“It means that whenever Nina is around you, trouble follows. You’re a bad influence, Susanna. And I don’t want that for Nina.”
“It’s not my fault she was kidnapped.”
“You’re right. But chances are, Nina came over here to talk with you, didn’t she?”
Susanna hesitates and that tells me everything I need to know.
“She did,” I say. “I know Nina. She wants you in her life and she wants to make amends. That much is obvious to me. You’re not a good person, Susanna. And now your sister is missing. If I were you, I would suggest an attitude change.”
Instead of snapping back at me like Susanna has always done, she goes quiet and right before my eyes, tears stream down her face.
“Susanna,” Maria says, shock in her voice.
“I don’t want Nina to be hurt,” Susanna admits, wiping at her tears. “I want my sister. Get her back.”
It’s the first time Susanna has ever shown any sort of empathy. Maybe there’s hope for her but it won’t be up to me to change her. Whoever she marries one day will have to handle her.
“I will,” I promise. “I want Nina safe too.” That’s one thing Susanna and I have in common at least.
“I am sorry for being rude,” Susanna says. “I just… I don’t know why I act this way. But when I saw Nina taken, I… Just get her back.”
“Think about this,” I softly scold. “Think about how you feel right now. Grow and mature, Susanna. That’s all I can offer you. Now, I’ll get Nina back.”
And I don’t handle it well when people come for my wife.
Nina
Gabriel takes me to a run-down house that has seen better days. It’s clear this isn’t his actual house but a house he owns to bring prisoners to. Prisoners like me.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask as he drags me from the car and pulls me towards the house.
“Because I can’t let Luca win. The moment I saw you, I knew I had to have you. I want what Luca has. And I’m willing to do whatever I can to take it.”
He continues to drag me into the house and into a dirty, moldy room where he throws me onto a disgusting mattress. “You’re going to stay there for a while. Just long enough to drive Luca insane.” He leaves, locking the door behind him.
I sag forward. At least Gabriel isn’t trying to rape me right now. My mind goes back to me and Luca having sex. How he took me from behind. How good it had felt but also how cold. Luca has kept some emotional distance between us ever since we married but I saw him lose control when he shot Dimitri.
When I was in danger.
He cares for me. I know it. It makes my heart warm towards him. I know I could fall in love with him given time. If he just showed me he could love me instead of trying to control me. Instead of trying to turn me into his perfect wife.
I want Luca to accept me for me. I also want to make him proud. It’s confusing but it’s all there.
If Luca can get to me in time, I vow I’ll make the most out of my life with him. I’ll move past Susanna. I’ll become more mature.
As long as he can love me in return.
Luca
I meet up with Alek at one of the restaurants he owns. “Maria told you Gabriel stole Nina.”
“She did,” he says, holding my eyes longer than I like. There’s a cautious expression in his eyes.
“What?” I snap.
“I want Nina back too. She’s like a daughter to me. But Luca, if we do this together, you need to make amends with Dimitri Ivanov.”
I scoff. “Fuck that. He kidnapped Nina.”
