Page 95 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

“Last summer,” Julian says.

“For a few days.”

“Then perhaps you should make sure the place is still standing,” Carlo says.

Julian’s mouth shifts. “That crossed my mind.”

He looks toward me again.

“We should leave around noon tomorrow,” he says.

“All right.” I glance at him. “How long is the drive?”

That gets an immediate reaction from the table.

Carlo laughs first.

Alessandra smiles into her wine.

I look between them. “What?”

“You’re not driving,” Carlo says.

I turn toward Julian.

He looks entirely too calm.

“We’re taking the helicopter,” he says.

I stare at him for a second. “A helicopter.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never been in one.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“That sounds reassuring.”

“It’s quicker,” Julian says.

“The drive can take close to three hours depending on traffic. This gets us there much faster, and we can start the afternoon without losing half the day.”

I glance at Carlo.

“So everyone knew this except me.”

Carlo lifts his glass. “Welcome to Blackwell logistics.”

The table laughs, and I shake my head.

“Of course,” I say. “Why sit in traffic when you can just fly over it?”

Julian’s eyes stay on mine for a moment.

“Exactly.”

Conversation moves on, but the awareness of him never quite leaves me. Even when he is speaking with Giulia or answering one of Matteo’s questions, I catch the occasional glance in my direction. Once, when Carlo leans closer to show me something on his phone, I look up and find Julian watching us with that same unreadable stillness I have learned not to mistake for indifference.