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CHAPTER ONE

ARIANNA, 8 YEARS OLD

Music and laughter rang out, filling the Vitales’ backyard. Despite the cold October day, everyone was in good spirits as they celebrated yet another birthday.

Matteo Vitale turned eight today.

His parties were always all-day events, with presents, cake, singing, and more presents, of course. Daddy’s friends threw the best parties, but my favorite was Hannah’s and mine. We’d just recently turned eight, and Daddy got us both a pony, plus a telescope to share.

I looked around the yard and found my mom, happy in my dad’s arms while he laughed and tried to press down her messy flyaways. She pecked his cheek and pushed herself away, crossing the lawn to join the women lounging on the pool chairs. It was already past sundown and far too cold to dip in the pool, but they looked comfortable with the wool blankets draped over their laps. Dad shook his head and grinned, joining the men pretending to grill.

I took a sip of my punch and watched Hannah chase Matteo around the pool, as per usual, while Nikola, Gabriel, and our brothers, Dominico and Cassius, joined in. I could see a few of the younger kids pouting by the swing set, most likely hoping for their attention.

Not me.

I was tired of chasing boys. Besides, my mom had already warned me not to ruin my new beautiful green dress, and the length of it was sure to make me trip and fall.

Needing some quiet, I found a soft patch of grass and sprawled out, kicking my stuffy slides off.

My party dress spread beneath me like a snow angel while my hair fanned out around my head. Cocooned in the darkness, I stargazed, trying to recall what Daddy told me about galaxies.

“I wish I had my telescope with me,” I muttered to myself. “I can bring you mine, Ari.”

I turned my head to the left and found Matteo standing over me, a huge smile on his face. He wore a three-piece suit, very much like the one his papa wore. Weird for a boy our age, unless you were Matteo Vitale or any other mafia prince. It was actually comical to see them all running around in suits… Well, except for Nikola. He threw his suit into the pool, refusing to wear it.

Rolling my eyes, I folded my hands under my head and sunk a little deeper into the grass. “No, thanks.”

Matteo mirrored my position, his gangly legs shooting straight out, and locked in on the night sky. I’d overheard Daddy say Matteo was very smart, and he even skipped a grade last year. He said he’d be just like Mr. Vitale. Sometimes he even talked like him.

Of course, I wasn’t all that impressed.

After a long silence, he said, “There’re a billion stars, Nutella girl, and they all shine for you. My mama shines for my pa, but you will shine for me. Right?”

See, I told you. What kid even talks like that?

I stared more intently at the twinkling stars for a long time before I rolled my head to stare at the boy with dark hair and hazel eyes.

“Why do you keep calling me that?” I asked, frowning.

He smiled, a secret kind of smile that I could never make sense of. “I like it and it suits you. Besides, you love Nutella. You probably eat it straight out of the jar,” he added with a smirk.

I pursed my lips, not wanting to admit that he was right. I could never make sense of Matteo Vitale. He was the only one to

ever give me a nickname. Well, two nicknames—Ari and Nutella girl. I didn’t know how I felt about that.

I brushed my fingers through the soft grass, its waxy blades tickling my palms. “How do you know?” I asked finally.

“How do I know what?”

I pursed my lips. “How do you know they shine for me?”

He jumped to his feet instead of answering. I didn’t like him towering over me, so I stood up, standing toe to toe with him.

He seemed surprised and almost stumbled back, but something in his eyes flashed. He was staring at me like he’d never seen me before. A nervous energy was in the air, one that made my skin prickle.

“Can I have another birthday present?”

I frowned, staring at the boy my sister, my best friend in the whole world, claimed she would one day marry. I liked Matteo, and something about him had always made me feel relaxed. But Mom said there was nothing more precious than sharing my special moments with Hannah, and being here, away from everyone, made my tummy turn to knots.

“You got plenty. More birthday gifts than you know what to do with.” I shook my head, but I couldn’t resist my curiosity. “What else could you possibly want anyway?”

“I want what my pa gives to Mama.”

I didn’t get to ask what that was because he pulled me into a bear hug. I gasped, my eyes widening in surprise, and my next breath was stolen when Matteo’s mouth pressed against mine.

I didn’t think. I just reacted.

My knee jerked upward, and he groaned in pain. Then my hand flew through the air, connecting with his nose.

Crunch.

It worked just the way my daddy said it would.

Matteo’s hand flew to his bloodied nose. For a second, I wondered if I should feel scared of what might happen next. But then he grunted, “My papa always says my mama might be the death of him.” My brows scrunched, but I didn’t get the chance to ask him what he meant because he added, “Maybe you’ll be the death of me?”

Neither one of us could know what those words might one day mean.