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Finally, we reach the head of the line, and the guy manning the Ferris wheel motions us into one of the pods. I slide in, Viktor following as he scans the inside of the pod, his expression growing from uncertainty to begrudging acceptance.
“Maybe this won’t be so bad.” He leans back in the seat, and the entire pod shifts backwards, making me yelp. Viktor pauses for a moment before laughing. “Ok. Maybe this will be a lot better than I expected.”
The Ferris wheel takes off, and our pod climbs higher and higher. Viktor keeps rocking it and giving me serious vertigo, along with a reminder of why I always hated riding this death contraption with my family. I honestly think I blocked it out.
“Ok, this is a lot of fun!” He rocks the pod faster. With every motion, I can see the ground, then the sky in a matter of seconds.
“Oh my freaking god, Viktor. Stop!” I’m clutching the seat with all my might.
“You’re the one who wanted to come on this.”
“And I think I’m starting to regret it.”
Viktor, fortunately, slows down on the rocking as our pod reaches the highest point. It stops, and we’re at the top, looking out over the beach and vast ocean. He slides onto the seat next to me, tugging me into his side. “I can get used to this view.”
“This was my favorite part about coming here. My brother, Antonio, loved rocking us around, which I hated. As I’m only just remembering.” I shoot him a look, and Viktor looks back with an innocent “Who, me?” expression. “But whenever we’d stop up here, I’d always feel calm. Like nothing could touch me. Like nothing would ever hurt me. It was just pure … fun.”
Viktor rests his chin on the top of my head. “I’ve never really heard you talk about your family in such a complimentary way. You really do miss them?”
“I never thought I would.” I keep my eyes locked onto the beautiful view as I talk. “My mom and I would fight a lot. I couldn’t wait until I didn’t have to deal with her ever again. But now, I’m starting to remember the good times. Dad would be too busy to plan these outings, so Mom would make the effort to take us here. I’m sure dealing with six kids wasn’t easy. That’s why Emilia acted like a second mom to us. Someone needed to help Mom. It wasn’t fair to her, but it’s what happened.” I sigh, snuggling into Viktor’s side. “The longer I’m away from my family, the more I miss those simple moments, even if they weren’t perfect.”
“Like what?” His voice is soft. Viktor and I have never had a moment of peace, of stillness like this. Ever since he took me, it’s been gunfight after gunfight. Blood, destruction, and chaos. Having this moment of quiet with him is incredibly nice. It makes my heart flutter at the thought.
I think of a past memory. “Like … the time my youngest sister, Mia, dropped her ice cream cone, and she started bawling her eyes out. She was only four at the time, but I thought she was overreacting and being annoying. I told her to shut up, and of course, my mom scolded me for that. She always scolded me. I swear, it was like her favorite hobby. ‘How many times can I make Gemma feel bad about herself today?’” I shake my head. “Now, I’d give anything to hear her scold me again. I should have been more compassionate to my sister. She was so young. I should have been nicer to a lot of my family members.”
Viktor runs his fingers down my arm, causing goosebumps to break out on my skin. “I like the darkness in you. It’s what makes us such a good match.”
I shiver at his words. Viktor’s right. We have a natural chemistry that makes things feel effortless. Even though I still miss my family, I also don’t want to leave Viktor behind. Because that’s the reality.
Viktor, even though he promises I’ll get to see my family again, won’t ever let me see them unless Franco and Marco make a deal with him. If there’s no peace between my family and Viktor, I won’t get to see them. But if were to return home somehow, Franco and Marco will take that to mean they can come after Viktor.
And I don’t want Viktor to die.
I’m not in love with him.
… at least, I don’t think I am. But just the thought of him being dead fills my entire body with dread.
So, I’m stuck. I’m with my murdering psychopathic husband, but I don’t have my family in the process—the family I swore I never wanted to see again many times growing up and would now give anything to see.
Except Viktor’s life.
I finally look at him. “So, there. I’ve bared my soul to you. Care to do the same?”
“What do you want to know?”
I know exactly what I want to ask. “What’s a secret no one else knows about you?”
Viktor stares intently into my eyes. For a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me, but then he speaks. “I’m falling in love with you.” No humor in his eyes. Just pure seriousness.
I suck in a breath. “Viktor …”
“You don’t have to respond to that. I just wanted you to know. You’re mine now, Gemma. I don’t want to lose you.”
After catching my breath, I ask, “Why would you lose me?”
He doesn’t respond to my question. “Tell me more about your childhood.”
I blink. “Uh …”
