2. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Isabella Bianchi

I t's been two months since graduation, and I finally feel like I have a strong enough plan to move forward with my life. Karina encouraged me to take time to do nothing and enjoy the calm before the storm in the proverbial sense.

"You need to enjoy life, babe. If I hadn't met your brother when I did, I would have most likely traveled a bit before settling back in Alamo Peaks to help with the family's vineyard."

"Do you wish you had met Luca later in life?" I ask curiously. All I know about these two is once they gave in to each other, they have been inseparable.

"Oh, God, no. I'm thankful I've been able to travel the world with the love of my life. To enjoy every single thing with him, you know? Waking up next to him every day is the best feeling in the world, and I'm lucky I found him early in life."

My heart warms at her words; I love seeing her so happy with my brother. I know he feels the exact same way, but I don't think that kind of love is in the cards for me. I don't want to start a family and then regret having had kids and leave them abandoned to fulfill my greedy dreams.

After my chat with Gabo at my graduation party, my interest was definitely piqued about spending the summer in Italy. When he mentioned he lives in Bologna, I did some research—okay, some Googling—and was pleasantly surprised by what I found out. Bologna is not only a relatively big city in northern Italy that is rich in history and art, but it's also a hub for the mechanical and financial industries with a vibrant city life. On paper, it definitely looks like the perfect spot for me to spend a summer full of art, history, and good food. And the best part: it's a short drive away from the beach.

Now that I have a better idea of my plans, I need to confirm with Gabo that he's actually okay with hosting me for the summer, and it wasn't just something he said in the heat of the moment.

I stare at the blank screen on my phone as if it holds all the answers in the universe. There's no better time than the present. I need to get in contact with him and see if he did mean it, but I don't have his number—I drunkenly lost his card the night of the party—and I don't want to ask my brothers for it. The questioning would be endless, and I'm not ready to talk about my plans with them yet. Deciding to open my clock app, I look him up. I type "Gabo Godoy, Italy" into the search bar, and no results appear.

Ugh. I mean, I don't think people his age use this app. Maybe I'll have better luck on Instagram.

I check Karina's page instead of Luca's because my brother is a famous influencer. He has over a million followers, and I think it'd be harder to find Gabo's account that way. Once I find him in Karina's followers, I send him a quick message:

Hi Gabo, it's Isa—Luca's sister. I was wondering if you were still okay with hosting me this summer? Let me know,

IB.

While I wait for Gabo's reply, I decide to talk with my brothers. Whether he's hosting me or not, I need my trust fund. I need capital not only to get a space that I can transform into an art gallery in Santiago—my ultimate dream—but also to have a great time while looking for the perfect art pieces to showcase in my gallery. My gallery. It sounds terrifyingly amazing.

"May I come in?" I ask Luca after I knock on his office door. He doesn't reply, but I can hear him laughing, so I decide to go in regardless.

"Hey, Isa. Perfect timing. This boludo was just telling me how he almost burned his house down." Luca motions for me to join him in front of the screen as he wipes the tears running down his face.

Without even looking at the screen, I already know who Luca is referring to. Gio is the worst cook in history. I'll never forget the Christmas our parents left us with Ines, and she fell ill. Gio decided to make a cake to cheer me and Luca up—we were only ten and fourteen, after all. We were so excited to try that cake; it took Gio the entire afternoon, and the kitchen was a complete mess.

The moment I took the first bite, a flavor I wasn't expecting was the most dominant. I tried to swallow it while pretending to smile at an expectant Gio. But Luca—being Luca—spit the mouthful of cake onto his plate, and Gio's face fell.

"Dude, this tastes awful. Did you add sugar?"

Gio made a face and darted off to the kitchen. Luca and I followed him, and the moment he lifted the bag of salt from the counter, we all started laughing uncontrollably.

Since then, Gio gets shit every time he's in the kitchen.

"Nah, both of you can laugh all that you want but I've become a really good cook. My rookie mistakes are in the past."

"Whatever, big bro. We still love you no matter what," I say in the condescending tone we all hate so much.

Gio heaves a deep breath, as if to say, "Lord, give me patience with these two."

"I had just put some water on to boil to make lunch right before Luca called, and of course I got distracted, so the water spilled out of the pot, and Luca saw all the steam behind me and started howling in laughter. But the house was far from being about to burn down."

Gio emphasizes the word "far," making me laugh harder.

"Anyway, why did you need to speak with both of us, Isa? Is everything okay?" Gio asks with his serious, big brother tone, and I know the laughing at his expense is over.

Squaring my shoulders and smiling at my brothers, I start talking. "As both of you know, these past couple of months, I've been doing some research about what the next step in my life will be." They both nod, encouraging me to continue. "During my graduation party, I spoke briefly with Gabo and—"

"What does Gabo Godoy have to do with your future?" Luca squints his Caribbean blues at me like he has suddenly become a detective. It takes everything in me not to laugh at him.

