29. Diana

29

DIANA

I 'm terrified as Peter presses the gun against my temple. My heart races, and I struggle to make sense of what's happening. How did a job interview turn into this nightmare? Who is Peter? Why does Lazaro think I'm involved with Peter's scheme? The accusation, the words coming from his mouth shock me to my core.

Lazaro's eyes burn with fury as he stares Peter down. I've never seen him like this, so cold and dangerous. It's like he's a different person entirely. I’ve heard about this side of him, but I've never seen it.

I close my eyes, praying this is all a bad dream. But the cold metal of the gun against my skin is all too real. I think of the baby growing inside me—Lazaro's baby—and a sob escapes my lips.

Lazaro's gaze flicks to me, and for a moment, I see something in his eyes. Does he realize I'm not part of this plot? That I'm just as much of a victim as he is?

“You don’t scare me, D’Amato,” Peter says, but his voice betrays his bravado. “You’ll pay for killing my father. All of you will. Just like your parents.”

Lazaro’s eyes flash with pain, but his expression remains lethal. My heart aches for him. Despite my own terror, I feel sadness for Lazaro and his family. To lose their parents in such a senseless, cruel way, and all as payback for a deed Lazaro didn’t commit. At least he says he didn’t. The fact that Lazaro seems to have part of his memory back suggests he’s telling the truth. Then again, maybe he’s just saying what he feels will help save us from Peter.

Peter's grip on me tightens, and I can feel him trembling with rage. His grief has clearly driven him to madness.

"Please," I plead with Peter, "Think about what you're doing. More death won't solve anything. It won't bring your father back."

“You shut up!” Peter jerks me back.

"Peter. Let her go. You and I can walk out of here together. I'll go wherever you want." Lazaro pulls Peter's attention back to him.

"You're lying.”

“You’re the one with the gun. You’ll still have the gun even if Diana leaves.” Lazaro takes a small step forward, hands raised. I hate that Lazaro is offering himself as a hostage to save me.

Peter's grip loosens slightly, and I hope against hope that this nightmare might end without bloodshed.

Peter tugs at his tie. “Fine. But she ties you up before you leave.” He yanks his tie off and hands it to me. “Don’t either of you try anything. I’ll drop her right at your feet, D’Amato, if you try anything.”

Lazaro nods, his eyes never leaving Peter's face. He takes another slow step toward us, holding out his hands.

Peter's arm drops from around my neck, though he keeps the gun trained on me. With shaking hands, I take Peter’s tie. I bring it to Lazaro's hands, my fingers brushing against his warm skin. In that brief moment of contact, I see a flicker of reassurance in Lazaro's eyes. It steadies me, gives me strength.

Our eyes lock as I wrap the tie loosely around his wrists.

“Make it tight,” Peter barks from behind me.

As I work, Lazaro leans in close. "Listen carefully." His voice is low and urgent. "As soon as you're free, get in Lola and leave town. Don't look back."

I swallow hard, fighting back a sob. I shake my head.

"You have to," he insists. "Don't tell my family about your… condition. Just go. You're too good for this life, Diana. You deserve better than all of this."

My hands falter on the knot. "Lazaro."

“It’s time for your next adventure,” he commands. “Do it, Diana. Leave and forget all about me.”

As if I could. His words suggest that he knows I’m not working with Peter. That I wasn’t spying. But what good does that do me now when he’s prepared to die to save me?

There's so much I want to tell him… about the baby, about how much I've missed him, about how sorry I am for leaving without an explanation… how much I love him. But before I can say anything, Peter presses the gun to the back of my head.

"Hurry up," he snarls, his patience wearing thin.

I know this might be my last chance to speak to Lazaro. My hands tremble as I finish securing the tie around his wrists in what I hope is a slip knot that he might be able to loosen and save himself.

I look up into his eyes, stuffing the end of the tie into the palms of his hands. "I love you."

Lazaro’s breath hitches. His eyes flash with emotion. Then his jaw sets, his eyes hardening with determination. "Then leave and don't look back.”

The finality in his tone makes my chest tighten. I want to argue, to tell him I can't just abandon him. But I see the resolve in his eyes, and I know he won't be swayed. He's doing this to protect me, to protect our unborn child.

“Go!” Peter taps the gun against my back and pushes. On wobbly legs, I make my way to the door of the café, pushing it open and stepping out into the cool late afternoon air.

Tears blur my vision as Lazaro's words echo in my mind, urging me to leave town and never look back. But how can I abandon him?

I take a few steps away from the door when a strong hand grabs my arm and pulls. Before I can scream, a hand covers my mouth. Panic rises.

“It’s Henry. You’re safe.” Henry pulls me away from the café entrance, his eyes scanning the area until we’re around the corner of the building. “What’s going on in there?” His grip loosens on me.

“To be honest, I’m not quite sure. I thought I was having a job interview but… Lazaro recognized him. Peter?—”

“Oh, fuck.” Henry runs his fingers through his hair.

“I take it you know him? He says Lazaro killed his father. Lazaro says he didn’t. I think he remembers when he was kidnapped. He said Peter and some others ambushed him.”

Henry's face pales. "I’d heard Peter escaped from the mental hospital, but I was sure he left town. I’ve been searching for him, but… fuck!”

"Peter… he said he killed Lazaro's parents. That he was the officer who responded to their car accident but instead of helping them, he killed them."

Henry closes his eyes as if he can’t take any more bad news. Matteo and Elio appear out of the shadows, their expressions grim.

“What’s going on?” Elio demands.

“It’s Peter Hartley,” Henry informs them.

“You’re fucking kidding me?” Matteo growls.

“We should have killed him after what he did to Lana. Instead, we let the justice system deal with him. Look where that's gotten us.” Elio sends Henry a scathing glare.

