Isabella exchanges a surprised glance with Gabriella.
“I have three children to think about. I don’t want anyone looking at them as possible pawns in this game.”
Gabriella sets down her glass, eyes narrowing. "Elena, do you know something? About what happened to your father or who set up Luca?"
"No," I say. It’s not a lie. I know Dom’s theory, but that’s all it is. "I don't know anything. But I do know that digging into the past puts a target on everyone connected to it. Including my children."
Gabriella shakes her head. "Your children weren't even born when all this happened! How could they possibly be targets?"
"Because men in this life don't forget," I say, my voice pitching up. "They don't forgive. Look at Luca. Seven years later and he's still obsessed with vengeance. What happens when someone else feels the same about him?"
The silence that follows feels charged with negativity. I hate that I’m risking my friendships, but my kids come first.
Gabriella's expression hardens. "My brother would never put children at risk. How dare you suggest otherwise?"
"I'm not suggesting?—"
"Yes, you are." Her eyes flash with anger. "You've always had an attitude about Luca. Ever since he came back from Italy, you've gone out of your way to badmouth him. You avoid him. You wouldn't even come to his welcome home dinner."
I swallow hard, trying to maintain my composure. "That's not true."
"It is true!” She glances at Isabella as if seeking confirmation. “Every family gathering, every celebration, if Luca's there, suddenly, you have an excuse. The kids are sick, you have work, there's a school thing." She counts off on her fingers. "And if you do come, you hide in a corner."
My cheeks burn with shame because she's right. I've spent years orchestrating elaborate dances around Luca's presence, terrified that one prolonged exposure would reveal everything.
"I don't dislike Luca.”
“Yeah, right.” Gabriella scoffs. "You act like he's radioactive. What did my brother ever do to make you hate him so much?"
The irony of her question nearly breaks me.
What did he do?
He loved me.
He gave me three beautiful children.
He came back when I thought he never would.
And now, he might destroy everything I've built to protect them.
“Did you and Luca have a falling out?” Isabella’s voice is soft, steady, as if she’s trying to bring the tension down.
Gabriella looks from her to me. “When would you have had a falling out? You’ve never given him the time of day.”
I’d like to contradict her, but in doing so, I could share information that would accidentally reveal the father of my children.
“If someone came after who killed my father, me and my children could become targets. But not just me. Have you considered what could happen to Luca? If he was a target the first time, then he still is and so far, they’ve left him alone. If he starts poking around, they’ll have no choice but to try and silence him.”
“Luca knows what he’s doing.” Gabriella's indignation wanes, but I see concern in her expression. “He can protect himself.”
"Like my father could?" I counter. "He was a captain with decades of experience, and they got to him anyway."
This discussion reminds me of why I made the decisions I did.
Recently, I’ve second-guessed myself.
What would have happened if I'd told Luca about the pregnancy seven years ago?
