Page 64 of Barinov

This was when Jack Donnelly was born. He needed someone Roman wouldn’t see coming. He thought putting Roman behind bars would make Izzy run to him. He never realized how deep your mother’s love for your father ran.

Your mother, bless her soul, was a very troubled young girl. She needed help but never received it. There were two women living inside your mother’s body. Izzy was a happy, loving, and caring soul. A beautiful dancer loved by all those around her. Raina was the darkness hiding in the shadows. Izzy’s protector.

Izzy loved Roman more than anything in this world. Raina loved Luca. She loved his darkness and his obsession. The problem was, Roman and Luca both ever only loved Izzy.

From what I read from his ramblings, I’m pretty sure Raina got good at impersonating Izzy. Some of the later entries didn’t quite match up to Izzy’s actions in the earlier ones. Which makes me think that one day, Raina just shoved Izzy out and fooled him.

Fooled everyone.

You should know, I met Raina when you were born. She was the one who made me promise to get you as far away from Roman Russo and New York as I could. Raina painted your father as this horrific monster. And while Roman is a dangerous and powerful man, I don’t think you should fear him. Not fully. In fact I feel like he might’ve kept you safer than we did.

Anyway, I realize now, she (and Jack inevitably) were just weaponizing my fear against a man Raina simply hated because he wasn’t the man she loved. He wasn’t Luca.

When your mother died, I called Jack Luca and told him what was going on. He came straight to the hospital with a plan.

I’m sorry but it’s because of that phone call you are in his cross hairs, sweetheart. It’s because of me his obsession didn’t die with your mother.

Bella, the moment he held you in his arms as a baby, Luca stopped mourning your mother and convinced himself she had never fully left. He believes that a part of Izzy lives inside you. That if he can make you remember… if he can make you love him… then he’ll get her back.

And I hate myself for even saying this, but you have to let him believe. You must pretend. He has to believe that your love is real. That you are her. I’ve seen the terror that monster can inflict on a person’s body and soul when he doesn’t get his way.

I’ll tell you the same thing I’ve told your brother for a long time now. Play his game, but never let him win. Please, don’t ever let him replace who you truly are.

Isabella Marie Blackwood.

Say it every day. Remember who you are, Sugar Bear. Promise me that.

There’s something else I need to ask of you and that is to help your brother.

Luca has done things to him. Unspeakable things that you will never understand. He broke him. Over and over. And every time I pulled him back in and pieced him together, Luca would drag him under all over again.

Luca has clawed his way into that boy’s head so deep that sometimes I’m not sure if I’m talking to Zeke or just to a ghost wearing his skin.

He’s going to need you.

He protected you all those years in Miami and now it’s your turn to protect him. When he starts to slip, and he will, look him in the eyes and remind him who he is. Your brother. Your family. Remind him that he is stronger than what Luca has done to him. Remind him that Luca is the villain and Zeke is the hero in your story.

I pray you never read this, because that would mean he never got to you. That you’re safe, and happy, and whole. But if you are reading it, then you already know. I never stopped loving you.

Be brave, Sugar Bear.

For me.

For Zeke.

Love always,

Aunt Claire

“Izzy?” Luca’s voice slinks into the doorway.

I fold the letter quickly, the sharp corner of the paper cutting my skin as I shove it under my thigh.

“Yeah,” I reply, my voice shaking.

“I was hoping that since the house will be quiet for a while we could talk. Maybe try to reconnect?”

Play his game, but never let him win.