"What are we going to do?" My voice trembles, but I’m determined to save Lazaro. “We can't just leave Lazaro in there with that madman."

“You need to go back to the mansion,” Henry says firmly.

Lazaro's words echo in my mind, urging me to leave town and never look back. But I can't bring myself to leave. Not until I know he’s safe.

"I can't leave until I know Lazaro's okay.”

“We can’t help him and worry about you,” Henry says, and then he starts to arrange a ride for me.

"I have my car. I can drive myself."

"Are you sure you're okay to drive?" Henry asks.

I nod. "Yes, I'll be fine." My worry now is how I’ll be received at the mansion. I can already hear Lana blaming me for all this. Why was Lazaro here in the first place? What was Peter’s ultimate goal?

I consider just going home, but I know the D'Amato mansion is where news of Lazaro's situation will be sent first. So I head there.

I pull up to the mansion, and before I can even get out of my car, the front door flies open and Lana rushes out. Her face is overcome with worry and fear. I’ve never seen her look so discomposed. It shows the depth of her love for her family.

"Diana! Thank God you're here." Lana grabs my arm, practically dragging me into the house. "We’ve heard what's happening. Tell me everything."

As we enter the foyer, I see Piper waiting anxiously. Her eyes are wide with concern, and she wrings her hands nervously.

“Do you need a drink? Fucking hell, I nearly had to drink myself into a stupor after being in the presence of Peter Hartley,” Lana says.

“Water might be nice,” I admit, remembering Peter saying he wanted to do to me what he'd done to Lana. It must have been bad to shake her so much.

We enter the living area, and Piper pours me a glass of water from a pitcher already in the room.

I take a sip. “I… ah… I was on a job interview but it was Peter… I guess. I don’t know. It’s all so crazy. Lazaro came in, and he seemed to know him. Like he remembered.”

“His memory is back?” Piper asks.

“I don’t know about all of it, but I think he remembers when he was kidnapped. Peter says Lazaro killed his father, but Lazaro remembered everything when he saw Peter. He didn't do it."

Lana's face pales, and she exchanges a worried glance with Piper. "What else?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself to deliver the devastating news. "Peter confessed to killing your parents. He responded to the car accident… and he killed them."

Lana staggers back as if I've physically struck her. Piper rushes to her side, supporting her as she sinks into a nearby chair.

I watch as the normally unflappable Lana crumples before my eyes. She buries her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

“He told Lazaro he wanted to do to me what he did to you… Lana, I can’t imagine the pain he put you through," I say.

"This is my fault," Lana says after a moment. "I should have let Elio or Matteo take care of Peter when we had the chance. But I… I gave in to Henry. He wanted the law to handle it."

Piper kneels beside Lana, taking her hand. "That wasn’t wrong, Lana. Henry is a good man. The law might have failed?—”

“I failed Lazaro.”

I look at Lana, confusion washing over me. "Was Lazaro at the cafe to take care of Peter?"

Lana's brow furrows. "No. Lazaro was there to find you, Diana. I asked Henry to locate you for him."

“What?" I breathe, not sure I understand her correctly.

Lana gaze meets mine, and I see regret on her face. "I… I owe you an apology. I've been unfair to you."

I glance at Piper, wondering what’s happening.

“Come sit,” Piper says, motioning me to a chair.

I sit and sip my water, trying to steady my nerves.

"The truth is, I was jealous," Lana starts. "I saw how Lazaro was with you, how you seemed to understand him in a way none of us could. How you calmed him. It should have been me helping him. It felt like I was losing my brother all over again."

All this time, I thought Lana hated me, that she saw me as a threat to her family. But now, I realize there was so much more beneath the surface.

"That's why I was so rude to you," Lana continues, her voice thick with emotion. "I pushed you away because I was afraid. I didn't want to admit that maybe, just maybe, you were exactly what Lazaro needed."

"Thank you. I… I never meant to come between you and Lazaro."

Lana gives me a watery smile. "I know that. Just as you know I can be a bitch. Just ask Piper. I said some rotten things to her too, didn’t I?”

“You didn’t mean them,” Piper says, squeezing her hand.

Lana laughs. “At the time, I did. Piper has a soft heart. Truth is, I’m not soft.”

“You seem soft right now,” I say, hoping I don’t poke her into bitchiness.

She laughs. “Now I’m going to be tough. Everything is going to be okay. Elio, Matteo, and Henry will make sure Lazaro is okay. Or knowing Lazaro, he’ll pull one of his magic tricks and deal with Peter.”

“Magic?”

“Let’s just say, Lazaro has gotten out of a lot of scrapes that he shouldn’t have. It must be magic.”

Her confidence is reassuring, while also bittersweet. When Lazaro returns, he’ll tell me to leave and he’ll be able to fulfill the duty Elio and Lana have asked of him.

"I'm sure Ava will be relieved when he returns," I say, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Lana's brow furrows in confusion. “Why would you—” Then her eyes widen with understanding. "Oh, Lazaro isn't marrying Ava. Why do you think I had Henry find you?"

“I don’t know.” I wonder if I’m dreaming. Or maybe I’m dead. Peter killed me and I’m in some netherworld.

"Lazaro loves you, Diana. He's been miserable without you. That's why I asked Henry to track you down."

I want to believe her. God, how I want to believe her. But I can't let myself hope, not yet.

"But… but Lazaro told me to leave.”

Lana rolls her eyes. “That sounds like my brother. Always trying to protect everyone, even if it means hurting himself in the process."

I bite my lip, torn between hope and fear. Lazaro's words echo in my mind. " Leave and don’t look back. Don't tell my family about your condition ."

If he comes back, will he force me to follow his command? Can I fight it? Can I make him see that I’ve finally found my home… my family?