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No. Memories of another time snaked around me, tightening with every second I gave them light. I shoved them back down into the dark. I couldn’t deal with them right now.
When I opened my eyes again Luca’s face was still like stone. But his eyes and all that he was feeling crashed against the surface like waves on high cliffs.
The butterflies tried to take flight again. I viciously crushed them with my mental boot, not willing to let them fly. I turned away. Hope was just as dangerous as it was uplifting in some cases. I would know.
“Do you understand everything I have just told you?”
I nodded.
“You have two choices, death or marriage,” Lorenzo stated coldly.
I was pinned under his unfeeling eyes. “How long do I have to decide?” I already knew my answer but wasn’t rushing to meet the results. I didn’t want to believe my life was ending. Not like this.
“You have ten seconds.” He picked up the gun and pointed it at me.
“WHAT!” I leapt from the chair. Too soon! Too fast! Nico shoved me back down and held me there.
“Father?” Matteo stood, worry in his voice.
Luca shot forward a few inches, but remained silent. My focus remained forward.
“One.” Lorenzo started counting.
My breath caught in my throat, heart pounding like a drum.
“Two.”
I can’t say, yes!Grandma would be ashamed. Wouldn’t she? It was better to be dead than sell your soul. Right? How could I live with that choice? In a loveless, possessive marriage, trapped in the criminal underworld. That wouldn’t be a life worth living.
How did I get here? The question scrambled my brain, threatening to crush me under its weight.
I sot out Luca as Lorenzo counted. Mouth tight, forehead creased. His chest heaved as his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. His eyes were begging. He didn’t want to see me hurt. Whether it was from lust or whatever shred of humanity he possessed, he didn’t want to see me die.
A familiar tingle ran up my spine. Maybe? No, I can’t. I will not be a prisoner. Not again.
“Six.”
I stayed silent and stared down the gun barrel.
“Seven.”
NO. Shoot me asshole!
“Eight.”
Ragged breathing came from my right. Luca.
“Nine.” His grip tightened on the gun.
In my peripheral, Luca spun away, raking his hands into his hair.
“ALRIGHT!” came flying out of my mouth before my brain even registered that I’d spoken.
I don’t want to die. It’s human nature to want to live. I’m strong. I decided I wasn’t going to take the easy way out. Arianna would never forgive herself and, what would happen to my grandma? And… My heart rubbed soothing circles against my chest as Luca’s cologne reached my nose. Hope.
Lorenzo stopped counting, but didn’t lower the gun.
I let out a shaky breath. “Yes. I will marry him.”
“Your word,” he demanded.
My eyelids fell. “You have my word.”
Then my world shattered into a million pieces.
