**MATEO'S POV**

The Bentley hummed smoothly along the winding road leading to my childhood home. I kept one hand on the around Isabella and the other resting on Isabella's thigh in the back seat. She was trying to make small talk with Lucian, who sat in the front passenger seat, twisting slightly so he could see her.

"So... how's the new chain treating you?" she asked, voice light and careful, like she was testing thin ice.

Lucian touched the gold wrist chain I'd seen her give him earlier, fingers tracing the links awkwardly. "It's... nice. Heavy. But good heavy." He paused, then added, "Thanks again. For real. I told my...