Lucia faltered, momentarily off-balance. A life without Francesca? Without the Collective? How she’d yearned for it at times. But the notion that would free her also terrified her like no other.
“I know you’ve grown tired and restless. I never…I never meant to turn you into something you’re not.”
“You didn’t. I don’t know where I’d be without you. I owe you a lot.”
“Hmm.” Francesca took a sip of her mug. “You’d have found a way. You’re smart and resourceful.” She smiled. “And so unwaveringly kind.”
Lucia rubbed her neck, her gaze finding her sock-clad feet. “We might have to agree to disagree. I’m not saying I’d have died without you, but… I wouldn’t be where I am today without your help, without your guidance.”
“A place that suffocates you?”
A beat.
“It’s not that simple.” Even if that were true, she’d never say it. It would be like spitting in Francesca’s face.
“It never is.”
“I do want to help you. I know how important theMadonnais to you.”
“I appreciate that, and I want your help, but you don’t owe me. I want you to be happy, and I thought you were, that you enjoyed our work, but I have to admit that maybe I’ve been seeing what I wanted to see.”
Lucia rolled her lips. “I don’t hate it. It used to be more fun at the beginning, but now… I don’t know.”
“Think about it.”
“You’d let me go?”
Francesca’s lips parted. “Lucy, you’re not my prisoner.”
“I just… I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Francesca placed her cup into the sink before taking Lucia’s from her hands and putting it on the counter. She turned back to her and clasped Lucia’s hands.
“You could never disappoint me. I do want you in my life, and even if you move on to…greener pastures”—a wry smile spread on Francesca’s lips—“we’re still family, right?”
Lucia could only nod.
“Come here.” Francesca pulled Lucia into a tight embrace.
Swallowing hard, Lucia gripped Francesca’s back. “Thank you,” she rasped, her shoulders dropping as tension leaked from her.
“Now, go and contact Blackwell.”
“What?”
Francesca rolled her eyes. “Not about me or theMadonna. About you and your…infatuation.” She sniffed.
Lucia ducked her head as heat suffused her cheeks.
“Children.” Francesca sighed.
“Hey! You’re not that much older!”
Francesca snorted. “Right. Get to it.”
“Yes, yes. And I’ll help you. With theMadonna. We’ll get her back.”
Francesca smiled. “Thank you.”
