Our kiss is desperate. It’s the kind shared by two people who love each other so fiercely it hurts, clinging like drowning souls who know they can’t stay afloat together but can’t bear to let go. Her lips tremble beneath mine, her breath hitching as she kisses me back with all the longing she keeps trying to bury. It’s messy, raw, the kind of kiss that tastes like heartbreak and hope tangled together.
“Stop,” she breathes, her forehead resting under my chin, her palms flat against my chest. “Just stop, Kill. Stop and let me go.”
“Never.”
“I can’t…I can’t do this today,” she says on a broken whisper, pushing herself forcefully out of my arms and running back toward the house.
I slide down the wall and sit there, wondering how the hell I’m supposed to convince her that loving her isn’t a choice for me. That her loving me isn’t a choice either. It’s in our bones now, written into our very DNA. Nothing else will ever compare.
I don’t know how long I sit there, but when I hear my name being called in a soft, willow-thin voice, I spring to my feet.
“Mr. Petrov? Mr. Petrov?” The small voice drifts again. “Kill… are you there? Kill? It’s me…Anna.”
I turn the corner and find young Annamaria searching the backyard for me. “Looking for something?”
“Oh, there you are!” she says with audible relief. “Come. We’ll be late.” She extends her hand to me like a peace offering, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one sees us.
I take her hand and she instantly sprints into a dash toward the woods in front of the mansion.
“Where are we going?” I ask, confused.
“Shh! You need to be quiet. I don’t want anyone to know we’re here.”
My brows pull together, but I follow her lead and lower my voice. “Will you at least tell me where you’re taking me? I’m not entirely comfortable running into the woods with a teenage girl.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” she snaps then winces. “I’m sorry. That came out meaner than I intended. But I promised my mom I’d take you to Stella, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“Stella?” My eyes widen, instantly alert.
“Yes, shh,” she whispers urgently. “We can’t make a sound. If they find us, they’ll kill us. Well… not me. But you? For sure.” She grimaces at the thought.
We keep running for what feels like forever, and then it hits me where Annamaria is taking me—to witness Stella’s induction. My feet immediately run faster.
“Shh,” she whispers, pulling me behind a tree before pointing toward her twin brothers, who are currently hiding behind a large boulder. “There,” she mouths, and I nod, taking in her silent instructions. She counts to three, and then we’re sprinting toward the boulder and crouching down beside her brothers, who, by the look on their faces, are just as surprised as I am to see me here.
“What is this asshole doing here?” Lucky snaps.
“This asshole is your girlfriend’s uncle. Have some manners,” Annamaria scolds, and to my shock, young Luciano actually blushes.
“I like your sister. She’s got spirit,” I say, nudging Annamaria’s shoulder playfully.
“Well, you already corrupted one of my sisters. Don’t think I’m letting you take another,” Lucky grumbles, grabbing Annamaria and pulling her to his side.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s never liked to share,” Enzo mutters, dropping down on my left.
“I can see that. Very territorial, isn’t he?” I smirk. “Speaking of which…aren’t you supposed to be with my niece?”
Lucky scoffs.
“Yeah, like I’d ever bring Frankie here. She already has enough on her plate worrying about your sorry ass moping because my sister kicked you to the curb. I don’t need to add more anxiety to her life, thank you very much. I’m not a shitty boyfriend like you.”
Before I have time to put Lucky in his place, Annamaria swats him across the head.
“Manners!”
“The fuck? You’re hitting me now?” Lucky complains, rubbing the back of his head while Enzo chuckles beside me.
“Well, when you start acting like a jackass, I have to do something about it.”
