Chapter 139 The Price of Holding On
POV Maya:
After a hot shower to ease my sore muscles, I get dressed and head downstairs to help the Morettis with dinner. Right after my hookup with Adrian, we spent some time lying next to the broken table—his arms wrapped around my body, my head resting on his chest. That attitude made me feel special. I glance at my wooden horse on the bed and smile. Adrian has a gift, and if he realized it, he could make a lot of money crafting unique pieces.
As soon as I go downstairs, I head toward the kitchen, but stop when I see Luca sitting on the couch with several books beside him. Curious as I am, I go over to see what they are. Erotic books? I’d love that. I sit next to him, pick one up, and see that they’re college textbooks. I frown when I read Luca’s name written in each book.
“Are these yours?” I ask, surprised.
“Yes,” he answers, still flipping through the book in his hand.
“What did you graduate in?” Luca stops what he’s doing and looks at me angrily.
“In nothing. Now give me that book,” he says. I hand it to him, and he starts gathering them all.
I spend a few seconds trying to understand why he has college books if he just told me he never graduated.
“Did you go to college?” I decide to ask differently.
“Yes, you curious thing.” I pout, and Luca rolls his eyes. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s none of my business.” I stand up, determined to go help his brothers in the kitchen, but before I can walk away, he grabs my arm.
“I studied veterinary medicine, but I had to drop out.”
“How long ago was that?” I ask, helping him put the books away.
“A few years,” he shrugs, and I frown.
“And why didn’t you go back?”
“It’s not cheap, and I have other priorities right now—the farm and my family are some of them. But it’s fine. I like working with my brothers.”
He stands up to put the books away, and I watch him for a few minutes. I notice how carefully he handles the books, just as I noticed his eyes light up when he talked about college. How many times do we give up our dreams for others? I hope Luca doesn’t regret giving up something that’s clearly still a dream he wants to achieve.
“Shall we?” He offers his hand, and I take it. “And I didn’t forget what you said yesterday.” I look at him, confused. “That today you’re washing the dirty dishes.”
“I said that? Are you sure? I don’t remember,” I say, and Luca glares at me. “Fine, you annoying bastard, I’ll wash them—but I’m not responsible if I break everything,” I add, and Luca growls.
“I’ll wash them, you damn redhead.”
I give him a quick peck, pretending I didn’t see the surprise on his face.
“Thank you, bossy brute. You’re a sweetheart.”
Luca smiles at me, and once again I feel that strange sensation in my heart.
What is happening to me?
(...)
POV Luca:
I read the letter the bank sent once again, stating that they can’t extend the deadline based solely on a promise of payment, and that for them to even consider accepting, we need to provide at least ten percent of the total debt. I look at Dominic, whose face is heavy with sadness. I know how much the farm means to him. I know that if we lose it, my brother will be devastated—just like our parents.
“I’m going to sell Atrevido,” I finally give voice to the idea I’ve been turning over in my head for the past few days, and my brother’s eyes lift to meet mine.
“No. I’ll find a way. I don’t want you to sell your horse.”
“Dominic, it’s fine. I know a few ranchers who will be interested in him. I just need to accept the best offer,” I say, my throat tight.
Atrevido has been mine since he was just a foal. I trained him, cared for him with all the affection in the world, and I never once thought about selling him—not even when I had to drop out of college because I didn’t have the money to pay for it. But I can’t afford to be sentimental right now. My family needs me, and among all the horses we own, Atrevido is the one we can get a good amount of money for.
“Let me sell Salazar. I just need—”
“Dominic, our best chance is to give the bank a significant amount,” I say firmly, and my brother lowers his eyes because he knows I’m right. “I’ll talk to Sebastian. After me, he’s the one who has the strongest bond with Atrevido.”
I leave Dominic’s room without knowing how I’m going to have that conversation with Sebastian. He lives for our horses—they were the ones who helped him climb out of depression after Scarlett left. And there’s no other way. It has to be like this. My brother will have to understand me. Maybe this is the moment to tell him the truth, just like I told Mikhail and Adrian, because I believe Atrevido won’t be the only horse we’ll have to sell.