“Honestly,” she sighed, pouring me a glass. “I have no idea where he gets his sass from.”
“No idea?” I teased, raising an eyebrow. She smirked, taking a seat and popping a grape into her mouth as she joined me to watch the children.
“If it’s not him giving me cheek, it’s Isotta trying to count all the silver hairs on my head because she believes I’m turning into a witch. I wonder fucking why.”
I laughed as Neri leapt onto Siro’s back and took him down. Isotta jumped onto the human pile, pried an orange from Siro’s hand, and smashed it into his face.
“Should we stop that?” I asked, tilting my head as the girls ganged up on Siro. He spluttered under the barrage of oranges they were pummelling him with.
“No.” Elle shook her head. “Karma’s a bitch.”
“Brutal,” I chuckled as Alessio walked onto the terrace, a glass of wine in his hand.
“What’s brutal?”
“Our daughters and your wife.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Alessio smirked, tilting Elle’s head back from behind and bending down to kiss her.
“Got to raise strong men but even stronger women in this world,” Elle added as he sat down beside her, keeping his hand on her knee. They both glanced at each other, something passing between them that made me sit up straighter.
“What?” I asked, my heart already pounding as Elle gave me a smile that said more than words. Alessio pulled something from his back pocket and slid it across the table. “This came for you today. Who knew postcards still existed?”
I swallowed as everything faded away, and all I could see was the old-style postcard of a picturesque scene of whitewashed houses, worn down by sun and salt, set in a cove on a yellow, sandy beach. Cyclades was written in the right-hand corner. I picked it up with trembling fingers, my nostrils flaring as I fought back the emotions when I turned it over and saw his handwriting.
How about that trip to the beach now? Forever yours. Forever waiting.
I pressed my lips together as I stared through blurry vision. My shoulders shook, and Elle’s arm wrapped tightly around me as I sucked in a shaky breath. It was the first physical proof I had that he was alive. For ten weeks, I’d barely slept, tossing and turning every night, wondering where he was and if he was okay. I couldn’t go looking for him. It was too risky. He’d told Alessio, when he left him in America, that he’d make contact when he was ready, when it was safe.
But as the weeks passed, it was hard for me not to lose hope. The doubts and insecurities kept me awake at night. What if he didn’t make it out of America? What if he changed his mind and decided it was best never to contact me again? What if he was happier in his new life and wanted to cut all ties with his old life, including with me?
But there it was. He’d made it out of America and was waiting for me.
“He’s in Greece,” I choked, running my fingers over the image.
Elle squeezed me tighter. “We are going to miss you so much.”
I closed my eyes, holding her arm wrapped around my chest, and smiled. When Alessio cleared his throat, I opened my eyes and met his gaze. The smile on his face was a mixture of emotions: sadness, happiness, and acceptance.
“Everything’s ready. Just tell me when.”
“Let’s have tonight.”
He nodded and reached out his hand across the table. I clasped it, holding it firm as we locked eyes. We’d had weeks to prepare for mine and Neri’s accidental deaths. I’d make sure I was seen by enough of our men as I climbed into my car with Neri, then drive to a tunnel where Fabi would be waiting with another car and our new identities. I wanted Nerina to keep part of her name, but mine and our surnames would change. We’d change, leave our clothes and some personal items in the car, then take off with only a bag full of cash.
Alessio and Fabi would orchestrate the car crash, ensuring the car was engulfed in flames before the authorities arrived. Alessio had enough officers, coroners and an administrative clerk on the payroll to ensure the narrative was consistent and the case was closed quickly. We’d wait two days before crossing the border because dead people don’t flee. They’re mourned. Alessio, Elle, Fabi, and Camilla (because I couldn’t hide that her brother was still alive from her) were the only people who would know the truth. The fewer people, the lower the risk.
“It’s not goodbye,” he said sternly, his voice full of emotion. I smiled.
“It’s see you later,Fratello.”
He stood up, leaned over the table, and rested his forehead against mine as Elle let out a small sob behind me. I clasped the back of his head and closed my eyes, holding the moment as long as I could. Elle wrapped her arms around us both and joined us, kissing my cheek and then his.
I knew that choosing to leave this life behind would cost me something, but our friendship wasn’t it. A bond like ours wasn’t fragile. No matter the distance or how much time passed without contact, we’d always still be this way. My friends weren’t flawless, but neither was I. Over the years, I survived because of them. They kept me strong and showed me what loyalty meant. They taught me that real friendship didn’t demand wholeness.It didn’t turn away from what’s messy or broken. It stayed no matter what, and I’d always be grateful for that.
“What are they doing?” Neri’s curious voice ruined the moment, and the three of us lifted our heads to see our children standing by the table, staring at us as if we had lost our minds.
“Hugging?” Isotta said. “I think.”
