My stomach tightened as the plane landed in Rome. Adrian and I had stayed at the hotel in Vologda for three more nights until Lucas was released from the hospital. Then the four of us got on a plane to fly Lucas back to Italy.

"Are you okay?" Adrian asked.

He had noticed that I was gripping his hand in mine and when I looked over at him his forehead was furrowed and his eyebrows were raised.

I'd never thought of Italy is an evil place, but after my experience with Adrian's father and brother at their villa, the bad feelings that resurfaced as we landed were hard to shake.

"How long are you going to stay at Gina's with me?" I asked Adrian as the plane taxied toward the airport.

"I can stay a night or two, but I do need to get back to the villa."

"How long do you think you'll be there?"

"I don't know. I'm assuming there will be some paperwork to be done after my father's death. But since I've had nothing to do with the business for over a year and my father has me written out of his will, I'm pretty sure I won't be involved in any of it. But Lucas might need my help. Gina said you're welcome to stay as long as you want. I'll call you every day and tell you how it's going. I'm sure it won't be more than a week."

"You're stopping off at Gina's before you come back to the villa?" Lucas asked from his seat across the aisle.

"Yeah, I've gotta tell her about Renaldo. I know she's going to be upset that he didn't make it. And I know she's anxious to see Brooklyn. Grady will get you home in one piece though."

"Are you sure I'm going to be welcome there? Last time I checked I wasn't very popular with your dad's security guards."

"Dude, you're a freaking hero. You saved our lives—all three of us. I'll make sure everyone knows you're welcome back at the villa, don't worry."

Lucas got up and moved to a seat across from us and looked at Adrian. "I need to tell you something."

"What? Is something wrong?"

"I got a message from one of the staff members at Mom's house. I guess she's not doing very well. She might not be around very much longer."

"What? What happened to her? Was it because of what happened with Dad?"

"I don't know. I know she knows that he was killed, but I don't know if she knows any of the details. You know she's had a bad heart for a while. Maybe it's just catching up with her."

"Wow, I had no idea. I really should get back there soon. I'll just stay at Gina's for one night and head up there in the morning."

It was moments like this that confused me. It seemed like Lucas could be almost sweet one minute, and then it seemed like something evil was lurking inside him the next. I still didn't know if I could handle being away from Adrian, but the thought of setting foot back in that villa where I was held captive over a year ago made my skin crawl. I knew that nothing like that would happen to me again, but the place still held such powerful memories.

"What's she like … your mother?"

"She's nothing like my father. I've really missed her over the last year. She never had anything to do with the family business; her role always seemed to be to support my father … like a good wife. She never went against his wishes in any way, but she didn't treat me the same way that he did either. She always did strike me as kind of detached, but I guess that comes with the territory if you want to stay married to a sociopath."

"I'm sorry she's so sick. If I could be there with you I would, you know that, don't you?"

"Of course. I'll be fine. I don't particularly want to go back there either. But the sooner I get there and see what's going on, the sooner I can leave and hopefully never go back."

After we disembarked the plane and said goodbye to Lucas and Grady, Adrian and I were taken to Gina's house. I had never had a chance to visit her there and I was thrilled to see her design tastes reflected in the way her surroundings were decorated. Everything was bright and colorful but elegant, just like her.

"Darling Brooklyn, I'm so thrilled to see you. I was so very worried about you." Gina held my face in her hands for few moments then hugged me.

"Gina I have some bad news," Adrian said after he kissed her cheek.

"It's Renaldo, isn't it? He didn't make it."

"No he didn't. I'm so sorry, Gina. I'd hoped that we wouldn't lose anyone. I'm so grateful that he volunteered. He was a really good guy and a big help."

"Yes, he knew how dangerous it was to enter that man's property. He was aware of the risk. I'm very sorry, but if he had to leave us it was for a very good cause. He helped bring our Brooklyn back to us."

* * *

The rest of the day with Gina was like a whirlwind. We didn't do much but wander her property and eat incredibly delicious food that her cook prepared for us. But because I knew that Adrian would be leaving in the morning, it all seemed to fly by so fast.

That night as I lay in Adrian's arms I thought about everything. About how much he sacrificed for me by leaving his family business, severing his family ties and not being able to see his mother for so long, and then keeping me safe on the yacht. Then finally risking his life to rescue me from that horrible Mihai Syrnyk.

I came to the conclusion that I couldn't let him go by himself. I wanted to be with him regardless of how I felt about that place. The house itself wasn't going to hurt me. I knew that my fears were all in my mind and that there was nothing there to be afraid of now.

I wanted to be there for him when he went to see his mother. I wanted to comfort him and hold him the way he had comforted me and made me feel safe in his arms in Russia.

As the sun rose and lit up the bedroom where Adrian I slept, I thought about how much life I had left. I wanted to experience so much more of the world, and I wanted to do it with Adrian right by my side. And now that we didn't have to hide anymore I smiled as I felt an enormous sense of relief and freedom well up in me.

"What are you thinking about?"

Adrian kissed my head and nuzzled his face in my hair.

"Just thinking about you and how much of our lives we have ahead of us. We can do anything we want now. We can go anywhere without worrying about anything."

"That's true. Where do you want to go first?"

"Well, first I want to go back to the villa with you. I don't want to be away from you, Adrian."

"But you wanted to stay here with Gina. I don't want you to go anywhere that makes you uncomfortable, Brooklyn. I understand…"

"I want to be with you, Adrian. I want to be there for you. I can handle it. I'll be fine. I'll be more than fine. I'll be with you."

"Okay, if you're sure."

"I am."

I wanted to believe all of the words that had just come out of my mouth, but I knew it was still going to be hard to walk up the stairs and enter that house again. But I knew as long as Adrian was with me I would be safe.