Page 121 of Samson

“It doesn’t matter, though, does it? What’s done is done.”

“You’re right. Now you have to leave this all behind. Go find somewhere wonderful where you can meet a nice man and raise a family and be happy. And forget I exist.”

“Luca. Stop it. I came here because I want to make things right between us.” She stood and paced the room. “I’ve been stuck in this vortex, unable to move. But we have to, Luca. You’ve got a restaurant to run.”

“I don’t know if that can happen.”

“It has to. You have to fight for it. When I lost everything back in San Diego, I didn’t have any fight in me. I don’t know ifit would have made a difference, but I let it defeat me. Don’t do that. Don’t let Marc win.”

“I’ll keep fighting if you promise to do it too.”

“My chance is gone. There nothing left for me back there.”

“That’s not what I mean. You have so much talent. Whatever you do, don’t settle. Get out of waitressing, and get back on top. It’s where you were meant to be.”

“Thanks for saying that.”

He limped over to her and gave her a hug. “Thank you for coming over.”

She blinked back her tears. “It’s good to have you back in my life.”

“All right,” he said, stepping back. “I think that’s enough emotion for one day. Do you want a coffee?”

“Yeah, that sounds good. That sounds normal.”

“Normal?” Luca smiled at her as he poured. “Normal is not a word I’d ever use for you. You were never happy with the status quo growing up. You never fit in with those around you. You stand out. That’s probably what drew Samson to you.” He frowned. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought him up.”

“No, that’s okay. But after everything that’s happened, I think normal is the better option.”

But it wasn’t sitting right with her. All this talk about moving on and having a happy life didn’t sound like what she was supposed to be pursuing. She’d given her life to God again, and whatever it was that He had planned for her, she didn’t think it was normal.

“You know what Samson said to me?” she said.

“No, but I bet it was interesting.”

“He said God had made him for a purpose. That’s what he was doing with his job. He was fighting for what was right.”

“It doesn’t surprise me that Samson thought God had sent him to this planet for a special purpose,” he scoffed. “I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, but he was pretty full of himself.”

Delilah frowned. “Yeah, maybe.” The embassy came back into her mind, and her leg bounced in agitation. “I think I gotta go.”

“Go where?”

“Um. There’s just something I need to see to.” She had to finish this. Everyone was telling her to step away and settle down. To forget the wrongs that had been done, but she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. Maybe it was God, maybe it wasn’t, but she couldn’t do nothing.

“You okay? You’re looking a little intense all of the sudden.”

“Yeah, I’m good. But do you mind if I borrow your car?”

“Yeah, sure. I don’t need it until later. The keys are on the table over there.”

“Thanks.”

She hurried for the door but stopped for a second when a thought occurred to her. It was a revelation she would never have expected but confirmed for her what she needed to do.

Chapter 26

Samson set the first bomb.The timer was crude, and he had no way to know if it would work until it did.

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