Chapter 6 - The Choice Vincent Couldn’t Make for Me
We returned to Sicily immediately.
I spent the flight staring out the window.
Vincent didn't tell me everything would be okay.
I appreciated that.
He simply sat beside me.
At Villa Serena, the nurse met us outside Rosa's room.
“She has been waiting.”
I entered alone.
Rosa opened her eyes.
“You came back.”
“Of course.”
“Luca?”
“Arrested.”
Her eyes closed briefly.
“Good.”
I sat beside her.
“Marco too.”
“Good.”
“And Vincent didn't kill anybody.”
That earned a faint smile.
“Very good.”
I laughed through tears.
“You like him.”
“I liked his father.”
“That's not what I said.”
“Sophia.”
“Nonna.”
Her tired eyes sparkled.
“You like him.”
I looked toward the door.
“He's complicated.”
“All worthwhile men are complicated.”
“That sounds like terrible advice.”
“It probably is.”
I laughed.
Then her expression softened.
“Don't let what happened to Elena make you afraid of living.”
“I won't.”
“And don't let Vincent decide your life because he thinks he's protecting you.”
“I definitely won't.”
“Good.”
She squeezed my hand.
“Then I can rest.”
My smile disappeared.
“Nonna.”
“Listen.”
“No.”
“Sophia.”
I lowered my head.
She touched my cheek.
“You were never a Bellacosta secret.”
Her voice weakened.
“You were my granddaughter.”
Tears slipped down my face.
“And you were Elena's greatest joy.”
I held her hand until she fell asleep.
Rosa died peacefully the next morning.
Vincent stood beside me at the funeral.
He didn't touch me until I reached for his hand.
Then he held on.
Afterward, we stood overlooking the Sicilian coast.
“What happens now?” I asked.
“To Luca?”
“To us.”
Vincent was silent.
“That is the first time I've seen you without an answer.”
“I have one.”
“I'm listening.”
“I want you in New York.”
I waited.
He continued.
“I want you somewhere safe.”
I released his hand.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“Safe.”
“Sophia—”
“No. Finish.”
He looked frustrated.
“I can give you an apartment.”
“I have an apartment.”
“With a broken door.”
“I'll fix it.”
“You shouldn't have to struggle.”
I stared at him.
“You still don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
“I didn't leave Ryan because his apartment wasn't nice enough.”
Vincent went still.
“I left because he kept deciding what was best for me.”
His expression changed.
“I am not Ryan.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You're more dangerous because you actually have the power to make those decisions stick.”
That landed.
Vincent looked toward the sea.
“What do you want?”
There.
Finally.
Not what do you need?
Not what can I give you?
What do you want?
“I want to finish school.”
“You were in school?”
“Hospitality management. I dropped out when I left Boston.”
“Okay.”
“I want my own place.”
“Okay.”
“I want to work.”
“Okay.”
“And I want you to stop having people follow me.”
He hesitated.
“Vincent.”
“Fine.”
“No trackers either.”
His silence told me everything.
“You put a tracker on me?”
“On your phone.”
I stared at him.
“When?”
“New York.”
“Vincent!”
“It was dangerous!”
I started walking away.
He followed.
“I'll remove it.”
“Today.”
“Today.”
“And Carlo does not report where I buy groceries.”
“I'll tell him.”
“Or coffee.”
“Fine.”
“Or shoes.”
“He told me about the shoes once.”
I stopped.
“You knew?”
“They were expensive.”
I pointed toward the road.
“Go away.”
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
I tried not to smile.
Failed.
He came closer.
“So we're negotiating?”
“No.”
“Sounds like negotiating.”
“We're establishing boundaries.”
“Is kissing you currently outside those boundaries?”
That shut me up.
He waited.
No movement.
No assumption.
Just a question.
I looked at him.
“You're learning.”
“Slowly.”
I touched his jacket.
“Very slowly.”
Then I kissed him.
For once, Vincent Romano didn't control what happened next.
May you like
He simply followed my lead.
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