Page 256 of Mine Again
Sobbing into her shoulder, I bury myself in her warmth. “I’m sorry, Mamma. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to worry you.”
She hushes me, rocking me gently. “No more apologies, amore. Just breathe.”
For a long moment, I let them all hold me, sunlight spilling over my skin, their arms anchoring me when I still feel weightless, as if I might drift away.
Behind us, Luca and Aldo stand a step apart, deep in conversation. No doubt, Luca is filling Aldo in on what happened.
Mamma finally lets me go, her hands lingering on my cheeks like she can’t stop touching me.
Then Mia suddenly pivots and throws herself at Luca. He stiffens on instinct, eyes flicking down in surprise as she clings to him.
“Thank you for bringing her back,” she says fiercely.
Before he can respond, Sienna darts in, wrapping her arms around him too. “I knew you would.”
Ari hesitates, then squares her shoulders and hugs him as well, her words muffled against his chest. “Thank you,” she whispers.
For a second, Luca looks uncomfortable, unsure what to do with my sisters piling on him, their gratitude overwhelming. His arms hover awkwardly at his sides.
The sight makes me laugh, my chest easing more after the stress of the past few days.
“Just hug them back, Luca,” I tease.
Slowly, he does. One arm goes around Mia, the other settling on Sienna’s shoulder, and his hand ruffles Ari’s hair. His posture softens, the discomfort fading as he lets their affection warm him.
And when he finally glances at me over their heads, I see it. He might not be used to this kind of welcome, but he likes it… more than he expected.
Aldo clears his throat, smiling gently. “Shall we go inside?”
He guides us toward the dining room, where sunlight spills across the long table.
Mamma heads straight for the refreshments, handing me and Luca glasses of sparkling water. “You both probably need this.”
That’s when Maximo arrives. His presence fills the doorway as if he owns the room, and of course he does.
His gaze goes straight to Mia, but she purposefully ignores him. Amused and unbothered, he walks over to Luca, and they head to a corner of the room to speak. Aldo joins them, a whiskey glass in hand. Their voices are low, but I still catch fragments.
“Hale’s secured,” Maximo says, clipped and businesslike. “I’ve spoken with the chief of police. They’ll collect him whenever you’re ready.”
Luca doesn’t answer with words, only with that look I know too well. Cold. Final. A promise of something yet to come.
And I understand. Hale won’t be handed over until Luca takes what he’s owed.
Fine by me.
Hale tried to destroy us, to rip apart the life we were building. If Luca wants revenge, I won’t stop him.
“He also spoke to the Feds. They’re going through the evidence Uberto sent, but it’ll be a while before they can confirm you’re in the clear and go hunting for Hale. The chief can hold him for kidnapping in the meantime.”
“No, not enough. He could make bail. We keep him until he hits the most wanted list.”
Nudging me playfully, Mia sidles up beside me, no doubt to eavesdrop too. She’s perfected the art. Growing up, if we wanted details about what was happening, Mia always had them before the rest of us.
When Maximo isn’t looking, her gaze slides over him in the tactical gear he’s still wearing. She lingers a beat too long. The spark of desire is undeniable.
An annoyed sigh slips out, and she shakes her head, seemingly scolding herself. I’m pretty sure I catch the words ‘absolutely not’under her breath.
When she notices me watching, I lift a teasing eyebrow. Her glare is immediate, but it doesn’t hide the truth. My sister isn’t immune to the powerhouse that is Maximo Marcos.
