Read Online Passion by Lauren Kate - Free Book Online Page B

she had landed here. There was always a reason, something held inside, in deep folds of her memory—
    Oh.
    His wings burned and he felt ashamed. This life in Italy had been a dark and ugly death for her. One of the worst. He would never stop blaming himself for the horrible way she had passed out of this life.
    But that was years after where Daniel stood today. This was the hospital where they’d rst met, when Lucia was so young and lovely, innocent and saucy in the same breath. Here she had loved him instantly and completely. Though she was too young for Daniel to show he loved her back, he had never discouraged her a ection. She used to slip her hand inside his when they strol ed under the orange trees on the Piazza del a Repubblica, but when he squeezed her hand, she would blush. It always made him laugh, the way she could be so bold, then suddenly turn shy. She used to tel him that she wanted to marry him someday.
    “You’re back!”
    Daniel spun around. He hadn’t heard the door behind him opening. Lucia jumped when she saw him. She was beaming, showing a perfect row of tiny white teeth. Her beauty took his breath away.
    What did she mean, he was back? Ah, this was when he’d hidden from Luce, frightened of kil ing her by accident. He was not al owed to reveal anything to her; she had to discover the details for herself. Were he even to hint broadly, she would simply combust. Had he stayed, she might have gril ed him and perhaps forced the truth out of him.… He didn’t dare.
    So his earlier self had run away. He must be in Bologna by now.
    “Are you feeling al right?” Lucia asked, walking toward him. “You real y should lie back down. Your neck”—she reached out to touch the place where he’d been shot over ninety years ago. Her eyes widened and she drew back her hand. She shook her head. “I thought—I could place where he’d been shot over ninety years ago. Her eyes widened and she drew back her hand. She shook her head. “I thought—I could have sworn—”
    She began to fan her face with the stack of les she was holding. Daniel took her hand and led her to sit on the edge of the bed with him.
    “Please,” he said, “can you tel me, was there a girl here—”
    A girl just like you.
    “Doria?” Lucia asked. “Your … friend? With pret y short hair and the funny shoes?”
    “Yes.” Daniel exhaled. “Can you show me where she is? It’s very urgent.”
    Lucia shook her head. She couldn’t stop staring at his neck.
    “How long have I been here?” he asked.
    “You just arrived last night,” she said. “You don’t remember?”
    “Things are fuzzy,” Daniel lied. “I must have taken a knock to the head.”
    “You were very badly wounded.” She nodded. “Nurse Fiero didn’t think you were going to make it until morning when the doctors came
    —”“No.” He remembered. “She didn’t.”
    “But then you did, and we were al so glad. I think Doria stayed with you al night. Do you remember that?”
    “Why would she do that?” Daniel said sharply, startling Lucia.
    But of course Luce had stayed with him. Daniel would have done the same thing.
    At his side, Lucia sni ed. He’d upset her, when it was real y himself he had to be angry with. He put an arm around her shoulder, feeling almost dizzy. How easy it was to fal in love with every moment of her existence! He made himself lean back to focus.
    “Do you know where she is now?”
    “She went away.” Lucia chewed on her lip nervously. “After you left, she was upset, and she took of somewhere. But I don’t know where.” So she had run away again already. What a fool Daniel was, plodding through time while Luce was racing. He had to catch her, though; maybe he could help steer her toward that moment when she could make al the di erence. Then he would never leave her side, never let any harm come to her, only be with her and love her always.
    He leaped up from the bed. He was at the door when the young girl’s hand tugged