" Boludo , let her finish her idea. We can do the inquisition afterward," Gio chirps, and I raise an eyebrow in question. "You know what I mean, we're just curious. Please continue," he says nicely.

"Actually, Gabo was nothing but kind and helpful when I chatted with him. He pointed out that since I just graduated with a BA, I could spend some time in Italy. There, I could not only see all the art and culture I want but also do some networking and scouting pieces I would like to have in my gallery." I clasp my hands in front of me and smile at my brothers, expectant about what they have to say.

Gio clears his throat and rearranges his glasses. "I really like the gallery idea. I think it's fantastic you can create a space not only for your work and self-expression, but also to bring in other artists."

I sigh in relief at Gio's blessing. It doesn't matter how far away he lives; we're in constant contact. I love how in tune I am with my brothers.

"I have to be honest; I'm not thrilled about you going so far away for months, but I need to remember you're not a kid anymore. I know you've been working hard to come up with this plan, but maybe you should take some more time to think things through. Karina has told me how impressed she is by your organizational skills. From what I understand, you've even come up with a financial plan. Is that correct?"

I blush at Luca's praise but nod enthusiastically. "Yeah, I mean, I took a couple of finance and administration classes as electives, and I've been working on a budget. I don't want to burn all my money in my first year in business, you know?"

Both my brothers chuckle. It's funny to see how damn similar they are—not only physically but also in their mannerisms.

"Isa, I doubt you'll go through your trust fund in the first year. I don't think we've told you how much money it is," Gio declares, and my eyes grow as big as saucers.

I'm guessing a million dollars, but whatever the amount, I'm super thankful Grandpa Bianchi left money for the three of us before our parents could get their hands on it.

"Yeah, Isa. I wouldn't worry about that. Your trust fund is one hundred million dollars," Luca says with a shit-eating grin, and my knees go weak.

"Are you guys sure? I didn't realize Grandpa had so much money," I say, shocked by the amount of money I have in my name.

"He didn't," Gio hurries to explain. "But your trust fund was set up almost fifteen years ago, so it's been gaining interest for a while. Plus, Luca and I decided to contribute to it," he says, and I gape at them.

"So what you are trying to say is that you guys gifted me millions of dollars?"

My brothers' faces are blank as if they are saying, "Catch up, girl."

"How are you guys so relaxed like it's not a big deal? How is this real life?" I shriek the last part, and this earns me a chuckle from Luca.

"So you guys are what, billionaires?" I ask with a nervous chuckle. When they don't laugh, I feel the blood draining from my face. "Really?" I ask, incredulous.

"Well, yeah. The vineyard has done incredibly well, and I've been investing some of the capital. And Gio has had investments for even longer than I have," Luca says, shrugging as if it's nothing out of the ordinary.

"Wow, so besides being handsome and intelligent, you guys are richer than sin, too? And how come I didn't I know you guys were billionaires?" I say, trying not to feel hurt, but it's inevitable. They still treat me like a child.

"Anyway, this has been fun, but I have to go figure out lunch and then go back to the university. Congratulations, Isa. I'm so proud of you. Luca will be transferring the funds to you, but let me know if there's anything else you need my help with. I'm only a text away," Gio states, and I nod at my big brother like the obedient little sister that I am.

Just kidding. I'm incredibly thankful that both of my brothers are still in my life and have my back.

Once Gio disconnects, I hug Luca because this is just surreal. How is this my life? One hundred million dollars in my name to start my dream?

"Thank you so much for being the best brother in the world. You provided me with a home and a family when our parents left."

Luca squeezes me, and after a couple of beats, he says, "You know you'll always have a place in this house, in my family, and in my heart. I'm so proud of you, kid. Can't wait to see the amazing art you'll create."

As relaxed and unfazed as my brother seems, his heart is as big as the sky. I'll never forget that he stepped up to be my parent figure when he was only twenty-two, trying to figure out life himself. After one more squeeze, we go over the bank transfer, and tears and more hugs are exchanged.

I decide I need to upgrade my wardrobe a little before my trip—I mean, I'm a millionaire now. This is incredible!

"Hey, girl, how did it go with your brothers?" Karina asks as she wipes the sweat from her forehead. She's been working in the fields all morning and just came back to the house for lunch.

"It was good, but I'm assuming you already knew?" I ask because I know she and Luca share everything.

"Well, yeah. But I'm so excited for you. What's the first thing you're going to do with your money?" she asks, giddiness oozing from her voice.

"I was thinking about getting some clothes for my trip. Then, I need to book my ticket to Italy. Although, I was thinking about spending a few days in Paris first because why not?" I shrug, feeling a little overwhelmed about the amount of money that is in my bank account now.

"That sounds fabulous. Let me shower and change, then we can grab lunch in the city and have a girls' afternoon," she chirps excitedly as she gets up from the dining table just as Luca comes in.

"Hey, bombón. Where are you going? I thought we were going to have lunch together and maybe take a siesta after?" Luca inquires as he hugs Karina and kisses her neck.

