After Seven Years Adrift, I Found Safe Harbor

"Elena, what are you staring at?" One of the Bellinis nudged me. The silver ring slipped from my hand and fell between the dock planks.

I didn't pick it up. "The sun's too bright," I said.

Luca had already boarded the ship with Sophia. She leaned against him as people onshore called out, asking about the wedding. Luca raised his glass. "Three days from now, at the Bellini estate. You're all invited."

I stood at the back of the crowd and watched the ship sail toward the outer harbor. My mother texted back almost immediately. "Are you sure? The Riccis reached out a long time ago. They can send someone tonight if you're ready."

"The sooner, the better," I replied and left.

Whispers followed me. Someone said I'd waited seven years for a ring, only for Sophia to come back. An outsider like me should know when to step aside. Others pointed out that I wasn't a Bellini and had never had a seat on the council. No matter how much work I did for Luca, I was still just useful to him.

I was walking too fast. My heel caught between the stones, and I twisted my ankle. As I crouched down, the tears finally came.

Seven years, from eighteen to twenty-five. I'd spent nights with Luca at the fish market, keeping track of every debt. When we opened the first beachfront hotel, with a private gambling room downstairs, I barely slept for a month. Then came the second hotel, and the third. Liquor orders, shipping manifests, gambling debts, official accounts, secret ledgers—I handled them all.

Once, a rival crew cornered Luca behind the hotel and demanded half the South Docks' shipping rights. I spent the night going through their records and found proof they'd been skimming money. Then I found an old captain willing to testify. At the Family sit-down, they had no choice but to back down. Afterward, Luca pulled me into his arms and told me he could never lose as long as he had me. I thought that was love. Now I knew he'd simply gotten used to having me fight his battles.

Luca promised he'd marry me once he became head of the South Docks. I believed him. Then he promised me a grand wedding once he had his own ship. I believed that too.

Now he had both. But Sophia was the woman beside him.

My phone rang. It was Luca. He spoke as if nothing had happened. "Elena, are you coming home for dinner? Sophia wants to try your braised cod."

I stared at his name on the screen. For the first time, it felt unfamiliar. "No. Eat without me."

On my way back to the penthouse, I passed the jewelry shop the Family often used. The owner called out from the doorway and said Luca had picked up a pair of custom rings the day before. He asked if the size was right. I just said, "It's fine." I didn't tell him the size had never been mine.

Back at the penthouse, last night's dinner was still on the table. Luca had promised to come home but never showed up. On the nightstand was a photo from our first hotel. Back then, we were so broke we could only afford one bodyguard, but I was smiling like I had everything.

I turned the photo face down and started packing.

Sophia called just then. She asked in a sugary-sweet voice why I hadn't come back to cook, then said, "Luca and I will be living here from now on. You staying here wouldn't exactly be appropriate, would it?"

"I'll leave in two days."

She laughed. "Perfect. I'll have Luca help me pick out new furniture tomorrow. The bedroom is too dark. I can't stand it."

After I hung up, I looked at the suitcases scattered across the floor and laughed. Seven years of standing by him through everything, only to end with one question: When are you moving out?