Nico's expression doesn't change.
"You're still an asshole," he says.
"I know."
"Good." He raises his glass. "Don."
I turn to Vittoria. My baby sister. The one I pushed away hardest because looking at her reminded me of who I used to be.
"Vittoria." My voice cracks. I don't try to hide it. "You visited me every week. Even when I screamed at you. Even when I threw things. Even when I told you I wished you'd stop coming."
Vittoria's eyes fill with tears. Dmitri's arm tightens around her shoulders.
"I didn't deserve your loyalty," I say. "I didn't deserve any of you. But you kept showing up. You kept believing I was still in there somewhere. Under all the anger and the bitterness and the self-pity."
"You were," she whispers. "You always were."
"I'm sorry." The words feel inadequate. They are inadequate. "For every cruel thing I said. For every time I made you cry. For being the worst brother in the world when you needed me to be better."
Vittoria stands. Crosses the room. Wraps her arms around me.
I hold her. My little sister. The girl who used to follow me around the compound asking endless questions.
"I love you," she says against my chest.
"I love you too." The words come easier than I expected. "Even when I acted like I didn't."
She pulls back. Wipes her eyes. Returns to her seat.
I look at my mother. The woman who raised six children in this world of blood and violence. Who buried a husband and a son and still found the strength to keep going.
"Mamma. I'm sorry for the pain I caused you. For making you watch your son disappear into bitterness. For not being the man Papa raised me to be."
Aria's hand presses against her heart. Tears stream down her face.
"You are exactly the man your father raised you to be," she says. "You just forgot for a while."
I nod. I can't speak. The lump in my throat is too large.
Finally, I turn to Antonella.
"Antonella." Her name is a prayer. A promise. "You saved me."
She shakes her head. "You saved yourself."
"No." I reach for her hand. Pull her to her feet beside me. "I was drowning. I had been drowning for two years. And then you showed up and you refused to let me drown anymore."
Her eyes shine. Her fingers intertwine with mine.
I stop. Look at my family. At the people who have stood by me through the worst years of my life.
"Antonella is pregnant."
Silence. Not everyone knew it.
Then Aria screams.
"A baby!" She's clapping. Actually clapping. "Two grandchildren! Nora and now—two babies! Bruno, you're giving me a grandchild!"