Page 127 of Mine Again
“Does it snow here?” I ask. I’ve never seen it. Never touched it.
“Yeah,” he says. “It does. There’s a cold snap forecasted. We’ll probably get some.”
I don’t know how I feel about that. The warm-blooded Italian in me recoils at the thought. But the girl who’s never experienced much outside the walls of her family estate? She’s intrigued. Maybe even a little excited.
“And this island,” I say slowly, “do you own it?”
“Of course I do.” He sounds almost offended by the question.
I shouldn’t be surprised. Hacking clearly pays well. At least, when you’re the best. Which reminds me…
“We got off track. You were telling me about your success as a hacker. Which I presume paid for all this… the house, the island, the helicopter.”
He nods once, his eyes never leaving mine.
“You said you wanted to secure our future before coming for me. So if you were making this kind of money…” The next words come out unsteady. “Why didn’t you?”
Chapter Forty-Six
Isabella
The words hang between us, thick with the kind of hurt that doesn’t fade with time.
Luca doesn’t answer right away. His jaw ticks, and his eyes drop, like he’s trying to find the least painful truth in a minefield of regret.
But I can’t wait. The silence is unbearable.
“I don’t understand,” I say, my voice trembling. “Why didn’t you try to reach out? We could have come up with a plan. We could have figured something outtogether. Why only send me birthday chocolates? And then stop after two years?”
The questions come faster now, tumbling out of me like a dam breaking.
“Why not send a message? A sign? Anything?”
He finally looks at me, and his expression is a mix of anguish and restraint.
“The first year, your family was under strict surveillance,” he says, his strain evident. “Because of the close bond between our fathers, the De Marcos scrutinized everything. If they had discovered any communication between us… there would have been no mercy.”
Hisgaze darkens.
“You know the law as well as anyone inla famiglia. Loyalty above all. No exceptions.”
He swallows hard, like the next words taste like ash.
“They would have killed all of you.”
I flinch.
I do know the law. I was raised on it. But I would have broken it a million times over if it meant being in touch with Luca.
“You think I didn’t want to call? To tell you I was alive?” His voice rises, cracking at the edges. “But I wouldneverrisk your life! Even if that meant we both had to go through hell.”
He exhales hard, and somehow, my body mirrors his. My shoulders fall, heavy and defeated, like they’ve been carrying his silence all this time.
“Your father was very much aware of the danger too,” Luca says more softly now. “That’s why he confiscated the phone and laptop I had given you. He was protecting you.”
“More like protecting himself,” I snarl. “Father always looked out for himself first.”
God, my chest aches. “But I had your laptop. From the hideout. I went back for it when Father took mine. You must’ve known I would.”
