“I’m sorry, Nina,” Luca says. “I truly didn’t mean to hurt her. You have to know that.”
“I do,” she whispers. “But I also know your obsession with trying to kill Gabriel is what got my sister hurt. I only ever wanted you to help get her back. I never wanted you to go after Gabriel. I told you this. And look at what happened. If my sister pulls through this, then there needs to be some changes.”
“What kind of changes?” Luca asks warily.
“You two” – she points at both me and Luca – “need to make peace. I will not let my sister get hurt again. I will not let my mom get hurt. Or myself. Or even you,” she says to her husband. “You will make peace for all of us and stop this fighting.” She turns to me. “You will not hold my sister as a prisoner. I will be allowed to see her. For some reason, she told me she’s happy with you and my sister will always do what she wants. And if shewants to be with you, then I know she means it. I will accept that if it means she’s safe. If it means all of us are safe. Is that clear?”
Luca and I look at each other for a long moment.
“Do you really think you can make peace with me?” I ask. “Because right now, I want to fucking kill you for shooting my wife.”
Nina’s eyes widen. “Do you actually care for my sister?”
“I do.” It’s a vulnerability to care but right now I don’t, well, care about that. “I promised I would protect her and I failed. All because of your husband.”
“I get why you would want to kill Luca,” she says. “Right now, I’m pissed at him too. But I love my husband at the end of the day. And I want both him and my sister in my life. If you try to kill Luca, Gabriel, he will come right back at you and my sister could be put at risk again. So if you truly care for her, you will make peace with Luca.” She turns to her husband. “And if you truly love me, you will make peace with Gabriel. No more trying to kill each other. It’s what led to my sister getting hurt in the first place.”
“What if she doesn’t make it?” Luca asks.
“Hoping for that?” I snap.
He glares at me but doesn’t take the bait.
“If she doesn’t make it…” Nina sighs. “Then I don’t know what will happen. So let’s just hope she’ll make it. And if she does, you two will make peace. Now.”
Luca and I glare at each other but I know in my gut that Nina is right. I may hate Luca but I’m the reason Susanna is hurt right now. I did taunt Luca into coming after me. I set all of this in motion.
Susanna was just a pawn in my game initially but now, she’s become so much more.
I… I love her.
Knowing I could lose her has made me realize this. I love my wife. And I will not lose her to petty fights.
So, I’m the one to extend my hand. “I will make a deal with you. For peace. My marriage to Susanna will keep me in line while I know your marriage to Nina will do the same for you. I know neither one of us wants this but I’m willing to do it. If you are.”
Luca stares down at my hand for a long moment before he takes it. “Deal,” he grits out. “I’m not happy with this either. But I can’t be the reason Susanna dies.” He wrenches his hand from mine like it burns. This is a peace built on fear, not trust. But it’s all we have.
At that moment, Alek comes running through the ER doors.
“I just saw your text,” he says, coming over to Nina. “Susanna?”
“She’s in surgery,” I explain.
Alek’s eyes widen when he looks at me. “What’s going on here?”
Nina places her hand on his chest. “I’ll explain everything. But Luca and Gabriel have agreed to make peace. And you should too. I know you want Gabriel dead for taking Susanna. But… he cares for her. I know it.”
“What happened?” Alek asks in a hard tone.
“I shot her,” Luca says. “I was aiming for Gabriel and she got in the way. I didn’t mean to.”
Pure rage forms over Alek’s face and he punches Luca right in the nose. Luca stumbles back but doesn’t fight.
“I deserved that,” he says.
Alek then turns to me and punches me in the face.
I also don’t fight, even though I want to. “I guess I deserved that too,” I mutter, rubbing my sore cheek.