I see how my sister-in-law's knees literally go weak at my brother's attention, and I roll my eyes. I mean, I'm happy for them, but they're always touching. You'll never catch me being like that with a guy. What's the point of having someone in your life if you're just going to divorce later on? Or even worse, abandon your kids? No thanks, that's not for me.

"Okay, okay. I'm here, as well. Please leave the show for the bedroom," I say, and my brother rolls his eyes, tracing more kisses along Karina's neck.

"Yeah, Guachito . I'm going to the city with Isa. We'll be back tonight."

Luca pouts, and I can't help the laugh that escapes my lips.

"Dude, you're always together. You'll survive a few hours by yourself," I tell him as I pull Karina away from my brother, but he keeps his arm wrapped around her waist.

"You better come prepared to chant my name over and over tonight, bombón," I hear my brother whisper in Kari's ear, and I gag.

Sometimes, they're a little too much, and I don't think I've ever felt the need to be all over a guy every single time I see him. After more kissing and groping, Karina finally extends her hand to me and looks back to give a saucy grin to my brother, who not-so-subtly adjusts his junk. Ugh, these two are disgustingly in love.

"I'm so glad I'm moving out of this sex house. The two of you have scarred me for life."

Karina barks out a laugh, and I join her. As much shit as I give them, I adore them, and I'm truly happy for them.

"Wait until you find the man who makes you feel insatiable. You'll see," she chirps, and I don't reply. Besides a few flings in college, I've never been interested in a relationship.

"So are we looking for anything in particular?" Kari asks as she makes her way into the Santiago rush-hour traffic.

The drive from Alamo Peaks to Santiago is always dreamy, with the beautiful mountains in the background.

"Not really. I just want a couple of fun, summery outfits. You know, something cute and fresh. I'll get a feel for the city and the town and pick up more outfits while I'm there."

Karina nods slowly while singing one of the new Taylor Swift songs. "What do you think about going to Dani's boutique? I heard they just got her new collection."

I look at her, surprised. "Oh, I didn't realize she had a boutique here in Santiago."

Dani is one of Karina's best friends. They met while Karina was in college in Argentina. Dani, who's Colombian, went there for a summer after her parents passed away in a car accident. Then she met Marco, one of Luca's best friends, and as the old saying goes, the rest is history. She's a fashion designer and apparently now has boutiques not only in Argentina but also in Chile.

"That would be great. I've loved every single dress she's made for you."

Karina smiles as she continues to drive and sing along with Taylor on the radio. "So Italy, huh?"

And there it is. I've been waiting for this topic since we left the vineyard. "Yeah, the more I look up places to see and things to do there, the more I believe it's the best way to spend my summer. I even found a short summer class on modern art at the university where Gabo studied."

The moment I say his name, the air inside the car turns heavy. I saw this coming a mile away. My phone vibrates in my purse, and I welcome the distraction. It's a notification from Instagram.

GaboGodoy: Ciao, Bella. Of course, I'd love to host you. In fact, I have everything ready for you.

See you soon, G.

My heart skips a beat when I see his name, but I'm even more intrigued now. How does he know I'll be there soon? And is he going to keep using the Bella nickname?

"I'm surprised you got advice from Gabo, not because he's a bad guy. I mean, he's my brother, of course he's amazing," Karina says, bringing me back to our conversation and chuckling before she continues. "But because he's usually immersed in his own world, so the fact that he offered to be your contact while you're there is huge."

I look at Karina, confused.

Did she speak to him?

"How do you know he offered to be my contact?"

She smiles and waves off my confusion. "Oh, Luca mentioned it. You know him and Gabo have grown to be tight. I guess you came up in conversation when Luca said you were going to spend the summer in Italy."

Huh. Of course, they've been making sure my time in Italy goes smoothly. And my brother acting all innocent this morning, like he hadn't already given Gabo the speech about making sure I don't date anyone while I'm there. Ugh, Luca is too much sometimes.

"And don't worry. I already told your brother there's no need for us to fly with you to Italy."

My eyes grow as big as saucers, and my eyebrows shoot to the moon. "What?" I shriek, and Karina barks out a laugh.

"Oh, yeah, your brother thought it'd be a good idea for us to take a couple of weeks off and go with you to Bologna, to make sure you settled okay."

I shake my head as I face-palm. "I love Luca, you know I do. But sometimes he's overbearing."

Karina parks the car, and we get out, making our way to Dani's boutique.

"I know, and that's why I told him he needed you to do this on your own terms," she says as she links her arm with mine. "But just know that if at some point you need anything, Luca and I will be just a phone call away. Plus, my brother will be there. I think it's so cool you get to stay at his place. I've always loved it there."

Karina's words hit me like a grenade—I'm staying with Gabo Godoy? I mean, I thought he would let me stay at one of his places, but I didn't expect to share one with him. God, I hope my hormones behave.