Bellissimo Lotta (Beautiful Struggle): Companion Novel to Bellissimo Fortuna (The Family Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

leaves me no room to doubt it. His love for her pours off him, each beat of his heart for her. I’ve never experienced it and not sure I want to; the vulnerability, the choice to put your entire happiness in someone else’s hands.
    Shit. This is exactly what I bitch to Bianca about . . . being vulnerable and opening herself up. I can see why she fights it so much. She’s grown up with them, seeing their unwavering love and commitment. She feels lost, not having a place in their world, and she’s looking for her own niche.
    “Okay, I get it. What can I do?” He doesn’t look at me. “Are you fucking kidding me? We had plans, we were doing this together.”
    “I’m just not sure I can leave her next year. It’s not set in stone, but I may have to stay close for school.”
    “Whatever.” I’m feeling as adrift as Bianca. This was the first thing I allowed myself to get excited about since Dana’s death, now he’s telling me plans may be changing. “Well, I’m doing it. I can’t put my life on hold for someone else.”
    “Fuck you, Dakota. I don’t expect you to understand, but I do expect your support. If I don’t have it, let me know, and this friendship doesn’t have to continue. One day, when you love someone, I’ll remind you of this scenario, and you’ll eat your words. We grew up differently, but love is the same. It commands you. It encases you. It becomes your whole world, and my whole world is a living hell at the moment. I’ll do anything to ease that pain for her.”
    I hold my hands up in surrender. This isn’t something I can comprehend, but I shouldn’t make him feel like he’s alone. “Okay, I’ll be supportive. Whatever you need, man.”
    “Right now I need to work off this rage before I beat the shit out of my father’s friend and associate. That wouldn’t work to my advantage.”
    “Then get your ass up, and let’s go.” An hour later, he’s somewhat calmer, but I can tell he has shit on his mind. Me . . . I’m gulping oxygen like I’m a ten pack a day smoker.
    “I’m gonna take off. You need me to help you to your car?” I hear him laughing behind me. I flip him off, not willing to waste precious air formulating words. I’m in good shape. I work out and run daily, but he had some serious aggression to work out today. “We still on for tonight?” I give him a thumbs-up. “Okay, remember I’ll have both girls, so I may need you to entertain Bianca so I can focus on Callie.” Shit. Fuck.
    “Whatever you need, man. I mean that.” I’m agreeing to the one thing that terrifies me. . . spending time with his sister. I can’t tell him that. If he finds out how I think of her, I will need help to my car . . . via a stretcher.
    “We’ll just meet you at the deli around the corner before the movie.” He takes off for his house, and I continue to catch my breath with my mind racing how I can apologize to Bianca. I’ve been so hard on her, pushed her away, and I’ve succeeded. Her actions scream it most of the time, but today she reached out to me. She showed just a hint of openness, and I need to embrace that. Her brother is going to have his hands full from now on. I need to be the one to look out for her. If I tell myself enough times that I’m doing this as a friend to Bronson, maybe I’ll believe it.
     

     
    “What the fuck are you wearing?” I hiss at Bianca. Bronson and Callie just left the deli, bailing on the movie, and I assured Bronson I’d take care of her.
    “Clothes.”
    “I think you left some of them at home.” Her shirt shows the tan complexion of her stomach, and my fingers are itching to caress it. She removes her jacket, and I damn near swallow my tongue. Her body is pure sin, and I shouldn’t have these thoughts.
    She’s my best friend’s sister.
    The Mob boss’s daughter.
    “If it offends you that much, don’t look.” Her quick tongue is masking the rejection my words made her feel.
    I grab her arm as she tries to exit the car.