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“He’ll always want more!” Romeo yells. I open my mouth, then close it. “Tell her, Alfonso.”
I look between the two men. My stomach sinks further, being in the middle and wanting everyone to stop the fighting. Neither of our families can keep going at this rate.
“Nicoli wants us to marry as soon as you return home.” Alfonso’s voice is weak. He needs medical attention.
“You can’t kill him.” I shake my head. My hands steeple at my nose.
“I’m not returning you.” Romeo brings a gun out from under his shirt.
My blood whooshes in my ears like a river. It’s loud and violent. Much like the life I’m living right now.
“Please don’t kill him,” I beg.
Romeo is looking at me with disgust. He doesn’t understand.
“Please, for me.” I’d fall to my knees and beg if I thought it would make a difference.
“You’re choosing Alfonso over me?” His chuckle is hard and mean.
“It’s not like that. You don’t understand.”
“You still want the fucker, even though he cheated on you. He disgraced you at that fucking party. He allowed everyone to think he went upstairs with your sister. I never took you for a doormat.”
“I don’t love him, you idiot!” I yell out.
“What is it you want?” he asks coldly, his gun now aimed at Alfonso.
“I love you, Romeo, not him.”
Alfonso’s head jerks back in my peripheral vision. I refuse to look at him, not wanting to see what he’s thinking. Romeo’s smile is slow as it curves up his lips. A brow quirks up, uncertain if I’m telling the truth.
“I want you.” I step closer to him, our hands still connected.
“Let me guess. You love me but want me to let him go? What side are you on?”
My stomach is flip-flopping. My hands shake.
“If I let him go, he’ll go straight to your father.” His hand brushes back my hair.
“Let him. The Romeo I know isn’t afraid of anything.”
“We’re in the middle of a war. Casualties are part of the risk. Your father understood this when he sent him.”
Romeo’s eyes go from me to Alfonso. His gun hasn’t left him. He swallows before his gun lowers, and I breathe out a relieved sigh. But then, the gun goes off with a bang, the sound ringing through my ears. Alfonso yells out.
I scream. My legs are unable to move. They crumble under me until the floor is felt beneath my ass. Romeo lets go of my hand. I watch as Alfonso falls to the ground.
“I’m giving you an hour before I release my dog. Tell Nicoli I’ll be in touch.”
Romeo picks me up effortlessly. My body cradles into him. My eyes stay trained behind us, and I watch Alfonso stand up. Each step is a slow limp. It takes a couple of seconds to realize that Romeo shot the chain releasing him. He let him live. For me.
Alfonso stops and looks me right in the eye. Disappointment falls over his features. And I realize I admitted I love Romeo. Not only that, but he also didn’t say it back. Confusion swirls around me, not knowing what I should do next.
“Listen, Romeo—”
“Don’t say a word, Gia. I know it’s your go-to when you get nervous.”
I want to start about ten different conversations, not knowing which one to begin first. “I can walk.”
