‘He won’t get on the property,’ Tom said, as if that dismissed everything. ‘Now, let’s focus – I want to make sure it’s actually our brother they’re returning, and not some Luca-changeling with a recording chip that downloads straight into Matteo’s retina.’
If only Tom knew just how close his comment cut to the truth of her strategy. Best he didn’t though, because it was perhaps the stupidest idea she’d ever had.
Not including, of course, what had happened with Jett in Italy.
She tried to focus on the figures exiting the car, on making sure one of them was Luca, but the sound of the car door shot her straight back to the moonlit street behind the hotel. Her heart – and other parts of her – ached at the memory of how they’d been made to feel before it had all been ripped away.
Focus.
‘Why now, Matteo?’ she called, her voice shaking. ‘If that wine’s been in that Lake Orta house for fifty years, why challenge us now?’
He stepped closer, his tall shadow merging with the tip of Tom’s. ‘Your father’s death set off a series of fortunate events. Loyalty clearly does not extend to the Barbarani name in death.’
‘The Barbaranis aren’t dead,’ Tom hissed, ‘despite all your efforts last year.’
‘You’re nothing without your name.Theymight not understand,’ Matteo said, pointing at Nella and Luca, ‘but you do, son, don’t you?’
What was he talking about?
Tom cracked his knuckles. Nella hadn’t thought he even knew how to make a fist.
She watched her youngest brother. Luca’s cheeks were hollower, his usual artfully messy hair sticking up awkwardly. He didn’t make any effort to walk towards them, even though Matteo and Raphael weren’t restraining him. She tracked his gaze to the bulletproof windows of the car. Who was still inside?
‘Having second thoughts?’ Matteo boomed at him. ‘Want to stay this side, do you, son? Can’t say I blame you – the press haven’t been too kind to you lately. Imagine the feast they’ll have with what’s about to come out.’
Nella let Matteo’s voice rush through her like the warning chill of a storm. Luca’s gaze finally found hers and it took everything in her not to turn away from what he was asking.
Is it true?
The only lining – not silver, rusted, full of tetanus – was that Matteo’s trade of Luca for Ariana had obviously been designed to throw Nella off. Matteo clearly had no problem with his daughter accompanying Nella to Italy – in fact, it had all worked out perfectly for him. Was this the end? Was she ever going to find out what had happened to Clarkson? How was she going to prove that Forrest poisoned the Barbarani wine?
Just run.
She could do it – she could leave, run away. With or without Jett.
Luca started to walk over, and the thought disintegrated. She still had people to fight for, people who mattered.
She should work on her poker face. But it didn’t really matter, did it? Tomorrow, the whole world would know her grandfather was a liar and a thief.
Her life was stolen goods.
And Matteo La Marca was Robin Hood, giving back to those who’d been wronged.
Robin Hood spoke. ‘I told you to stay in the car.’
For a deranged moment, Nella thought he was talking to Luca, but as wisps of blonde hair emerged over the passenger door, her insides clenched. Had Matteo brought Forrest along?
But Ariana La Marca stepped out of that car. Had she even read the letter? Or just thrown it away? Used it as toilet paper?
‘Leave them,’ Matteo told his daughter. ‘Don’t be cruel, Ariana. Allow them one last night of peace. One last night as the rulers of their kingdom.’
‘I don’t want her peace,’ Ariana said. ‘I’m just returning something.’
If Matteo’s voice had been the beginning of a storm, Ariana’s was a lightning fork straight to her heart. The younger woman was no longer pale and shaking. Nella had tried not to think about the scars on her stomach since their visit to the abbey, but it was impossible to wonder if they ever would have got access to the house if she hadn’t carved herself up like that. Would Nella be living in blissful ignorance?
Would Clarkson be alive?
Nella didn’t know Ariana well. Didn’t understand her. But she knew that this was a version of her she’d never seen. She doubted many people had.
