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When we return to Briar House, I ask my father to accompany me to the study. Luca doesn’t follow, because he knows what I’m about to do.
“Shut the doors,” I tell him when he enters. “Sit.”
He does as he’s told, sitting in a chair across from the desk where I am. “What’s going on, Cari?”
“Now that the funeral is done and Alma is buried, it’s time we address something.” From the top drawer, I produce an envelope and hand it to him.
“What is this?” He opens the envelope and pulls out the plane ticket to Mexico and debit card I prepared for him.
“It’s your golden parachute,” I say, deadpan, pushing past the knot forming in my throat.
“What?”
“Your way out,” I say. “And mine.”
His eyes flick up to me. “You’re sending me away?”
“Yes.”
He’s shaking his head, his eyes glistening with newly formed tears. “Why?”
I sigh and lean back but don’t take my gaze from his. “Gideon is still out there, and he wants your blood. I can’t… No. I will no longer protect you.”
“But I’m your father. You’re married to one of the most powerful men in New York. I love you!”
“I love you too, Da—” I trip over the name that’s been so hard to use since Alma died. “You’ve taken advantage of me. No child should have to clean up after their parent. Not at the level I have.” I rise, go around the desk, and pull a chair close to him. Bending over, I rub his arm gently. “Take the ticket. That card is linked to an account with enough money to see you settled down. You can rent a place on the beach, find a job you enjoy.”
“Carina!”
“Look at it as retirement,” I offer with a smile. “But most importantly, don’t fuck up again. I’m not going to fix it.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
I nod. “I wish you only the best, and you will always be my daddy. But I don’t ever want to see you again. Luca has sworn to kill you if you return. I won’t stop him.” I stand, cross to the study doors, and open them for him. “Goodbye, Daddy.”
He remains where he is for a moment as he processes it all. Then he comes to stand in front of me. Taking my face in both hands, he kisses the top of my head. “Goodbye, Carina.”
* * *
I glance around Luca’s room. Though I only lived here a couple of weeks, it gave me a lifetime of memories.
A knot forms in my throat when I lift the bag that contains the few items I brought with me. Funny how quickly I came to see this room as mine, even though it was never meant to be.
Nope. My room is waiting for me in the house Luca paid off. I only discovered that after I contacted the mortgage company to request an extension on the payment. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him he had no right to give me something I could never repay. But I kept my mouth shut because the truth is, I want the house.
I head downstairs in search of Luca, not wanting to go without saying goodbye. After everything we’ve been through, it seems wrong to leave him with nothing but a note. He deserves better than that.
He’s in the study, standing in front of the fireplace, his gaze pinned to the portrait of his father.
“Hey,” I say.
“I’m considering taking this down and replacing it with one of Tony’s. What do you—” He stops mid-sentence when he turns to me. The blue of his irises darkens in that way they haven’t done in a while as he glances between me and the bag in my hand. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Going home.”
He remains silent for a moment, and all the while, that darkness in his gaze intensifies. “Youarefucking home.”
“Let’s not do this, Luca.” I sigh, desperately trying to dispel this damned knot in my throat. “It’s over. There’s no reason to keep me here anymore.”
