"Maybe it was."
"He told me today that protection is the only reason we're getting married. Theonlyreason, Marina. After everything, after the way he held me, after—" My voice breaks again. "I'm such an idiot."
"You're not an idiot. You're twenty years old, your mom just died, your uncle sold you to psychopaths, and you're trying to survive. Anyone would be confused."
"I'm not confused. I'm in love with him." The truth burns coming out. "I'm in love with a man who sees me as an obligation. Who's marrying me because he has to, not because he wants to."
"Have you told him how you feel?"
A bitter laugh escapes. "Why? So he can let me down gently? Tell me I'm too young, too naive, too much of a liability? I've already got enough rejection for one day."
"Or maybe he's scared too."
"Lorenzo Sartori doesn't get scared."
"Everyone gets scared, Sophia. Especially when it comes to love."
I pull my knees to my chest, making myself smaller on this too-big bed. "It doesn't matter. In a few weeks, we'll be married. I'll play the part and then... I don't know. Maybe they'll let me disappear. Start over somewhere."
"Do you want me to come over?" Marina asks. "I can be there in twenty minutes."
My heart jumps at the offer. God, I want her here so badly. But this isn't my house. I'm a guest here—or prisoner, depending on how you look at it.
"I need to ask first," I tell her. "It's not my place."
"Seriously? You have to ask permission for visitors?"
"It's complicated." Everything here is complicated. "Hang on."
I pull up Lorenzo's number on my phone. My thumb hovers over the keyboard. Part of me doesn't want to ask him for anything, not after today. But Marina... I need Marina.
Can Marina visit for a couple hours? If that's okay.
I hit send before I can second-guess myself. The response comes immediately.
She can stay as long as you need her.
I stare at the message. As long as I need her? What kind of answer is that?
"He says yes," I tell Marina. "Says you can stay as long as I need you."
"See? That doesn't sound like someone who doesn't care."
"No, it sounds like someone managing an asset." The anger flares hot in my chest. "Making sure his investment doesn't break before the wedding. This man is so freaking confusing, Marina. One minute he's pushing me away, telling me we're only getting married for protection. The next he's being... considerate? I can't read him at all."
"Maybe he can't read himself either."
"Stop defending him."
"I'm not defending anyone. I'm just saying, men are idiots when it comes to feelings. Especially men like him."
My phone buzzes with another text from Lorenzo.
Dante will pick her up.
I relay the message to Marina, who immediately scoffs.
"Absolutely not," she says. "I'm not getting in some mob guy's car. I'll grab a taxi."
