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“Answer me,” he demands.
“I don’t know.”
“The fact is, baby, there’s nothing romantic about me. I decimate everything in my path, and if I had you.” His eyes clamp shut as if he’s struggling to continue. “Fuck, you’d be mine forever. I’d never let you go, no matter how hard you begged me. I’m obsessed with you, Ella. And that can never end well. It’s better for the both of us that you move on, and we forget about this silly infatuation we both have for one another.”
Somehow, his words make me forget he’s a monster. “What if I want to be yours forever?”
An animal-like growl tears from his chest, and just as he’s about to speak, the car stops.
My brow furrows because that was too fast for us to be home. When I glance out, I see we’re not at the house. “Where are we?”
“I’ve been meaning to show you this place for a while. Come on.” He gets out and turns around to offer me his hand.
I take it, sparks of electricity igniting the moment we touch.
I’m surprised when he doesn’t let it go. Instead, he laces our fingers together and walks through huge stone pillars. It feels so natural, and all I want is to hold on and never let go, despite his disgusting confession about what the Morrone family does.
We walk into the dimly lit garden in silence until Remy speaks. “I found this place after I survived cancer. It’s fittingly called the Cancer Survivor’s Garden.”
Her eyes widen slightly. “Why are you showing me?”
“Because I realized you’ve lost a lot, Ella. And this place brought me peace after surviving cancer, but also from the loss I’ve felt in my life.” His dark eyes find mine. “I thought it might do the same for you.”
I squeeze his hand as no one has cared about my feelings, not even my mom. Losing my dad at eleven years old changed me. And my mom’s insensitive reaction didn’t help.
“Thank you,” I breathe.
It’s all I can say.
Remy nods and leads me further into the garden. We walk around in contemplative silence, and I reflect on Mom’s death and why I’ve been struggling to work out my feelings over it. Grief but guilt too at being relieved initially to have my freedom back. My bank account and my life, all for it to have been snatched away by Remy.
The moon is high in the sky, casting a glow across the city when we return to the car. It’s been a beautiful night, and Remy’s hand still encases mine. He opens the door to the car, and I slide in, waiting for him to join me.
This time, he sits next to me, slides an arm around my shoulders, and pulls me into his chest. I rest my head against it, knowing that as soon as we get home, this spell he has cast upon me will be shattered, and reality will come rushing back in.
18
ELLA
“Ready?” Mia asks, standing in the doorway of my bedroom.
I smile at her. “Yes, let’s do this.”
We walk down the stairs and out the front door to the limousine waiting for us. I find Luca and Leo in the back, but there’s no sign of Remy.
“Where’s your dad?” I ask.
“He can’t make it.”
I swallow hard, wondering if he’s staying away because he can’t stand watching me with another man. A part of me wishes he’d cut the crap and accept that we both want each other, consequences be damned.
But the car is already pulling away, and I can’t dwell on it anymore. We drive through the city, taking in the sights and sounds of Chicago.
Mia clears her throat. “So, are you sticking with Alex?”
I look at her and smile. Alex Vishekov is sweet, handsome, and charming. I should want him more than I want Remy. “Yeah, he’s nice.”
She smiles. “Alex is handsome. I think you two will make a great couple.”
