Epilogue

EPILOGUE

LUXTYN

"I would like to make a toast to the birthday girl," I announce, raising my champagne flute in the air to toast Izzy. Teo, Enzo, and Izzy raise theirs to join me before continuing.

"I know we haven't known each other long, but you quickly became not only my sister-in-law, but also my best friend. You're one of the greatest people I've come across in my life, and I'm so happy to be here with you celebrating your special day. Here's to a freaking fantastic year. I have a feeling twenty-four is going to be your best one yet." We all clink our glasses in cheers before taking a sip of our champagne.

We're at Izzy's favorite Italian restaurant celebrating her birthday. It's a tradition her parents started when she was young, and a tradition that Teo's continued to uphold even after they passed.

Izzy mouths, I love you to me as she sets her champagne flute down, and I blow a kiss back to her.

Life in New York City has been nothing short of amazing. After the vow renewal Teo surprised me with last month, he's been able to focus on the transition of taking over Angelo's territory. To my surprise, there wasn't much backlash when he returned the dead bodies of Angelo and Fausto to the Mancini family, informing them of the consequence of his actions for kidnapping my mom and me.

There's not much they could do. Angelo's territory is now Teo's, which makes him their new don. Many of Angelo's men had caught onto his crazed behavior and his lack of leadership prior to his death, so they had no issues with Teo stepping in. He gained the respect and obedience from most of his men quickly.

There were some that went back to the Silvestri family, like Elena and Giuliana, along with the men with previous loyalties to Giuseppe Silvestri, like Mauricio. There weren't many, but there were some, and Teo let it happen, knowing he wants none of those men working for him.

A warm hand finds its way on my thigh, rising slowly past the hem of my sweater dress. Clasping it in my own, I give Teo a playful side-eye. "And what exactly do you think you're doing?" I ask, bringing my gaze to his already darkened one. I can tell by that devilish grin that he's ready for this night to be over so he can take me to bed.

Leaning in, he whispers, "I'm ready to take my wife home and spend all night worshipping her perfect fucking body."

I clench my core at his words, which I'm sure will have me dripping in seconds if he continues. "We haven't even finished our main course yet, Teo. You're going to have to practice some patience tonight."

"Or how 'bout I take you in the back of the restaurant somewhere and enjoy my dessert first?" he rumbles in my ear. The vibrations quake through my entire body, and I swear I'm about to melt for him right here in my seat.

I'm about to take him up on his offer when our private room is invaded by unwelcome people. I recognize the three men from the strip club: Giuseppe and Niccolò Silvestri followed by Mauricio.

Just when I fear this will be one of those scenes you'd see in a Mafia movie, where everyone draws their guns, Teo and Enzo surprise me by acknowledging their presence with unimpressed facial expressions and by merely leaning back in their seats.

Pointing his finger at Teo in a threatening way, Giuseppe snarls, "What the hell do you think you're doing denying me access to Angelo's port?"

"Giuseppe, now is not the time nor place to speak business," my husband says coolly. His disinterest in this conversation only adds gas to the flames in Giuseppe's eyes as he steps closer, looking like the predatory monster he is.

"Matteo, you either give me access back to that port immediately, or?—"

"Or what?" Matteo spits out. "You'll kill me like you did my parents?"

Giuseppe's jaw twitches. "You're asking for a war if you do this, kid. I'd think twice before entering that dangerous territory. You might've gotten lucky with taking out Angelo, but I promise you it won't be the same with me."

Teo leans forward, pushing back his plate before interlacing his fingers and setting them down on the table before him. "I've had a few years to think about this, and if a war is what you want, then a war is what you'll get."

The tension rises in the room as Giuseppe stares down at Matteo, his gaze dripping in anger. Glancing over at Niccolò, I notice he's focused on something else. When I locate the source of his attention and see it's Izzy, whose dropped gaze remains in her lap, my mind shoots me back in time to that night at the strip club at her reaction to seeing Niccolò beside his father. That falter in her step as if she'd seen a ghost.

It's not something I would've paid much attention to, but seeing the way he takes her in, waiting for her to give him the same attention he's giving her, tells me this is something else entirely.

I hear the deep rumble of a dark, maniacal laugh. "You're nothing but a child still, Matteo. You think I'm worried about some twenty-nine-year-old who's on a power trip coming after me? I've been in this game far longer than you have."

The vein on Giuseppe's temple throbs. It's something you can see even under the dimmed lighting of the room.

"I'm going to do you a favor and give you some time to rethink this decision of yours. I made Angelo Mancini a very rich man. You'd be wise to choose the same path he did."

Matteo leans back in his chair, looking as confident and disinterested as can be. But I know that look in his eye. It's calculated. Smart. He knows exactly what he's doing. "I assure you, Giuseppe. I will not be changing my mind."

Giuseppe cocks a brow, and we all feel the shift in the room. I glance behind him at Niccolò whose focus is brought back to his dad and Teo. I try to read his expression, but it's empty.

Giuseppe's jaw tics as he tenses, knowing Matteo's not going to give him what he wants right now. "This is the last leniency I'm willing to offer you. I'll give you a couple weeks to make the proper decision." He finally glances around at the rest of the table before looking back at Matteo and adds, "Enjoy whatever the hell this is, Matteo. Because if you don't make the right decision, this'll be the last little family outing you have." Without another word, Giuseppe turns on his heel and stalks away with Mauricio following suit.

Niccolò remains rooted in place, and I can see the curiosity in Teo's eyes as he stares at him, waiting for him to speak.

I glance back at Izzy who's now focused on Niccolò. Bouncing my gaze back to him, I watch as his eyes slide over to Izzy, narrowing in on her before saying, "Enjoy the rest of your birthday, Isabella." And without another word, not even enough time for Izzy to respond, he turns on his heel, leaving us to get back to our dinner.

Izzy's mouth drops slightly as he exits, like she wants to call out something to him but thinks twice before doing it. Teo and Enzo share a questioning look.

"How did he know it's your birthday?" Enzo asks, glancing over at Izzy.

Teo eyes his sister, waiting for her answer, as if he suspects it might be something he doesn't like. And if what I've come to think is correct, Teo will absolutely not like this.

Izzy's gaze falls to the side of her plate. "It's not rocket science, Enzo. The cards and gifts you guys got me are right here," she answers, placing a hand on the small pile of gifts she has. "It was probably to reiterate that threat his dad just made. Letting us know this will be the last family celebration we'll have if Teo doesn't give Giuseppe access back to the port."

Her answer seems to taper off any more suspicions from her brothers, but I continue to watch Izzy closely as Teo and Enzo envelop themselves deep in conversation. She seems to be lost in her own thoughts as she shifts her pasta around on her plate with the tip of her fork. I can tell she's trying to keep her expression neutral, but there's something else there. And with the threat Giuseppe left lingering in the air, I'm worried about the path we're about to go down and what that could mean for us all—what it could mean for Izzy.

The End