Page 84 of The Cost of Silence

Nico nods to me. “You and Letty do the honors.”

My breath catches. “Really?”

“Your tree,” he says simply. “Your star.”

I lift Letty carefully so she can reach. Nico steps in behind us, one steady hand on my hip, the other bracing her back so she doesn’t wobble. Together, we place the star at the very top.

When it clicks into place and lights up, Letty gasps, clapping her hands. Matteo makes a dramatic sound of approval. Even Adi’s mouth tips in a small, real smile.

For a moment, standing there between them, Nico’s hand warm at my waist, a little girl’s laughter in my ear, and the treeglowing in front of us, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time.

Home.

It scares me.

It soothes me.

Both.

Eventually, the spell breaks. Letty starts yawning, sugar crash written all over her.

Adi glances at the time and sighs. “We should go,” he says. “Bedtime.”

Letty pouts, but when he mentions hot chocolate and a new book, she brightens.

She turns to me again, arms lifting for a hug. I fold her in gently, carefully, breathing in the scent of candy cane and kid shampoo.

“Thank you for letting me help,” she says into my shoulder.

“Thank you for helping,” I whisper back. “You’re the best decorator here.”

She pulls back, solemn. “I know.”

I laugh, blinking fast against the sting in my eyes.

Adi catches my gaze as he takes her from my arms. There’s something measuring there, still cautious, still the man who reads every fine print clause twice, but there’s also a thread of respect that wasn’t there before.

“Goodnight, Isabella,” he says.

“Goodnight,” I answer.

Matteo swoops in for a hug that is more of a theatrical squeeze. “Don’t let my brother boss you around too much,” he stage-whispers.

“I’ll try,” I whisper back. “He’s very committed.”

Matteo barks out a laugh and slaps Nico’s shoulder as he passes. “She’s going to eat you alive, big brother.”

“Out,” Nico says, but there’s no heat in it.

The door shuts behind them, taking the chatter and the rustle of coats and Letty’s sleepy giggles with them.

Silence settles.

Not the empty, echoing kind that used to fill this penthouse.

A softer kind. Warm. Full.

The tree glows in the corner, washing the room in gold.