“Where are we going?”
“Amalfi Coast. Vale booked us this incredible spot near Positano with a private beach. The pictures look incredible.”
“Amalfi? Isn’t that far?”
“Only a few hours from here. We’re leaving in an hour.” She pokes me through the duvet. “Seriously, get up. This is happening.”
I pull the duvet over my head and groan into it. “No. Leave me alone.”
She rips the blanket off me. “No can do. This isn’t you, Cleo. It’s time to move on and embrace your new life.”
I cross my arms over my chest and glare at her. She just stares right back, fierce determination inside her eyes. Yeah, I’m not getting out of this.
I untangle myself from the blanket and slip my feet into a pair of fuzzy slippers Vale got me the day we landed in Italy. “Okay.”
Gemma’s face lights up. “Okay?”
“I said okay!”
She jumps up and makes a loud whoop. “Hell yes. Come on, I’ll help you pack. We’re going to have so much fun. This weekend, you are moving the fuck on.”
A few hours later, the duffel is full, and I’m ready to go. Gem and I go down to the living room where Vale and Mari are already waiting. Their men hover beside them, looking less than thrilled about us leaving.
Giorgio, Ras, and Dem follow us out of the house like a litter of puppies.
“If you feel even a little bit unwell, ask Ignazio to drive you to the hospital,” Ras says to Gemma.
She shoots me a look. She’s mentioned a few times how Ras is overly anxious about her pregnancy. I think it’s sweet.
“Don’t worry, I will.” She gets on her tiptoes and gives him a kiss.
Damiano scans us over and shoves his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Are you sure you don’t want us to join you?”
“Yes, we’re sure,” Vale says. “Like I’ve already explained a dozen times, this is a girls’ weekend.”
“I don’t like that you’ll be there unprotected.”
“You’re sending a car full of bodyguards with us.” She waves at the second SUV that’s parked just behind the car we’re about to get into. “I’m not even sure who they’re protecting us from, given you’re the big boss now.”
And given that Papà is gone. It’s crazy to think that my own father tried to kill me. Even knowing everything I knew, I didn’t think he’d go that far. If there’s one person I’m not grieving, it’s him. Stefano Garzolo was a bad man, and the world can breathe easier without him.
“If they get too zealous, I will tell them to back off.” Vale is still talking to Damiano about the guards. “Got it? I’m praying they packed some clothes to blend in.”
“Okay, baby,” he says, sounding strained. “Just be careful.”
His displeased expression makes me snort a laugh. These men are ridiculous. And so damn in love. A flicker of envy appears inside my chest as I watch Damiano wrap his arms around Vale and pull her into a kiss. I look away, my lips tightening into a line.
What’s wrong with you? Are you really jealous of your sisters? You should be happy for them.
I am happy for them. But I’m also jealous. How can I not be when I almost had what they have, but I lost it?
My throat constricts. It takes all my willpower to push the feelings away. My sisters have already done so much for me, and I don’t want to worry them anymore. All of this crap inside my head is mine and mine alone to deal with.
The guys help us with our bags—we’ve definitely packed way too much for three days—and then stand in a neat little row in front of the house, the three of them looking equally sullen. We wave at them through the window, and we’re off.
CHAPTER 41
CLEO
The drive to Amalfi is breathtakingly beautiful. Once we get out of Naples and onto the coast, I roll down the car window and let my thoughts dissolve.
Steep cliffs covered with lush greenery plunge into the sea below, and the aquamarine water is dotted with sailboats. Small villages hide behind the bends in the road, built right into the cliffs, seemingly defying gravity. The sun is warm, and the air is just the right amount of humid.
By the time we get to the house Vale rented, I feel lighter. If I just stay focused on the beautiful surroundings, I can almost let go of the thoughts weighing me down.
We squeeze into a small wedge of a parking space just off the narrow main road, and the driver quickly unloads our things. “I’ll have to park just up ahead,” he tells us. “When you need me, send a text.”