Page 87 of Stolen By the Enemy

I put the phone down before he can say anything to bring my blood pressure up, and finish up the work I was dealing with, feeling like I need another run now.

At least Luca is willing to think about coming. I know that this will make Grazia happy, which makes me happy.

We will handle everything else afterward.

If the Baldinis come to Mexico for Grazia, I’ll make sure that this time they do feel welcome, and they leave feeling better than they did last time.

This is just one small way I can make up to Grazia for all of the shit I put her through.

She has never made me feel guilty for it, but I still lie awake and wish that I had been better to her.

I leave the house to go for my jog, but make a mental note to get Grazia a new cell phone.

Hers was left behind in the US, and she might as well get one that works here in Mexico.

I want her to have the freedom to come and go as she pleases, and to speak to whoever she wants to, whenever she chooses.

The most important part of our relationship now is to undo the damage from her being my captive.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Grazia

Once I’m on the phone with my brothers, this wedding is starting to feel like more of a reality.

Marco thinks that giving me a few weeks to plan it is enough, and I agree that we shouldn’t wait too long, but there are things that keep popping up that need to be planned, handled, and dealt with, and it’s all feeling crazy.

Marco gave me my own phone yesterday.

He told Luca and Enzo to call me, since they apparently keep trying on the house phone and I keep missing them.

I just can’t help but enjoy the freedom I have now in Mexico, taking every chance I get to go outside and explore the town and the beach.

“I’m sorry, Grazia, we shouldn’t have left you there,” Enzo speaks into the phone, but I know that Luca is there as well.

My brothers didn’t act in character when they left me behind, but I know that they were stressed and unsure about what to do.

And I doubt that I could have done things any better, considering I was ready to double-cross Luca just a few months ago.

We might not be the best siblings to each other, but I am hoping that this wedding and marriage can help heal our family just a bit.

“I’ve forgiven both of you,” I say to them, and I mean it.

My anger was deep when they first left me, but if they hadn’t, things would not have turned out the way they did.

“It turns out it was for the best, anyway, because Marco and I have a lot in common. I want to do this. I want to join our families and live here in Mexico with him. I’d really like you all to come to the wedding if you can.”

I’m nervous about their reaction to this news, but I have decided that I’m going to go through with it even if they refuse to give their blessing.

I’d really like for them to support me, of course, but I am now much more confident in making my own decisions.

“And you’re sure about this? He’s not forcing you into this by threatening to kill someone?” Luca’s voice comes through the connection.

His comment almost sounds like a joke, but knowing Luca, I know it’s not.

He doesn’t trust Marco, and for a while, I think he probably didn’t trust me after finding out I was sleeping with the enemy.

“No, he’s not blackmailing me,” I tell him, hoping he can hear how serious I am through the phone. “And yes, I’m sure. I love him. This wedding is happening, but I would love it if you both—and your wives—would come here to see us get married.”

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