You took my daughter from me. There will be consequences.
Luca.
I stare at the message, then delete it.
Let him threaten. Let him rage. As long as Aurora's with me, under my protection, he can't touch her.
But Viktor's question echoes in my head.
What's the endgame?
I don't have an answer.
All I know is that Aurora's upstairs, probably crying, definitely scared. And I put her there by confessing the truth.
Did I do the right thing?
I still don't know.
But it's done now. For better or worse, we're in this together.
And I'll be damned if I let anyone hurt her.
Even if the person hurting her is me.
20
AURORA
I've been at Axel's estate for five days, and I'm losing my mind.
I’m going to scream any second now, and it’s not going to be pretty.
It's not because the place is crude. In fact, it's the opposite. The estate is beautiful, luxurious, and more comfortable than anywhere I've ever lived. My suite is twice the size of my room at Dad's house. The food is incredible. The staff is attentive without being intrusive.
But I'm going insane anyway.
Because Axel is everywhere, and we can't stop fighting.
"You can't just lock me in this house," I snap at him across his office desk. It's day three of this particular argument. "I'm not a prisoner!”
"I never said you were a prisoner." His calm voice makes me angrier. "I said it's not safe for you to leave the estate right now."
I throw my hands in frustration. "Not safe according to who? You?!"
He pinches the bridge of his nose.
"According to reality, Aurora. Your father is furious. Everyone in the mafia world is unhinged right now. You are safest here."
"So what, I'm supposed to hide here forever?"
"Not forever. Just until things calm down."
"When will that be? I can’t just stay here." I'm pacing now, unable to sit still. "I can't just disappear from the world, Axel. I have a life."
"And you also have people who could use you to get to me."
"Not everything is about you!"
