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They needed to find thisJor at least figure out who she was.She'd clearly left Tomas and the group before his death.Even if she wasn't still alive, maybe one of her descendants knew her story, knew where her gift from Tomas was.It felt like that gift was important.They'd referenced keeping it safe more than once.
She just didn't understand why the paintings that had been stolen were important.
Was it the art itself—the technique or subject, or was it the artists who'd painted them?Or was it something else entirely?
Learning more about Tomas and Lucinda would be helpful, too.She felt excited to dive in, but there wasn't a lot she could do late on a Friday night.While the internet would be helpful, she'd probably find more information at a local library or by talking to people at museums or art galleries.She needed to get into the art scene, find some older artists who might have some idea what was going on with this group of artists back in the sixties.
She almost wished they hadn't sent Anna and her grandmother to LA.While Nick might speak more Italian than she did, they would still be seen as outsiders and would have to work harder to build trust.But their grandmothers would be safer in California.She would simply have to find other ways to get information.She felt even more determined now that she'd realized how deeply personal the robbery was to her family.
It was odd how connected she and Nick were with their grandmothers and their great-grandparents, Tomas and Lucinda.Whatever had happened fifty years ago and whatever was happening now was tied to both of them.That seemed so odd.
After their disastrous date, she hadn't thought she'd ever see Nick again.Nor had she wanted to.But having learned more about him, she didn't feel quite so negatively as she had before.Although she had a feeling he'd try to take over as soon as he got back, and she did not intend to let that happen.He wasn't going to call all the shots.
She put the letters and ring back in the box and was about to open the other box, not sure what she would find since neither Anna nor Nick had mentioned what was inside, when the lights in the house suddenly went out.The curtain of blinding darkness sent a jolt of fear through her.It wasn't rainy or windy.Why would the lights just go out?
Grabbing her phone, she turned on the flashlight, just as she heard someone at the front door.They weren't knocking or ringing the bell, but they were trying to get in.She grabbed both boxes, jumped to her feet, and ran out of the living room and up the stairs as the front door shook from someone pounding on it.
Her heart was in her throat as she raced up to the third floor.She stashed the boxes in the linen closet, burying them behind a pile of towels, then dashed into her grandmother's bedroom and locked the door.Her hand was shaking so badly that she dropped her phone before she could call for help.It went spinning across the floor, the light now under the bed, leaving the rest of the room shrouded in darkness.She heard men's voices in the house.There were at least two of them.And they weren't being quiet.Maybe they didn’t think anyone was home.That could work to her advantage.
She jumped again as she heard a loud crash, as if some piece of furniture had been knocked over.And then there was another shout and heavy footsteps coming up the stairs.
She didn't have time to get her phone.She needed to find a weapon.If someone came into the room, maybe she could take them by surprise, because she didn't think hiding in the closet would work.It sounded like they were searching the house.And they would look everywhere.
Moving to the dresser, she grabbed a solid and heavy ceramic vase and then ran behind the door.It was a long shot, but she didn't know what else to do.She just knew she wasn't going down without a fight.
ChapterNine
When Nick pulled up in front of his grandmother's house, he was shocked to see the house completely dark, with beams of light flashing through the living room windows.The front door was also wide open.He pulled into the drive, cut the lights, and jumped out of the car, wishing he'd been able to bring his gun to Italy.But even without a weapon, he had to do something.Isabella was inside.And she was probably in trouble.
He stayed in the shadows as he went around to the back of the house, his grandmother's keys in his hand.When he got to the back door, he could see damage to the door, but it was still locked.Apparently, the burglars had given up and gone around the front.He hit the SOS button on his phone to call for help and then slid a key into the lock and opened the door as quietly as he could.As he moved into the house, he could hear someone in the living room.It sounded like they were tearing things apart.
He took a long knife out of the kitchen drawer, then moved down the hall, thankful that he was so familiar with this house, he knew exactly where to go.
He had no idea where Isabella was.Someone was walking around upstairs.He hoped to God she was hiding, and that she hadn't been hurt.When he got to the living room, he saw a man wearing dark clothes and a beanie with a headlight on it, shedding light on what was a destructive scene.He'd broken the glass in the cabinet and was in the process of pulling it away from the wall.
He moved forward, hoping to catch the thief off guard, but as he did, shards of broken glass crunched beneath his feet, and the man whirled around, a gun in his hand.
With a split-second advantage, he jumped on him, knocking the gun away with his left hand as he used his right hand to stab the blade into the guy's arm.
The man screamed in pain and shoved Nick away, yelling in Italian as he ran from the room.
Nick chased after him, but as the burglar fled through the front door, he heard a scream from upstairs that sent him straight to the staircase.
He pulled out his phone, turning on the flashlight, then took the stairs two at a time.When he got to Gloria's room, he found Isabella battling a stronger and taller attacker, who was wearing the same dark clothing and headlight beanie as the man who'd just left.
This guy was bleeding from a gash on his head, but his hands were wrapped around Isabella's neck as he pressed her back against the wall.
As she struggled and kicked out her legs in terrified panic, Nick ran forward, stabbing the man in the back.
The man roared with intense pain as he swung around to face him, the back of his right hand connecting with Nick's face.
The phone flew out of his left hand as he staggered backward.
Isabella slid to the ground, gasping for air.
He recovered his balance, going on the attack one more as he jabbed the knife into the man's stomach, but the thrust wasn't deep enough to slow his attacker down.
They wrestled for control of the knife, the light and shadows adding more challenge to the fight.
