AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She wasn't surprised to hear that.Her grandfather, Paolo, had been a hard man—harsh, strict, unforgiving, and even a little cruel.She'd always felt like her grandmother had been beaten down by him, not that her grandmother would agree.But she'd seen firsthand how he'd treated Gloria and her own mother, not to mention herself.
"So," Nick said."To recap, Tomas and Lucinda were painting buddies, best friends, and died together in a fire that destroyed Tomas's house."
"Yes, the house was completely gone by the time they put the fire out," her grandmother confirmed.
"But Tomas's painting didn't burn in that fire," Nick said, looking to his grandmother for an answer.
"No.Tomas gave his painting to Marcus before he died.He said something about too many people coming through his house and studio, and he wanted Marcus to put it away somewhere and keep it safe.Actually, I thought there were two paintings, but I only found one in the vault."
"And Lucinda's painting wasn't destroyed," Nick continued."Because it was in her house, or your house, Gloria.The same house that was vandalized shortly after the fire."
Her grandmother sat up a little straighter."Do you think someone was looking for the paintings right after they died?"
"I do," she put in."And that the fire might not have been accidental."
"Oh," her grandmother said, surprise running through her eyes."Really?"
"We need to know more about how they died," she said.
"No," Nick said, shaking his head."Tomas and Lucinda died a long time ago.We need to focus on what's going on now, who broke into the museum, and whether the authorities have any leads on the thieves."
"The past could be tied to the present," she argued.
"Our priority is to make sure our grandmothers are safe."His gaze moved to his grandmother."I want you both out of this.It's a good time for a vacation."
"We can't just leave," Anna protested.
"Why not?"he challenged.
"Because we can't let these thieves drive us out of our home," she answered.
"It doesn't have to be for long," Nick argued."Hopefully, the Carabinieri will find the thieves and retrieve the paintings in short time."
"They may not care that much," Anna argued."The paintings weren't valuable."
"They were valuable enough to steal."
"If we leave and don't put pressure on the Carabinieri to find the paintings, they'll be gone forever.I can't let that happen," Anna said."I owe it to my husband, to his father, to all the Carusos.I have to fight."
Isabella was beginning to see where Nick got his stubbornness.
"Anna is right.We're staying put," her grandmother said."I care about getting Lucinda's work back, too."
Nick sent her a pointed look, but she didn't want to join his side, to have some man come in and order them around.
"Anna and I don't need anyone else to fight our battles," her grandmother continued."Nor do we want to put either of you in danger.So, we've already decided that we'll make dinner for you.We'll have a lovely evening, and then you two can go home tomorrow."
"I'm not leaving until I know what's going on," Nick said, not a trace of doubt in his voice.
"Neither am I," she declared.
"Why don't we discuss it over a meal?"Anna suggested."You both must be hungry.We'll make dinner."
"I'm not changing my mind, Nonna," Nick said."If you're not leaving, neither am I.Isabella, of course, is free to leave."
Her gaze narrowed in irritation."If you're staying, I'm staying."
"Well, it looks like we're all staying for now," her grandmother said."We should start cooking, Anna."
