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“I went for a drive, why? What’s up?”
Kiara sucks in a breath. I count three seconds before she speaks up.
“They know.”
And just like that, my heart stops.
“Who knows what?” I ask, even though I have an idea what she’s talking about.
“They know we’re back, Lena. I just got a text from Michael asking why we returned to New York without telling anybody. My best guess is he has a tracking device on our phones or he hacked us or he has a program that tells him as soon as we’re entered the country. Anyway, he already told your brother. And if I’m pretty sure he’s going to call you soon.”
My eyes fall shut. “Shit.”
“Yeah. I just wanted to warn you about it. I’m sorry, Lena,” she says softly. “But it’s not like you would have been able to avoid them forever.”
I run my fingers through my hair, hating the way my hand trembles.
“I was hoping to have at least a couple of days,” I groan. “Damn Michael and his stupid hacking skills. I’m not ready, Kie.”
We’ve been in New York for five hours. I thought I would have more time.
“I know, sweetie. But we already talked about this. Do you need me to be there?”
“No. No, I’m not telling them yet,” I say, suddenly coming to a decision.
Kiara falls silent for a beat. “Lena, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying I need more time. At least let me get a feel of the situation. I need to know how everyone is before dropping a bomb on them. I’ll head over to the house first to see them.”
“Alright,” Kiara says on a sigh. “You have a point. We’ll be here waiting for you.”
“Yeah. Thanks, love. Bye.”
She was right. Almost as soon as I hang up, Tony’s name flashes across the screen of my phone. I take another deep breath before answering.
“Hi, big brother,” I greet, summoning as much cheer as I can.
“First, you don’t let me come visit you in the U.K. And now you come back home without a single word. What the hell is going on, Lena?”
Well, he sounds mad. Nice.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” I say, my voice low. “And thanks to Michael, it’s ruined. I came home because I missed everyone. Why? Is that a crime?”
“No, but it’d have been nice to know you were getting on a fucking plane and flying across the Atlantic.”
“I know, I know, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Damn right, it won’t. You’re coming home, right?”
I look up at the sky, taking in the view. “Yeah,” I say softly. “I’m coming home.”
“Alright,sorella.See you soon.”
He hangs up and I start the car again, this time heading toward home. I wasn’t lying when I said I missed it. The past year of my life has been one of the most challenging ones ever. I didn’t realize how important my family was until I had to go through one of the hardest things without them.
Roman will be pleased to know he was right. I do need them. And I never should have spent all those years trying to ignore that fact. Right now, though, I can only hope he doesn’t kill me first.
Because I’m back in New York. And I brought his baby with me.
