Surprise Trip

Lucy was in the library, curled up in her usual window seat with a book she wasn't really reading. Her mind kept drifting to Barry, to the way he'd been acting since Jessica's visit three days ago. He'd been distant, distracted, disappearing into his office for hours at a time. When they did see each other at meals, he'd smile at her, ask how her day was, but there was something off. Something he wasn't saying. She'd tried asking him about it yesterday, and he'd just kissed her forehead and told her everything was fine. But Lucy knew it wasn't fine. She could feel it in the tension in his shoulders, see it in the way his jaw clenched when he thought she wasn't looking. The sound of footsteps made her look up. Barry stood in the doorway, dressed casually in dark jeans and a white button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked... different. Less stressed than he had been. There was even a slight smile on his face.&nb

Something I Don't Know

Lucy woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains and the sound of birds chirping outside. For a moment, she forgot where she was, then it all came rushing back. Rome. She was in Rome. She rolled over to find Barry already awake, propped up on one elbow, watching her with a soft smile. "How long have you been staring at me?" Lucy asked, her voice still rough with sleep. "Not long. You look peaceful when you sleep." Barry leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Good morning." "Good morning." Lucy stretched, feeling the expensive sheets slide against her skin. "What time is it?" "Almost nine. I thought we'd have breakfast on the balcony, then go explore the city. Sound good?" "Sounds perfect." They ate breakfast outside, fresh pastries, fruit, coffee that was better than anything Lucy had ever tasted, while Rome came to life below them. The city looked differe

Family Reunion?

The next morning, Lucy woke to an empty bed. She reached across the sheets, finding Barry's side still warm but vacant. Sitting up, she spotted a note on his pillow written in his sharp, precise handwriting.'Had to take a call. Didn't want to wake you. Order breakfast. I'll be back soon. ... BLucy smiled, tucking the note under her pillow like a teenager with a love letter. She ordered breakfast to the room, fresh pastries, fruit, coffee, and ate on the balcony while watching Rome wake up below her. The morning sun painted everything gold, and Lucy felt impossibly happy despite the lingering questions from last night.Barry had promised to tell her everything today. About her family, about whatever he'd been holding back. And yes, that scared her. But he loved her. He'd said it multiple times last night, whispered it against her skin, murmured it as they fell asleep tangled together. That had to count for something.After breakfast, Lucy showered and dressed in white linen pants and

My Life Is A Lie

Lucy's hands were shaking as she unlocked the hotel room door. Her mind kept replaying Carrick's words, the cold look in his eyes when he'd said, 'Ask him what he knows about our family.'Barry was on the balcony, his phone pressed to his ear. When he heard her come in, he turned and smiled, but it faded the moment he saw her face."I'll call you back," he said into the phone, then hung up. "Lucy? What's wrong? You look upset."Lucy set down her shopping bags slowly, carefully, like they might break. Her whole body felt fragile, like one wrong move would shatter her into pieces."I saw Carrick," she said quietly.Barry went completely still. "What?""My brother. I ran into him at the market." Lucy's voice was steady, but her hands wouldn't stop shaking. "He was there, Barry. In Rome. What are the chances of that?"Barry's expression shifted, becoming guarded. "Did he say anything to you?""He said a lot of things." Lucy moved closer, her eyes searching his face. "But the most interest

What's Going On

TWO WEEKS LATERLucy stood in front of the mirror in her room at the estate, smoothing down the soft cream sweater she'd chosen. It had been two weeks since Rome. Two weeks since Barry had told her the truth about her family. Two weeks of processing, thinking, and slowly rebuilding what had felt broken.A knock at her door made her turn. Barry stood in the doorway, hesitant in a way he rarely was."Can I come in?" he asked."Of course." Lucy managed a small smile. "You don't have to ask.""I feel like I should. After everything." Barry stepped inside but kept some distance between them. They'd been careful with each other these past two weeks, polite, gentle, like they were learning how to be together all over again."Dean just called. It's done. Jessica's been handed over to the Council." Barry's voice was neutral, but Lucy caught the relief underneath."What will they do to her?""She'll face trial for betrayal. For plotting against a family head, for recruiting men from my organiza

Perfect Ending?

"Of course. You're my best friend." Lucy hugged her back. "And for what it's worth? I think you and Dean are good together. I've seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one's watching. He's crazy about you.""I'm crazy about him too." Julia pulled back, wiping at her eyes. "Okay, enough about my mess. Let's talk about you. Are you really okay? After everything with Barry and your family?""I'm getting there. It's still weird to think about... that the people I called Mom and Dad weren't my real parents, that they're alive somewhere running a mafia empire. But I'm processing it." Lucy took a deep breath. "I'm meeting with them next week. Barry's arranging it.""Are you sure that's a good idea?""No. But I need answers. I need to understand why they left us." Lucy's voice hardened slightly. "And I need them to know that they don't get to just walk back into my life like nothing happened. They made their choice. Now they have to live with it."Julia squeezed her hand. "You're so m