When the ceremony ends, the empty casket is lowered into the ground in a quiet corner of the compound, a peaceful, shaded spot at the far end near the trees. A tombstone has been placed there with Domenico’s name.
I feel an overwhelming wave of gratitude toward Nico. He didn’t have to do any of this. He didn’t have to arrange a burial, provide a resting place on his own land, or give my sister this small piece of closure. But he did. Without being asked.
As we stand there, I lift my eyes and meet his gaze across the grave. He’s watching me with that intense, steady look that always seems to see straight through me. I mouth a silent “Thank you.”
He gives me the smallest nod in return.
We haven’t really spoken much in the past twenty-four hours. He’s been busy fortifying security against my father and Gallo, while I’ve been completely focused on trying to be there for Sienna. But even in the silence, I feel him, his presence, his quiet support.
After the burial, we all walk back toward the house. I keep my arm around Sienna. Once we reach her room, I help her lie down. She looks completely drained, eyes swollen and distant.
A few minutes later, Lea knocks softly and enters carrying a tray with tea, soup, and some light snacks. She sets it down and gives Sienna’s hand a gentle, motherly squeeze.
“You’ll be alright, dear,” she says softly. “One day at a time.”
Sienna doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t pull away either. Lea gives me a small, understanding smile before quietly leaving the room.
I sit on the edge of the bed beside my sister, brushing her hair back from her face. She looks so young and broken right now. I wish more than anything I could take this pain away from her.
She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand and looks at me, her voice small and hoarse.
“Thank you for being here with me,” she whispers. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t. And… I need to thank Nico too. Even though the casket was empty, knowing Domenico got a proper burial… it gives me some peace.”
I squeeze her hand gently, my throat tight. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
We fall into a quiet moment, both of us sipping the tea Lea brought earlier. Then Sienna turns to me, her eyes searching my face.
“So… what’s the story with Nico?” she asks softly. “You don’t look like a prisoner. Your captor isn’t supposed to be arranging a burial for your sister’s lover. That’s not how this works.”
“I already told you he doesn't treat me like a prisoner.”
Sienna nods. “Yeah, you did. But I saw the way he looks at you, Ellie. That’s not how a captor looks at someone he kidnapped. He looks at you… like you’re everything.”
I stare down at our joined hands, my heart beating fast. How do I even begin to explain this? How do I tell her that the man who took me has slowly become the one I feel safest with? That I’ve gone from hating him to craving his touch, his presence, his voice?
I let out a shaky breath and meet her eyes.
“It’s… complicated,” I start softly. “At first, he thought I was you. He took me to use against Papa and Gallo. But things changed. Somewhere along the way, I stopped being afraid of him. And he… he started looking at me differently.”
Sienna listens quietly as I tell her everything.
I explain how Nico took me right after she left with Domenico, thinking I was her. How he later discovered I wasn’t, but still used the situation to his advantage, telling our father he had both of us to pressure him.
“So, what happens now that Papa knows the truth?” she murmurs.
“Nico is handling it. He’s working on keeping you safe too.”
She’s silent for a moment, then looks at me with soft, curious eyes.
“Wow, I never saw this coming.”
My cheeks burn instantly. I look down at our joined hands, feeling shy and exposed.
"Neither did I,” I admit quietly. “At first I hated him. I was terrified. But somewhere along the way… things changed. He protected me. He listened to me. He showed me sides of himself I never expected. I can’t really explain it.”
Sienna gives me a small, sad smile. There’s no judgment in her eyes, only understanding.
“You don’t have to explain love,” she says softly. “No one ever means to fall in love. It just… happens. It knocks you off your feet when you least expect it. You love him, right?”
