for once, the world felt simple. Easy.
That illusion shattered the moment we rounded the corner near the cabanas.
Gìo stood like a storm cloud in a black suit and white dress-shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, his dark hair slicked back, sunglasses perched low on his nose. His expression was somewhere between irritated older brother and busyCapo di tutti i capi.
