"Not the way she means."
"Isn't it?"
The question stops me cold. From Sarah's perspective, what has happened to me? Her best friend came to Italy and fell in love with a man who turned out to be a criminal. A man who kills people. A man who's now claiming ownership over my life.
From the outside, this probably does look like exactly the kind of situation she was warning me about.
"I have to call her back," I say.
"And tell her what?"
"I don't know." I stare at the phone in my hands. "That I'm fine? That I'm happy? That I've chosen this?"
"Do you think she'll believe that?"
"Do you think I should tell her the truth?"
"What is the truth, Madison?"
"The truth is that I love you," I say finally. "And that scares everyone, including me."
"And the rest of it?"
"The rest of it is mine to figure out how to live with."
He nods slowly. "Then that's what you tell her."
I dial Sarah's number before I can lose my nerve. She answers on the first ring.
"Jesus Christ, Maddie! Where have you been? I've been calling for hours!"
"I'm sorry. I was... sleeping."
"Sleeping? Until noon? That's not like you."
I glance at Enzo, who's listening but trying to pretend he's not. "I had a long night."
"What kind of long night? Maddie, you're scaring me. Something in your voice is different."
She's right. Something in my voice is different. I'm different.
"Sarah, I need you to listen to me, okay? I'm fine. I'm safe. I'm exactly where I want to be."
"With him? With Enzo?"
"Yes."
"Maddie—"
"I know what you're going to say. I know how this looks from the outside. But I need you to trust me on this."
"Trust you to what? Stay with a man who's obviously manipulating you?"
I look at Enzo again, remembering his honesty last night about exactly what choosing him would mean. The manipulation was real, but so is everything that's happened since.
"Trust me to make my own choices," I say. "Even if they're not the choices you would make."
"What if they're the wrong choices?"
