Calum walked into the arrivals hall and scanned around, looking for the exit. This was a new airport to him, so it took a few seconds to locate it. Spotting the sign, he headed outside and easily found the line for taxis. He joined the back and switched on his cell. He’d had no word from Laurella, despite him basically spamming her inbox with voicemails and text messages. Anger grew within him slowly, like the burning embers of a fire before the raging flames took hold. After everything they’d been through, she had chosen to run rather than talk to him about what was really going on. He didn’t want to contemplate what that said about their relationship.

He reached the front of the line and gave the taxi driver the address he had for Laurella. As the car pulled into the crazy traffic to the beeping of horns—followed by what Calum assumed was a rude gesture made by his driver out of the window—he called Laurella once more. This time, the automated message told him her inbox was full and no more messages could be left. Goddammit.

He opened the text app. I’m here, on my way to your parents’ house. You can ignore my calls and messages, but you’ll find it harder to ignore me. We are talking this through whether you like it or not.

He didn’t expect a response. She hadn’t responded to any of his other messages. Still, he hoped. He glared at the screen almost as if he could make a reply appear through sheer force of will.

He texted Zane, letting him know he’d arrived and asking whether Zane had heard from Laurella. The answer came back almost immediately.

Yes. She’s resigned.

Calum slammed his fist against the leather seat. “Fuck!”

The cab driver gestured and muttered something in Italian. Calum held up his hand in apology and leaned his head back. He closed his eyes. They were stinging from a lack of sleep and the six-hour time difference. He hated traveling west to east. It was the worst direction to acclimatize to.

An hour later, the taxi stopped outside a large apartment block about fifteen stories high. Calum glimpsed the bright blue of a swimming pool set among communal gardens filled with summer flowers. He paid the fare and climbed out. The driver popped the trunk, and Calum lifted his suitcase onto the roadside. The cabbie drove off, leaving him alone.

Three steps led up to the entranceway. Towing his suitcase behind him, he walked inside. The lobby area resembled that of a nice hotel. In the center was a large round table, on top of which sat an enormous white vase filled with flowers and green foliage. To the left was a bank of elevators, and two women were sitting behind a desk.

“Hi,” Calum said, hoping like hell they spoke English because his Italian consisted of three words: ciao, arrivederci, and stronzo. “I’m here to see the Ricci family.” He glanced down at the piece of paper upon which he’d scrawled Laurella’s address. “Apartment nine twenty-two.”

“Of course, sir,” the receptionist replied in accented English—thank God. “If you’ll sign in here.”

Calum signed his name where she indicated. He rode the elevator up to the ninth floor, anxiety swirling in his stomach. Not only was he unsure what Laurella’s reaction was going to be, but he also didn’t know whether she’d mentioned him to her parents, or whether she was even staying with them. Oh Christ. What if she hadn’t told her parents she’d come home and was currently licking her wounds in a nearby hotel while she plucked up the courage to break the news to them? And he was about to turn up with his size thirteen’s and put his foot right in it.

Too late now.

He found the apartment and knocked before he lost his nerve. When a few seconds passed without answer, he knocked again. Still nothing. They had to all be out. Disappointed, he headed back down to the lobby. He’d seen a bench outside. He’d wait for her there—however long it took.

He plugged his headphones into the jack on his cell and stuck on some music to waste time until Laurella turned up.

“Mama, please go home and get some proper rest,” Laurella pleaded. “You look so tired. I’m here now. I can take some of the strain.”

Her mother shook her head vehemently. “I’m not leaving the hospital. Not until he’s fully conscious and I’m sure he’s going to be all right.”

Laurella met Caterina’s eyes over the top of her mother’s head. Caterina shrugged, a silent message of acceptance.

“Okay, but if Caterina and I fetch you some clean clothes, will you at least take fifteen minutes to freshen up?”

“If it makes you feel better,” she said in a defeatist tone.

“It does,” Laurella insisted, raising a brief smile from her mother.

Laurella gave Papa a kiss before she and Caterina left.

“Do you mind if we take a quick detour to Luisa’s so I can check on the children?” Caterina asked. Luisa was her mother-in-law.

“Of course not,” Laurella replied. “I’m desperate to see them, too. I just wish it was under happier circumstances.”

Caterina squeezed her hand. “Papa will be fine. He’s strong as an ox. Plus, do you think he has the guts to leave Mama?”

“Fair point,” Laurella said, and the two girls laughed together.

Mama and Papa had the most wonderful marriage. They’d certainly set the bar very high for their children.

They both lapsed into silence, and Laurella’s thoughts turned to Calum once more. It had only been forty-odd hours since that fateful meeting with Vorino, yet it felt more like forty years had passed. She still hadn’t plucked up the courage to switch on her cell. She couldn’t bear to hear the confusion in his voice. No doubt, he’d have gone to her apartment by now and found her missing. Would he be worried or just angry? Either way, she needed more time before facing him.

Laurella’s nieces barreled out of the house. Their squeals of excitement at seeing their aunt after a six-month absence momentarily soothed her agony. She swept them up into her arms, hugging them tightly.

“Let me look at you,” she said after they broke apart. “Oh my, how you’ve grown.”

“How long are you staying?” Callie, her eldest niece, who was five years old, asked.

“I’m not sure yet. But I’ll make sure I have plenty of time put aside to spend with you.”

“Now,” demanded Isabella, who had just turned three.

Laurella laughed. “Not now, but soon.”

Isabella pouted. The beginnings of a wail were diverted by Luisa, who swept her granddaughter into her arms before dangling her upside down by her ankles. Isabella’s crying soon turned into peals of laughter.

They spent a few minutes with the children, then Luisa distracted them with some cookies and milk so Laurella and Caterina could escape without fuss. After another fifteen minutes in the taxi, they arrived at their parents’ apartment block. The familiarity of home brought tears to Laurella’s eyes.

Her sister didn’t even need to ask what Laurella was feeling. “We had a wonderful childhood growing up here, didn’t we, Ella?”

Unable to speak, Laurella simply nodded. The two girls were walking up the steps when a familiar voice called out her name.

Laurella’s breath caught in her throat. She shouldn’t have been surprised, but interestingly, she was. Slowly, she faced him.

“Hello, Calum.”