"Isabella—"
"Go!" The word comes out sharp, almost angry. Because if he doesn't leave right now, I'm going to fall apart completely. "Please just go."
He opens the door and walks out. I don't follow him. Can't watch him get in that car and drive away. Instead, I stand in the middle of the living room, my arms wrapped around myself, and listen.
The sound of car doors opening and closing. Low male voices. The engine starting.
Then the car pulling away, tires crunching on the gravel drive. The sound getting fainter. Farther. Until there's nothing but silence.
He's gone.
I sink onto the sofa, right where he was sitting just minutes ago. It still smells like him. Still holds the warmth of his body.
And I finally let myself break.
I cry silently, my hands pressed to my mouth to muffle the sounds. Because Elena is sleeping and I can't let her hear me fall apart. I have to be strong for her. Have to hold myself together.
But right now, alone in this empty house, I let myself feel the full weight of what just happened.
The man I—the man we—
He's gone.
And I have no idea if he's ever coming back.
From Elena's room, I hear a small sound. She's waking up.
I wipe my eyes quickly, take a shaky breath, and force myself to stand.
Because this is my life now. Picking up the pieces. Holding my daughter while she cries for the father who left. Pretending that everything will be okay when I know it might not be.
Surviving.
Like I always do.
Chapter 29: Lupo
I force myself not to look back as I walk to the car. Force myself to put one foot in front of the other, to keep moving. Because if I stop, if I turn around, I'll never leave.
Ciro is waiting by the passenger door. The other man, younger, military bearing is already in the driver's seat.
"Boss," Ciro says quietly, opening the door for me.
I get in. Set the bag Isabella made on the floor at my feet. The car smells like new leather. Nothing like the barn. Nothing like home.
The door closes and Ciro gets in the front passenger seat. "Let's go," he tells the driver.
The engine starts. We begin to move. And I break my own rule. I turn to look back.
Through the rear window, I can see the farmhouse getting smaller. The kitchen where we ate breakfast this morning. Elena's window. The barn where I've spent time building a life I never knew I needed.
Isabella is standing in the doorway now. I can just barely make out her figure. She's not waving. Just standing there. Watching me leave.
My chest tightens so hard I can't breathe.
I keep watching until we turn onto the main road and the farm disappears behind the trees. Until there's nothing left to see but empty countryside.
They’re gone.
