Chapter 5

Lucian looked at me, and for the first time since we'd met again, real emotion broke across his face.

It was as if he couldn't accept the truth.

Because if it was true, then what were these five years of hatred worth?

What did it mean that he'd propped Bianca up all this way, even decided to make her the Don's wife?

It was as if he'd become the world's biggest fool.

By then the yacht had docked, and the guests, taking the hint, all left, leaving just the three of us.

I watched their retreating figures, then turned back to look coldly at Lucian and Bianca.

"Since the party's over, I don't suppose there's any need for me to keep serving."

Bianca was fully sober now. She didn't dare say another word, and even stepped aside to let me pass.

She wanted nothing more than for me to vanish on the spot.

But Lucian clung to my wrist and wouldn't let go.

"Aria, how have you lived these past years?!"

At that, I looked out at the distant sea, as if sinking into memory.

"The first year I was sold to a farm. Mostly hard labor."

"The sun was blinding there. It burned my skin into blisters. And yet it was the happiest year I had."

"Then I was sold to a businessman. He had a foul temper and would beat people at the drop of a hat."

"He had many wives, all bought like me. Some died not long after he took them."

"Then someone got me out. Though 'rescued' isn't quite right, since I still had to sign myself over in another contract."

"The price wasn't much. About what one of your cufflinks costs. And yet I worked it off for three whole years..."

At that I smiled and lifted my scar-covered hands, unable to keep from marveling.

"I never knew I could learn so much. I could even out-haul the burliest men."

...

"Enough." Lucian cut me off. His eyes were rimmed red now, and the hand gripping mine shook hard.

"Aria, if you were suffering that much, why didn't you come to me?!"

"You'd already gotten out! Why would you rather sell yourself again than come to me!"

"If you'd just explained it to me once more, I would have..."

"You would have what?" I scoffed. "Believed me? Or apologized for what you did?"

"Lucian, five years is a long time. Long enough to forget a person."

"And my work was busy and brutal. Every time I picked blueberries, my head was full of nothing but how to pick more, faster, how to keep from getting fired, from getting beaten or screamed at by the boss... As for you, maybe you only showed up in my nightmares."

Lucian went white. His grip loosened a little, and I seized the chance to pull free.

Only then did he see the vicious scar running across my wrist.

In an instant his own knuckles cracked from how hard he clenched them.

He turned to the silent Bianca with murder in his eyes.

"What did you mean just now, that you branded her a traitor?"

Bianca said at once, "I... I only..."

For the longest time she couldn't force out a word. Then she broke into tears, clutching Lucian's arm and repeating the same words over and over.

"I only did it for the good of the Castellanos... I really didn't mean any harm..."

"A weak woman like her was never fit to be the Don's wife. I only did it for you!"

"For me?!" Lucian was livid.

He fired a shot. The bullet grazed Bianca's cheek, and she flinched, covering her head with both hands.

"I gave the order to send her to the island, nothing more, and you took it on yourself to decide for me!"

"Bianca, you really are an intelligence officer through and through. You know an awful lot."

"You even dared to intercept my orders, swap out my men. Just how many people in the Castellano family are yours!"

As if that wasn't enough, Lucian spun the cylinder again, itching to execute her on the spot.

Bianca abandoned all dignity, practically crawling to him, begging him to spare her.

Lucian ignored her and began telling me what had happened five years ago.

At the time, an operation had failed, and he and the capos were scrambling to deal with the fallout.

Just then, Bianca called to say she'd found the dock operation map in my bag.

He'd wanted to come question me, but the capos insisted on coming along.

In the end the evidence seemed solid, and since Bianca had originally been planted as an informant inside the enemy's ranks, her word carried a lot of weight.

He'd believed me at the time, but the losses had been devastating, and to hold on to his position he gave the order to have me sold anyway.

Then he had a trusted man arrange to place me on a private island, meaning to come see me once things settled.

But then I vanished without a trace, and soon after, more and more intelligence began leaking out.

The capos called a meeting and all assumed it was my revenge, that I should have been put to death from the start!

At this point, Lucian lowered his eyes in self-reproach.

"Every coincidence piled up at once, back then... so... I..."

He seemed unable to go on. I looked at him and finished it for him.

"So you hated me that much. Hated me enough to humiliate me with five dollars."

"Aria..."

Lucian instinctively reached to touch my hand, but I pulled away.

Something wounded flickered in his eyes, but he softened his voice all the same.

"I'm sorry... I really didn't know any of this..."

"You've suffered all these years. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you, I swear."

"I'll get to the bottom of everything. Every person who ever hurt you, I'll make them wish they were dead!"

His gaze was firm as he said it, and I knew he'd do it. But what did it matter.

Whether those people were punished or not, none of the scars I'd carried would ever fade.

"Lucian, save it."

"You can kill those people, but can you bring back the ones who are already dead?"