Semua Bab THE DE LUCA BARGAIN : Bab 41 - Bab 50

ISABELLA'S POVFor the first time in days, I woke up without checking my phone.That alone felt strange.Usually, my hand would reach for it before my eyes were fully open, searching for messages I had no business hoping to receive, from Lorenzo.There had been no argument between us when I left New York, no dramatic goodbye.Just his quiet insistence that I needed to get away, and maybe he was right.The distance had helped.At least, that was what I kept telling myself.I had spent the last few days exploring the little coastal town, eating at restaurants without worrying about who was watching, sitting by the water with a book I barely read.I had even laughed, actually laughed and it felt good.Almost normal.But now and then, I caught myself wondering what Lorenzo was doing.Whether he was eating breakfast, or he was working. Whether he had slept, or he missed me.That last thought always made me close my eyes and sigh. I was becoming ridiculous.I got dressed and left the villa

ISABELLA'S POVThe room was too quiet.That was the first thing I noticed after Lorenzo brought me inside.Too quiet.After the shouting, the gunshots, the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears, the silence felt almost unnatural.I sat on the edge of the bed while Lorenzo stood in front of me.He had barely spoken since we'd arrived.He kept looking at me, at my face, my arms, and my body.As if he expected to discover a wound he had somehow missed."I'm fine," I said softly.His eyes lifted to mine."You keep saying that.""Because it's true.""You were chased through the streets.""I know.""Someone had a gun pointed at you.""I know."His jaw tightened."And I wasn't there."I stared at him."But you came.""Too late.""Lorenzo."He turned away, and I watched his shoulders rise and fall.For the first time, I understood that his anger wasn't directed at me. It was directed at himself."You sent me here," I said quietly.His shoulders stiffened."I know.""You told me it wou

ISABELLA'S POVNew York looked different when we returned.Or maybe I was the one who had changed.I sat quietly in the back of the car, watching familiar buildings pass beyond the tinted window.The city felt louder than the little coastal town I'd left behind, more crowded and more dangerous.Yet strangely, I wasn't as afraid as I expected to be. Maybe because Lorenzo was sitting beside me. That thought made me glance at him.He was staring at his phone, reading through several messages that had arrived during the flight.His expression had returned to its usual seriousness, Controlled and Focused, completely Lorenzo.Except for the occasional glance he gave me when he thought I wasn't looking.I caught him once, He immediately looked back at his phone.I smiled."What?""Nothing.""You were staring.""I wasn't.""You were."He finally looked at me, A faint smile touched his lips."Maybe I was."My stomach fluttered, and I turned back toward the window. This was going to be a proble

ISABELLA'S POVSomething had changed.I couldn't put my finger on exactly when it happened.Maybe it was the morning after the vacation.Maybe it had started before that.Or perhaps it had been happening so slowly that neither of us had noticed until now.Whatever it was, our marriage no longer felt like a contract.At least, not when we were alone.I noticed it that morning when I came downstairs and found Lorenzo already at the breakfast table.He looked up from his phone."You're going out?"I paused, I hadn't even told him."Yes.""Where?"There was no sharpness in his voice, no command. He wasn't demanding an explanation.He simply wanted to know."I'm taking a walk with Maria."He nodded."What time will you be back?"I smiled faintly."I don't know. Why?"He looked at me for a moment."I'd like to know when you're coming home."Home, the word landed somewhere inside me."Probably by six.""Okay."That was it, no interrogation, no instructions, He returned to his phone. I stood

ISABELLA'S POVThe evening passed easily, and I spoke to people I had met before and others I'd only heard about.Some asked what it feels like to be married to Lorenzo, and others asked about the trip.One elderly woman spent nearly ten minutes telling me stories about Lorenzo as a child.Apparently, he had been a terrible little boy.I found that difficult to believe.Then she described how he once broke a window and blamed the dog, I nearly choked laughing.When I found Lorenzo later, I couldn't resist."Did you blame a dog for breaking a window?"He stared at me."Who told you?""So it's true?""I was six.""You were already a criminal."He gave me a look."You weren't exactly innocent when you met me.""I was very innocent." He laughed and I smiled.There it was again, that laugh, the one I had rarely seen before. I was beginning to realize I liked being the person who brought it out of him."Everyone is here."Lorenzo whispered in my ear, He had loosened his tie slightly."Almos