“Good memories, or bad?” I ask.
“Both,” he replies.
I trace the cherubic design of the pendant with my fingers. Then I lift my head up and slide the necklace off entirely.
He gives me a questioning look but then I offer it to him. “I want you to have this. It rightly belongs to you.”
He reaches out to grip the pendant between thumb and forefinger. He doesn’t take it though. He merely strokes the surface with his thumb, seeming sad.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he replies. “I’m just thinking about what your father did to me when he tore it off my throat. He ripped away eight years of our life when he did that. Eight years we could have spent together. Gone. Wasted.”
“We can’t change the past,” I agree. “But we can change the future. Take it, please.” I wrap my hands around his, tightening his fingers over the necklace. “I want you to have it.”
He nods slowly, then eases his hand from my grip. He holds the necklace reverently in both hands, like it’s one of the most valuable items in the world, and slides it on.
“It looks good on you,” I tell him. “Right.”
He holds up the pendant and smiles fondly. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to feel this around my neck again. Thank you, for this.”
He gazes searchingly into my eyes.
I want to ask him where we’ll go from here, and if there’s any possible future for us, but before I can say a word he cocks his head as if listening.
Then, before I know what’s happening, he’s already getting up and pulling on his shirt and pants.
“Massimo, where—”
But he’s gone in moments, the door clicking shut and locking behind him.
27
Massimo
Ithought I heard the front door of the house open. I want to ask Luciano if he has a hostage for me.
As I make my way downstairs I can’t help but think about everything Angela just told me. Yes. I definitely love her. I wasn’t sure before, but I am now. She hasn’t said that she loves me, but I’m fairly sure she does.
I won’t know for sure, though, as long as she’s my captive. I need to know that her feelings are real and not some act to gain sympathy.
That’s why tomorrow I’m going to set her free. In fact, I think I’ll personally drop her off at her father’s house. I’ll give her my phone number and after that the choice about whether or not we’ll ever see each other again will be in her hands.
I find Luciano sitting on one of the sectionals in the family room.
“You’re home after all,” I tell him.
He nods slowly. “Hey.”
“So, tell me the good news.” I sit across from him.
He exhales loudly. “Sorry, bro. I don’t have any.”
Taken aback, I feel my features scrunching up. “What do you mean? Did you find someone we can replace Angela with or not?”
“I actually did,” he replies. “And I would have taken her, except Rosa convinced me not to.”
“What? How could you let Rosa interfere?” I ask angrily.
