Page 89 of Give

I’m next to my life, the woman who will be my wife soon. I crawl into bed with her, close my eyes, and because I’m with my Heaven, I fall asleep in peace.

CHAPTERFORTY-ONE

The whirlwind of my kidnapping has made national news, and every media network has approached me for an exclusive interview. I have no reason or desire to rehash every single detail of my abduction.

It’s still hard to wrap my head around Jeffery Mann’s diabolical plot to take me down and frame Luca for pollution in the Great Lakes.

In the investigation, Mann’s plan was almost flawless—plotting with his son, understanding Penn would recommend me as lead counsel. Jeffery would frame me, and his son would eliminate his number one competitor. However, neither father nor son had anticipated that Luca and I would fall in love.

The class action suit that Tucker had uncovered had been the long game. They filed it but pulled everything. In Luca’s trust of Harry Lane, he had forged Luca’s signature. It would be enough to show proof Luca had something to hide. Harry buried the fake NDA and would turn it over to the opposing council when the time was right.

Jeffery was the person who had the tapes changed and placed in my safe. And the bastard had been the brains behind the operation. He realized I’d record the conversation, and with the help of a computer genius, the statement Tawny gave was verbatim from Jeffery. They were given certain words everyone had to say. Follow-up questions helped develop my voice with phrases they’d hoped would help alter the tapes. It wasn’t hard to find the creep, and he’s been arrested along with Tawny, Arthur, and Leonard. They’re lucky the psychopath we know as Garrett Greene didn’t kill them, as he had with Harry Lane.

It hurts my brain trying to piece together every bit of evidence they’d planned and schemed for several years. Harry Lane was tired of being Luca’s yes-man, and he wasn’t hard to turn. Garrett became selfish, not wanting to give over a third of their payout to Lane, and in his greed and delirium, he killed Harry Lane and his wife.

I try to turn off my brain. If I allow myself to stew on it too long, I become delirious, and I can’t give Jeffery Mann, Garrett Greene, and Harry Lane that much power. After all, they’re dead and don’t deserve that kind of influence over me.

It’s been three weeks, and I’ve barely left Luca’s condo. My parents returned to Akron, my sister to New York. I still haven’t gotten a straight answer from Penn or Bristol about the definition of their relationship. They’re pretty tight-lipped.

Luca hasn’t left my side with the fear of almost losing me, the memory of Garrett Greene’s gun pointed at my head, seconds away from taking me from him.

He appears in the doorway of our room. I say it’s our room because, in his domineering way, he’s had all my clothes moved into his condo. I haven’t been back to my home,but my home is wherever Luca is.

* * *

Lars sits next to me as we thumb through magazines. He’s showing me some of his designs that have been showcased, and with his fashion sense, he’ll be designing my wedding gown. Neither Luca nor I have forgotten as we talk about our future lives together, but we’ve not brought up the engagement. So much has happened to me in the past three weeks—my world has turned upside down—but I have no doubt about Luca’s intentions, and knowing him, he’s most likely planning some grand gesture.

Lars leans over, taking hold of my hand while both our men are in the office talking business. “Ani, I know you’re tired of people asking you if you’re okay, but I have to know,are you okay?”

I let out a slight snicker. “Okay is such a broad term. And I don’t know how to answer that, but I’m doing better every day, with Luca, and friends like you.” I affectionately squeeze his hand, as a thank-you.

“You’re a badass bitch, you know this, right?”

Lars has a way with words, but more, he knows how to put a smile on my face. “I can’t forget, you remind me all the time. And thank you.”

The doorbell rings, and for the first time in weeks, I don’t jump at it. “Are you sure you’re up to this, Ani? Because if you’re not, I can tell them to get lost and Titus and I will leave, too.”

Laura, Dean, Caroline, and Isabel have been wanting to see me since I left the hospital. I hadn’t been in the right emotional state to put on a brave front for everyone, but after missing their presence in my life, I asked for a small get-together.

“Nah, I’m okay. It’s just a few more people, and I’ve fucking missed you all, plus you get to meet Luca’s sister.”

Luca is at the door before I can make my way there to greet our friends. Laura is the first over the threshold, and she barrels toward me. “Can I hug you, Ani? I don’t want to come off as overly extra.”

“Overly extra? Really, Laura, not you?” Lars teases behind me.

She ignores him and I open my arms to receive her. “I’ve missed you, Laura. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long…”

“Don’t you dare apologize, you sweet girl! We go at your pace.” Dean is next to his wife, bringing me in for a hug, too.

“Glad to see you, Ani.” And he almost has to yank his wife from me. Her protective nature is sweet.

“There’s drinks and food in the kitchen, everyone!” Lars shouts and that gets Laura’s attention. There’s a knock on the door, and Luca opens it, again, not moving from the spot.

“Isa,” he greets, and she pulls her brother into a hug, then comes my way. But neither one of us miss that Murph is right behind her.

“Anisten, fuck, are you a sight for sore eyes.” I’ll be hugged out by the end of the day, but for now, I’m so happy to see those I love. Murph walks past Luca with a side pat to his shoulder and pulls me in for yet another hug.

“You’re a survivor.” It’s all he says as he escorts Isabel into the kitchen, Murphy’s hand reaching down to the small of her back. Luca’s eyes bulge, and I take a second to calm his nerves.

---