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“I like hearing you talk about your family. I like that you’re opening up to me. It means you care for me.”
“Who said I cared for you?”
He makes a show of looking around. “We’re in public. Surrounded by people. You could have called out for help, but you didn’t. You stayed by my side the entire time we’ve been here. You were more concerned about having fun than asking for help. If you hated me, then why not run?”
I swallow hard. Viktor just pointed out the feelings I have deep down. “Because I don’t hate you,” I whisper. “Happy?”
“Ecstatic.” He leans down and kisses me. The moment the kiss starts to become more intense, I pull back.
“We’re not having sex in a Ferris wheel.”
He smirks. “Right.” He goes for another kiss, but the Ferris wheel starts moving again, and we reach the bottom within seconds. “Looks like it’s our time to go.”
“Looks like.” The moment I step out of the pod, all I want to do is go back in there and remain in that peaceful moment with Viktor.
We hold hands as we walk down the boardwalk. Hordes of people mingle and move around us as we take our time. I don’t want to rush anything.
“You know,” Viktor says, “I can admit this is pretty nice. Holding hands with my girl. Keeping it easy.”
I nudge him. “See? What did I say? Not everything has to be wild and crazy all the time to have fun.”
“This was the freedom you were talking about?”
“It was. I didn’t want to be forced into a marriage by my mom. I just wanted her to understand I wanted to make my own choices.”
“But I forced you into marrying me.”
“I know.”
Viktor winces, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m not much better than your mom, huh?”
“Actually, no.” I stop walking to let a kid run around me. The candy apple in their hands almost hits my chest, but I step out of the way. “She would never have let me make any choices for myself. At least you’re trying to give me a voice. By coming out here today, you showed me you care about what I want. That means something.”
“Gemma?”
The little voice almost knocks me over.
I turn toward it and freeze when I see Mia, cotton candy in her hand.
“Mia?” I whisper.
Viktor turns his eyes onto her, a dark grin spreading across his face. “What’s your sister doing here?”
“I don’t know.” I step toward her, and Viktor doesn’t stop me. Mia looks between me and Viktor, her face paling when her eyes land on my husband. She turns around and bolts. Shit.
I start to run, but Viktor stops me. I hit his chest. “What are you doing?”
“If she’s here, then that means your mom and siblings are as well. If they find you with me, there’s a good chance everything ends in bloodshed.”
My skin turns to ice at his words. “What do you mean? Are you threatening to kill my family?”
“No.” I relax slightly. “I’m just saying that if Franco is with them, he won’t hesitate to shoot me, even amid all these people. You need to let her go, and we need to get out of here. Remember, you’ll get to see your family once I’ve managed to make a deal with Franco and Marco.”
I wrench my arm away from him. “And when will that be? What if that never happens? What then? I’m just not supposed to see my family ever again?” The sight of Mia made my heart roar for more. I want my mom to hold me in her arms like when I was young. I need to see them. But Viktor is right. If I follow Mia, she’ll lead me to my family, and Viktor could get hurt. Or worse—they could get hurt.
I look in the direction Mia ran in and watch as she stops in front of my mom. The rest of my younger siblings are with her … and so is Franco. Emilia and Marco aren’t here. I wonder if they went back to LA, or if they’re still in New York. The thought that my older sister would give up on me and return to LA makes me heart break.
Mia speaks frantically to our mom, judging from her wild hand movements. Both Mom and Franco look toward Viktor and me. Mom’s jaw drops while Franco frowns, murder in his expression.
