She turns her head and breaks free from me, stepping back. "I have to go."
I rub my face, trying to contain the frustration that's turning to anger because I have no idea what the fuck is going on.
"It's your family, right? So what did they say to you?" I say, probably more aggressive than I should.
"Does it matter?" she snaps back.
"It might." I stop, and the desire to tell her floods me. "I fucking..." I take a deep breath, like I've got nothing left to lose. "I fucking love you, Calli."
She stops moving and finally looks at me.
"What?"
"Yeah, I, uh, I was going to tell you tonight at the opera, maybe before at dinner, but since you're ditching me..." I stop. "Well, there it is."
She stares at me intensely. For a few moments, we're in total silence. I see glimpses of the Calli I know mixed with this new mask she's been wearing since getting off the phone.
Her chest rises, and I know she's going to speak, and I hope she gives me something. Best if she tells me she feels the same way, but even just a bit of what's going on will be okay.
"I'm sorry, Niko. This won't work. Goodbye."
She zips up her suitcase and walks toward the front door.
I feel like my brain has frozen up. I can't move. I can't speak. I can't do anything but try to process how I finally told a woman I love her, and she responds by leaving. How can this fucking be?
Realizing she's going to walk out that door, I push myself forward after her.
"Calli, wait," I call out, but she doesn't listen. Doesn't acknowledge me. She just opens the door and leaves.
This can't be real. Not after everything. Not after last night. I run to the door and open it and storm out into the hall just in time to see the elevator doors closing.
"CALLI!" I call out, but it's too late.
I quickly go back inside, the door hitting the wall and knocking a picture down onto the floor, glass shattering.
I stand there, looking down at the shards scattered across the marble. My chest is tight, my hands fisted at my sides.
I think about those three words, still fresh on my tongue, and it's as if I'm waiting for her to come back, to say it was all a mistake, a misunderstanding.
But she doesn't.
Whatever just happened, it's not over. Not for me. And if her brothers are making her do something, I'll fucking kill them. I'll kill anyone that keeps me away from her.
We're far from over. I'll burn down the world if I have to. I'm not letting Callista Kastaris just walk out of my life without fighting like hell.
21
CALLI
The elevator doors seal shut, cutting off the sound of Niko's voice calling my name.
It's like the air disappears with them.
My suitcase slips from my hand and hits the floor with a thud inside this stupid metal box I shouldn't be in.
My knees nearly go with it. I press my back against the mirrored wall and slide down, covering my face with both hands as sobs rip through me. I can't breathe. Can't think. The pressure in my chest feels like I'm being crushed from the inside.
Why have I been cursed?
