There was no sign of Caitlin, and I didn’t ask. The sting of dejection weighed heavily on my shoulders.
At least she was here, safe. Out of the clutches of that sick motherfucker.
“Is she—”
Caitlin appeared in the hallway, her lips pulled into a tight line.
“I’ll wait in the car,” Arianne said to me, before turning her attention on Caitlin. “Remember you can call or text me at any time.”
Caitlin gave her an imperceptible nod, hugging herself tight as if she was trying to build a physical wall between us.
This wasn’t the same woman I’d met all those months ago. She had fire in her eyes and warmth in her heart that night. But now there was no sparkle in her gaze, only pain and sadness. And it fucking gutted me.
Arianne left, the click of the door like a gunshot in the silence.
“Caitlin, I—”
“Let me,” she cut me off. “I’m sorry, about before. You didn’t deserve that.” Her voice trembled.
“Hey.” I stepped forward, but she immediately jerked back. “Caitlin, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not—”
“I know.” She inhaled a shuddering breath. “But I can’t… I can’t.”
“Can’t what? I’m not asking you for anything. I just want to help. I want to—”
“You should go.” The words tumbled from her lips. “I only wanted to apologize for my behavior. I’m not… that isn’t me. But everything is messed up and I need some time.”
“I get that.” But I didn’t want to leave, not with so much left unsaid between us.
Caitlin stared at me, through me, silently begging me to go. I couldn’t do it though. Not without doing something.
Glancing around the cabin, my eyes landed on the sideboard. I marched over to it, grabbed the pen and scribbled my cell phone number on the notepad. “Here.” I tore it off and held it out to her.
But she just kept staring.
Fine. I didn’t need her to take it to know she had it.
Pulling one of the magnets off the refrigerator, I pinned it there. “If you need anything, any time, night or day, you can call me. Text me. Leave me a message. It doesn’t matter. I’ll pick up. I swear.”
Her stone expression gave nothing away, but I at least felt a little better about leaving.
“You’re not alone in this, Caitlin. Not one bit.”
I made for the door, praying she would call after me.
She didn’t.
“Any word from Nicco?” I asked Arianne as we made the ride back into the city.
“Nothing.”
“Hey.” I reached over and squeezed her arm. “He’ll be okay.”
“Will he?” She sank back against my leather seats. “If Antonio doesn’t pull through… he’s too young, Matt.”
“Do you ever regret it? Marrying into the Family?”
“No, never. That’s not what this is.” She let out a weary sigh. “I just worry about the toll it will take on him.”
“Nic is one of the best people I know, Ari. He’ll find his way. Besides, he has you by his side. Something tells me you’ll never let him stray from his path.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Hey, I am. You’re like the Bonnie to his Clyde.”
“You did not just say that.” Her laughter eased some of the tension in the car. “She’s going to be okay, right? Caitlin, I mean?”
“Yeah.” It came out strangled. “I mean, she’ll lay low at the cabin, we’ll deal with DiMarco, and she can go on with her life.”
“Matt…”
“What?”
“You sound like a wounded puppy.”
“I do not.” I shot her a scathing look.
She chuckled. “Do you think she’ll text you?”
“No.”
“So, why d’you do it?”
“Because…” I shrugged.
“Because… you care about her?”
“Because she’s the only woman I’ve thought about in the last eight months, Ari. And maybe that makes me a fool, but I never thought I’d get to see her again. Now she’s here, and I can’t believe it’s just so I can watch her disappear again.”
Arianne’s eyes drilled holes into the side of my face, but I couldn’t meet her stare.
“You’re a good guy, Matt,” she said, softly. “One of the best guys I know.”
“Yeah.”
Maybe that was the problem though.
Maybe I was too nice.
Everyone knew, nice guys usually finished last.
“Bambolina.” Nicco was up and out of his chair the second he spotted us. He scooped Ari into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
“How is he?” I asked Enzo.
“It’s not looking good.” Pain shone in his eyes as Nora rested her head on his shoulder. “He’s in surgery still. But he went into cardiac arrest. Medics managed to stabilize him, but they’re worried about swelling on his brain.”
I glanced over at Nicco and Ari, my stomach sinking into my boots.
“Matt,” Alessia appeared around the corner and ran straight into my arms. “You’re here.”
“Hey, Sia.” I hugged her tight. “How you holding up?”
“I…” She burst into tears, sobbing into my sweater.
“Shh, kid. It’s going to be okay.” I smoothed my hand down her long golden hair. “Where’s Genevieve?” I asked no one in particular.
“She went to visit her mom in Pawtucket last night. She’s on her way.”
Genevieve was my uncle’s housekeeper turned girlfriend. Their relationship was still fairly new and at his request no one made a big deal about it.
But she would want to be here.
I led Alessia over to the row of plastic chairs and sat down. She burrowed into my side, still sobbing.
“We can’t lose him,” she cried. “We can’t.”
“Uncle T is a fighter. He’s not going anywhere, Sia.”
But as I said the words, I felt nothing but dread. Uncle Toni was sick, and who knew what would happen when the doctors opened him up.
I dragged a hand down my face, tipping my head back against the wall. My gaze landed on Nicco and Ari. He was holding her like she was his life raft in an angry sea. He already looked older somehow, as if the burden of what was to come had aged him overnight.
I didn’t envy him. Not one bit. He had his beautiful wife and a beautiful home, but his life would never truly be his own.
It’ll never be yours either. I let out a weary sigh.
“Niccolò, Alessia.” Genevieve burst through the doors, running toward them.
“Gen,” Alessia jumped up to greet her, burrowing herself in the woman’s arms.
“Oh, sweet girl, shh. I’m here, I’m here.” They hugged each other tight, silence falling over the seven of us again.
My mind wandered to Caitlin, to our last conversation. I doubted she would ever call or text me, but I wanted to give her the option. It was just something I needed to do.