Chapter 13 - Adrian Asked Luca for One Last Thing
Adrian accepted a plea agreement.
Life-changing sentence.
Not life sentence.
He wanted to see Luca before transfer.
Luca refused twice.
Then agreed.
I waited outside.
Forty minutes.
When he emerged, his face looked wrecked.
“What happened?”
“He apologized.”
I said nothing.
“He said he hated me before he understood why.”
“Did you forgive him?”
“No.”
Honest.
“Will you?”
“I don’t know.”
We sat in the car.
He stared ahead.
“He asked if I loved him.”
My chest tightened.
“What did you say?”
“Yes.
Past and present in one word.
“He cried.”
Luca looked down.
“I did too.”
I took his hand.
“He tried to kill me.”
“I know.”
“I still remember teaching him to ride a bike.”
“I know.”
People want clean villains.
Life rarely gives them.
Adrian was greedy.
Cruel.
Responsible.
He was also Luca’s little brother.
Love does not erase accountability.
Accountability does not erase history.
Two truths can coexist.
“What did he ask?”
“One thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t let Mother die alone.”
I looked out the window.
“And?”
“I said I wouldn’t.”
I understood.
Not because Sofia deserved everything.
Because Luca deserved to choose who he became.
Later that year, Sofia moved near Denver.
Not with us.
Never.
But near enough for Luca to visit.
Their relationship remained awkward.
Sometimes painful.
Sometimes surprisingly funny.
She joined therapy too.
Rafael called it “the DeSantis family miracle.”
Luca threatened piano exposure again.
I eventually heard Rafael play.
May you like
He was excellent.
Everyone lies.
