Bruno accompanies my mother, and they follow Vittoria toward us, taking two of the three chairs. When Vittoria reaches us, Emma takes her bouquet and hands it off to my mother. Then, in a move she obviously practiced because she’s so intent on getting it right that her tiny tongue is sticking out of her mouth, she takes Vittoria’s hands and places one in mine and the other in Amadeo’s.

Vittoria smiles down at her, and Emma takes her seat. As the sky turns orange, we make a promise to each other that we will be bound to one another. We will love and honor her and she us, and never be apart in our hearts for as long as we all shall live.

We exchange rings, simpler rings than the official wedding band she and Amadeo exchanged and designed especially for us. Platinum rings made to look like a single dandelion turned wish to wrap around each of our fingers. And as I place mine on the ring finger of Vittoria’s right hand, I look into her glistening sapphire eyes and make a wish. For her. For her to be happy. And I vow that that is what I will strive to do for the rest of my days.

EPILOGUE 2

AMADEO

Three Months Later

For the first time since our grandfather’s death, the Caballero family is united as one. Once the truth about Sonny putting the hit on his own son came out, most of those who had been loyal to him swore fealty to me. Those who didn’t were dealt with.

Dmitri Anders has begun to make appearances at the house to see Vittoria and Emma. I’m still not sure how I feel about that, but I see how good it is for them to talk to someone who knew their mother. Who loved her so completely. I’m not a fan of his ties to the Russian mob but as long as he’s in our territory, I’m not overly worried about it.

We’ve settled into our lives in Naples and we’ll stay here. Once the gossip about the massacre at the Ravello house dies down, we will sell the villa. I think it’s for the best for everyone.

I stand at the patio window and watch Bastian and Vittoria walk onto the beach after their nightly swim. I smile to see them holding hands, laughing after Bastian stops to pick something out of her hair. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen my brother as happy as I see him now. Not even before, when we were children. He barely had a chance to be that anyway.