Free Bellissimo Lotta (Beautiful Struggle): Companion Novel to Bellissimo Fortuna (The Family Trilogy Book 2) by Leigh Ann Lunsford Page B

I grab my phone and call Dakota.
    “Hey, babe.” My heart flutters with his casual greeting.
    “Bad news. I’m can’t come this weekend. Callie needs me.”
    “Is everything okay?”
    “Yes, but don’t tell Bronson. She’s just going through some stuff and with Bronson’s college load he isn’t home like he promised.”
    “So because she’s feeling sorry for herself, you’re cutting our plans out of your weekend. Where are your priorities?” His tone pisses me off.
    “You’ve got to be kidding me? Pity party? You, Dakota, are an asshole. You have no idea what that girl goes through. That same girl who is my best fucking friend. We see each other almost every weekend, a lot more than I see her, and you’re giving me this bullshit?”
    “I miss you. I get crazy when I won’t be able to see you.”
    “Is that an apology I missed? I get it; I miss you, too. But she is my best friend, and I’d hope you understand.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Okay. Talk to you later.”
    “You’re still pissed?”
    “A little. Some days it’s just hard. I think you expect so much from me, and I disappoint you.”
    “No. I’ll come home this weekend. This isn’t happening. You aren’t going to start pulling away when I’m not there to anchor you.”
    “I’m not pulling away. I promise. Stay there, I’ll be with Callie.”
    “I love you, Bianca.”
    “I love you, too. Talk to you tomorrow.” I disconnect and fall back. My head lands on my pillows, and I sigh. Love is exhausting. Whoever spewed that love is patient bullshit obviously never met Dakota Hyatt. A knock at my door startles me, and I see my dad standing against the frame. “Hey.” I give him my best ‘nothing is wrong’ smile.
    “I saw Callie rushing out, heard you yelling on the phone, and wanted to see if everything is okay?” Times like this I feel like a self-centered brat. I condemn my dad for his life choices, yet he’s here with a soft word, heart full of love, concern shining through his expression. I think of Callie and how she deserves this . . . not me.
    “Yes. She was going to be late and worried her dad will be pissed. She’s staying here this weekend, to get some distance.” I see his features harden; Frank Locati is a touchy subject for us all. “I was yelling at Dakota, he was being a complete tool when I cancelled going there for the weekend.”
    I see a smile ghost his lips, his head shaking. “Can I come in?”
    “You pay the bills, big man. Enter your domain.” He chuckles.
    “You, my beautiful angel, are a breath of fresh air in this crazy life. Why did you cancel with Dakota?”
    “Callie is having a hard time, so I decided a girls weekend was in order.”
    “She’s lucky to have you.”
    “No, I’m lucky to have her. She reminds me how selfish I can be, how lucky I am, and no matter what, I have a father who loves me.”
    “Never forget that.” His voice gets distant.
    “Papa, I’m sorry.”
    “For what?”
    “The things I said that morning.” It’s been a year, and I haven’t apologized, didn’t bring up the subject, yet here he is, my biggest advocate. He is the epitome of what a father should be.
    “Don’t. Don’t you dare apologize to me. I need to apologize to you. You had no choice in this life; I did. And chose it anyway. It was before you or Bronson were born, I didn’t know what love was. I had just met your mother and thought I was big shit. Your grandfather was The Boss at the time, and I had choices. My father was in love with the life and was strict old school, more so than I am, but he wasn’t adamant about me joining the business. School wasn’t an option for me. I didn’t excel in school because I had no reason to. I had the life to fall back on. That’s why I’ve pushed you and Bronson to follow your dreams and get an education.” He stops and drops his head.
    “You don’t have to explain.”
    “No, you need to hear this. It isn’t an excuse, and if you want to hate me, I