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Lucia nods. “I agree with that.”
Antonio turns away from all of us. “I appreciate all your opinions, but what’s done is done. Come on, Theo.” He grabs Theo’s arm and leads him over to a car that will surely lead to Theo’s death.
CHAPTER 18
Cecilia
Irace after Antonio to the car. “I’m coming with.”
“No, you’re not,” Antonio tells me as he puts Theo in the car. “You don’t need to see this.”
“You’re not killing Theo without me getting the chance to say goodbye.”
Antonio waves his hand toward Theo. “Then say goodbye.”
I reach into the car and grab Theo’s face. “Please fight. Find a way out of this.”
Theo kisses me, putting all the fear, anger, and passion into it. “I will. But I’m not sure I can get out of this one, Cecilia. I saved you. That’s what matters. I’ll die happy knowing you’re safe.”
A sob escapes me. “Please, don’t give up. Please.” I turn to Antonio and see a softness in his eyes. “Please, Antonio. Don’t do this.”
“I … I have to, Cecilia. I have to show my men I can’t be trifled with.”
Emilia comes over to me and wraps her arms around my shoulders. “There’s another way,” she says. “A way for you to show your men you’re to be taken seriously while also keeping Theo alive.”
Antonio shrugs. “I’m all ears.”
“Have a fight. If you win, banish Theo. Make him leave New York. He and Cecilia won’t ever see each other again.”
“No,” I cry.
Emilia hugs me closer. “But he’ll be alive. And if Theo wins the fight, then let him and Cecilia be together.”
“I can’t lose a fight,” Antonio says through gritted teeth. “It would make me look weak in front of my men.”
“What? And killing an unarmed man makes you look strong?’ Gemma asks, sauntering over. “We all know that doesn’t make anyone look strong. I think a fight is a good idea.”
Antonio scoffs. “Of course, you do. You’ve been married to Viktor for too long.”
“Do you want me to slap you again?” Gemma asks.
Francesca joins us. “I also think a fight is a good idea. It gives Theo a chance. And as Emilia said, if Theo loses, make him leave New York. But don’t kill him. Look at Cecilia. If you kill Theo, you’ll crush her heart.”
“I kind of hate how you’re not afraid to speak up now,” Antonio mutters.
Francesca cracks a smile. “I learned how to be brave. I saved you from Franco, remember?”
“I do,” he admits.
“We’re your family,” she continues, nodding at all of us. “We stick together. What you’re doing right now is the opposite of that.”
“Yes,” Emilia says. “Francesca is right. If you kill Theo, you’ll hurt Cecilia, which means you’ll be hurting all of us.” She tightens her arms around me, silently letting me know she has my back. It warms my heart to see my sisters having my back.
“I get you’re boss now,” Gemma says. “But we’re your older sisters.” She motions at herself, Emilia, and Francesca. “We always made sure you knew right from wrong. And we’re lettingyou know right now that what you’re doing is wrong. It doesn’t matter if you’re the boss. You’re still our little brother, and you should listen to us.”
Antonio snorts. “I don’t have to listen to you.”
“Then how about your mother?” Mom’s voice rings out loud and clear.
