“I’m sorry, son,” he whispered in my ear, then repeated his words in Italian. “I didn’t protect you the way I should have. I’ve made so many mistakes, and you’ve had to bear the brunt of them all. And for that, I’m so deeply sorry.”

Tears hit the backs of my eyes as I wrapped my head around what he was doing and saying. I’d already forgiven him for everything, hadn’t I? But maybe he’d never truly forgiven himself. Maybe it took Colin coming into our lives for him to realize that.

I finally returned his hug, burying my face at the side of his neck like I was only sixteen. “Ti perdono, Paṕa. I forgive you.”

48. Juliette

Chapter 48

Juliette

“I know you plan to talk to your attorney about hiding the fact his son hit your granddaughter, but do me a favor, and let me have a word with him first.” Constantine’s voice was low and measured as he spoke with Giuseppe. “I have a few things to say to him myself.”

That was all the more reason to change schools, knowing Giuseppe’s granddaughter and his lawyer’s son went there as well.

No wonder Zach’s dad was so anxious to keep what happened from getting out to the public, especially to the police.

Full circle. No. Scratch that. Our lives were all starting to feel more interconnected than one loop. It was more like we were at the intersection point of an infinity symbol.

Everything had lined up in such a perfect way that this had to be God’s doing, and that gave me hope. Gave me confidence everything would truly be okay.

I blinked my way up Constantine’s long denim-clad legs, over his black T-shirt, and on up to his stern expression as he switched to Italian while talking to Giuseppe, now leaving me in the dark.

I glanced around the living room, checking for everyone else’s reaction since most were presumably fluent in Italian.

Alessandro and Enzo were near Constantine, their reactions impartial as they listened. Both were still armed, weapons holstered at their sides. Like Constantine, they carried themselves with power and authority. All of them radiated warrior vibes.

When Constantine silenced the speakerphone, ending the call and handing the phone back to his father, I couldn’t help myself. I struck my palms together twice, an awkward clap breaking the silence. “So, what’d he say?”

Constantine exchanged a quick look with Hudson, who stood beside his wife. When their eyes met, the slight drop in his shoulders sent unease skittering through me.

I doubted Hudson knew Italian, which meant he was probably as clueless as Colin and me about the conversation that had just taken place. And since Izzy was born here, unlike her brothers, how much did she understand?