"I need to go," he says, frustration evident in his tone.
"Of course.” I know the drill. Business comes before everything. If we were a couple, that might annoy me. Right now, I’m grateful.
“This conversation isn’t over.” He moves closer, and the scent of him fills my senses. "I'll be back tonight. We'll have dinner, continue this discussion."
"Luca—"
"This isn't negotiable, Elena." His voice softens. "I’ve lost seven years. I won't lose another day."
I want to tell him to stop.
There’s no regaining what was lost.
But he’s moving to the door, and I want him gone more than I want to argue with him.
He reaches for the door, then turns back to me. "Whatever's going on, whoever's behind this, I’ll find them. I’ll make it safe for you and the kids. I promise you that."
Then he’s out the door and I’m left with the terrifying fear that instead of gaining what was lost, Luca’s actions will cause me to lose the only things I gained.
My children.
LUCA
I could have stayed and put off my sister’s call to meet, but I could see that Elena wasn’t going to budge.
I need time to rethink my strategy, so I leave and head to my sister’s place, knowing I’ll be back later tonight. She’ll be alone, so there won’t be anything to distract her.
As I drive through the city, I think of her kids. Seeing them dunk cookies, hearing their laughter stirred something in me I wasn't prepared for.
I’ve always known Elena was the one for me. Even learning about the kids, while it hurt and I tried to move on, I never could.
My soul is connected to hers. But with that short encounter with her kids, I felt that same connection.
But I have to get past her resistance. For years, I figured she just didn’t love me as I’d loved her.
After all, she’d fallen for someone right after I’d left. She hadn’t been there for me in my darkest moments after her father was arrested and Aldo pointed his finger at me.
But now I think there’s something else going on. The electric kiss we shared the other day told me that her connection to me wasn’t broken. It gave me hope.
But I have to contend with the fact that she’s spent seven years avoiding me whenever I was home. Why?
"It's dangerous," she'd said. As if I hadn't spent the last seven years of my life navigating danger daily. As if I couldn't protect her and those children with everything I have.
I stop at a red light wondering if Elena knows more about her father’s situation than she's letting on.
Maybe she's always known her uncle was behind her father's downfall.
Maybe that's why she clings to the lie about my involvement.
Facing the alternative means acknowledging her own blood betrayed her father.
And it could potentially put her in danger from those who are still loyal to Aldo, except that they’d need to feel threatened by her, and I don’t see that happening.
A father helps his young daughter across the street, and something twists in my chest.
Those triplets don't have that.
Some other man gave them to Elena and then what? Disappeared? Abandoned her and the kids? Or was he sent away? Killed?
