Legend & Lace

32. Finally Home

Chapter 32

Finally Home

Home.

Less than eight hours later after coming up from the treasure room under Antecedent, we were all piled into our borrowed SUV and headed from Florence to Pallandino. And I do mean borrowed in the correct definitely of the word, not stolen like we would have had to do if I hadn't remembered where Ryan had kept the thing parked in case they were in need of a ride.

We'd taken a last-minute flight that we could only get on if we got first class, which none of us were complaining about, especially when John was footing the bill...even when we had a backpack filled with gold and jewels that we somehow managed to get through security pretty easy. I didn't think he would mind especially since we were heading home to them, to everyone, after so long.

Home.

When Drake had said the word, it took me a moment to realize the underlying meaning to it. All of this...with the book and the keys, with Vince and the Order...was over. We knew there were other hidden caches of triumvirate treasures hidden throughout the world, we just weren't going to be the ones who went out and found it. For now, we were just going to go back to being Hattie and Drake...after a long time coming.

I held the new – well, new to us – triumvirate history book for the Brotherhood in my lap, having already flipped through the delicate pages that had held up well in the time it'd spent in that treasure room, it's forgotten passages just waiting to be read. I already called dibs on being the first to really dig into it. Drake just laughed, kissed the side of my head, and said, "You go right ahead, Miss Hattie."

By the time we got to the outer edges of Pallandino land, the sun was high in the sky with only a few clouds above. We didn't call ahead, didn't let anyone know we were coming today, but they knew they'd be seeing us soon.

I was counting on another welcome like the one I'd gotten the last time, minus the deep gashes bleeding out on my back and the passing out.

As Drake drove us into the main square of the town, I reached over and grasped his hand tightly. He looked over with a smile, one that was relaxed and content.

Because it was over.

And we were home.

Except no one seemed to be there.

Sure, it was close to dinner time, but there was usually something going on that filled the streets. Some were walking home after closing their shops or going out for dinner, but they were the ones I wanted to see then. So instead, Drake drove us up to Juliet and Theo's house.

Every light was on when I opened my door and stepped out onto the gravel drive. With the backpack weighed me down, I slowly went up the steps, Drake and the others following behind me. Drake had tried to take it, but I wouldn't let him.

The door didn't make any noise when I opened it.

And was met with only the distance sound of voices in the living room.

My heart jumped into my throat as we got closer.

Everyone was there. John and Emmy and Eddie, Juliet, Ryan and Jamie, Emmy and John's families...

Drake's parents and sisters.

My parents and Anna.

Even Savannah, Ash, and Gage.