Chapter Nine: The Memory She Couldn't Hide
1055 Words
The drive back to the De Luca estate was silent.
Isabella sat beside Lorenzo in the back of the armored SUV, her fingers intertwined with his.
She was afraid to let go.
Afraid that if she did, he might forget again.
Lorenzo hadn't said much since they left the warehouse.
He kept staring at their joined hands.
Every few minutes, his thumb moved slowly over her wedding ring.
"You're really remembering?" Isabella finally asked.
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Pieces."
"What pieces?"
He smiled faintly.
"You."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Tell me."
"I remember the first time you insulted me."
Isabella laughed through her tears.
"I did not insult you."
"You called me arrogant."
"You were arrogant."
"And stubborn."
"You were stubborn too."
Lorenzo's smile widened.
"I remember that smile."
Isabella's heart fluttered.
"What else?"
He looked out the window.
"Your favorite flower."
"Roses."
"White roses."
She nodded.
"You bought me some every Friday."
"I remember."
He looked back at her.
"And I remember telling you that I hated flowers."
She laughed.
"You hated romance."
"I still do."
"Really?"
"No."
He squeezed her hand.
"Not with you."
Isabella smiled.
For the first time in days, she felt like she had her husband back.
But the happiness didn't last.
---
When they arrived at the estate, Lorenzo immediately ordered the gates locked.
Every guard was doubled.
No visitors were allowed.
The mansion was placed under complete lockdown.
Marco entered the office carrying several files.
"Boss, we need to talk."
Lorenzo nodded.
"About Rafael."
Marco placed the files on the desk.
"Rafael Morelli disappeared five years ago after the Morelli family was attacked."
"I know."
"But there's something you don't know."
Marco opened another file.
"Your father was investigating the Morelli family before he died."
Lorenzo frowned.
"Why?"
"We don't know."
Marco placed an old photograph on the desk.
It showed Lorenzo's father standing beside Rafael's father.
They appeared to be arguing.
Lorenzo stared at it.
Another memory flashed.
His father shouting.
Rafael's father accusing him.
Then Vittorio entering the room.
Lorenzo suddenly grabbed his head.
"Boss?"
"I remember."
Marco stepped closer.
"What?"
"My father and Rafael's father weren't enemies."
Marco froze.
"They were working together."
---
Meanwhile, Isabella sat alone in the bedroom.
She looked at the wedding photographs spread across the bed.
She picked one up.
Lorenzo was smiling at her.
She remembered that exact moment.
He had whispered something into her ear.
She had laughed.
She closed her eyes.
Then she heard his voice again.
"You make me want a life I never thought I deserved."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
The bedroom door opened.
Lorenzo entered.
He stopped when he saw the photographs.
"You kept all of them."
"Of course."
He walked toward her.
"Can I see?"
She handed him one.
He stared at it.
Then his expression changed.
"I remember this."
"When?"
"Our honeymoon."
Isabella smiled.
"Lake Como."
He nodded slowly.
"You were angry with me."
She laughed.
"You forgot to bring my suitcase."
"I didn't forget."
"You did."
"I sent someone for it."
"After three hours."
He smiled.
"I remember."
The memories came back faster now.
Their first dinner.
Their first argument.
Their first kiss.
Their wedding night.
Their honeymoon.
Lorenzo suddenly looked at her.
"I remember loving you."
Isabella's breath caught.
"What?"
"I remember."
He touched her cheek.
"I loved you."
Tears streamed down her face.
"Do you still?"
Lorenzo didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
He pulled her into his arms.
"I don't care what my mind forgot."
"My heart never did."
Isabella buried her face against his chest.
For a moment, the world disappeared.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
Lorenzo immediately pushed Isabella to the floor.
Another bullet struck the wall.
"Stay down!"
Guards rushed into the room.
Marco ran inside.
"Sniper!"
Lorenzo looked toward the broken window.
"Find him."
The guards scattered.
Isabella trembled.
Lorenzo pulled her into his arms.
"This ends tonight."
---
Two hours later, the guards found something near the edge of the estate.
A black envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Isabella and Lorenzo.
Taken moments earlier.
On the back were five words:
You cannot protect her forever.
Lorenzo crushed the photograph.
His eyes became cold.
"Rafael."
Marco shook his head.
"There's more."
He handed Lorenzo another document.
Lorenzo read it.
His face changed.
"What is it?"
Marco swallowed.
"The police recovered an old bank account belonging to your father."
"Where?"
"Sicily."
"And?"
Marco looked at Isabella.
"It contains payments made to someone called The Raven."
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
"Who is The Raven?"
"We don't know."
"Find out."
Marco nodded.
---
That night, Isabella couldn't sleep.
She stood on the balcony overlooking the estate.
Lorenzo approached from behind.
"You should rest."
She turned.
"I'm scared."
He walked closer.
"Of Rafael?"
"Of losing you again."
Lorenzo took her hands.
"You won't."
"How can you promise that?"
"Because I remember something now."
"What?"
He leaned closer.
"The first night we met, you told me something."
She smiled.
"What?"
"You said, 'If you ever break my heart, I'll leave you.'"
She laughed softly.
"I remember."
"And I told you..."
He paused.
"What?"
"I'd rather die than let you leave."
Her smile faded.
"You really remember."
"Yes."
He kissed her forehead.
"I remember everything that matters."
But neither of them knew the truth.
The memories Lorenzo had recovered were only the beginning.
Because somewhere in Sicily, someone was watching them.
A man who knew every secret of the De Luca family.
A man who had been waiting five years for revenge.
And his name was The Raven.
The following morning, Lorenzo received a phone call.
He answered.
"Who is this?"
A distorted voice replied.
"You want to know what happened to your father?"
Lorenzo froze.
"Who are you?"
The voice laughed softly.
"You've spent five years believing the wrong man."
Lorenzo's grip tightened around the phone.
"What do you want?"
"Come to Sicily."
"Come alone."
"And I'll tell you who really killed your father."
The call ended.
Lorenzo slowly lowered the phone.
Isabella walked into the room.
"What happened?"
He looked at her.
For the first time since recovering his memories, fear appeared in his eyes.
"We're going to Sicily."
"Why?"
"Because the truth about my family has been waiting there."
And somewhere far away, The Raven smiled.
The final piece of his revenge was finally moving into place.
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