His gaze slides over to me, and he wants to say something, but whatever he sees on my face makes him nod. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
“You know he came to me over a month ago?” Eli says.
I don’t care when he saw him or why, but Emiliano continues.
“He said he wants to marry you to benefit us. But I don’t believe him.”
“And why is that?” I voice the question without fully processing it.
“He may not admit it, but I saw the look of pure desperation on his face.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
He shrugs. “I’m not lying. That man is down bad. I don’t want to know what happened between the two of out in Italy because that’s none of my business. But I knew the moment he asked me to let him marry you that he would do whatever was in his power to have you again.”
My throat tightens, and I fight the tears that well up in my eyes.
“Get out. And tellhimto not come in.” The words barely leave my lips.
I can’t face my brother like this, so I turn my back to him. Emiliano leaves, and the door clicks shut behind him.
Silence fills the room, thick and suffocating. I keep my back to the door and breathe, slow and shaky, forcing my spine straight even though everything inside me feels like it’s folding inward. Then the door opens again.
“Eli, I said?—”
“It’s me.” His voice is deep. Controlled. Too damn careful.
My stomach twists; I don’t turn. “Didn’t Eli tell you not to come in here?”
He steps inside anyway, closing the door with a soft click. The room instantly shrinks, like it knows he’s in it.
“I’m not leaving you alone like this,” he says quietly.
A bitter laugh slips out. “You don’t even know whatthisis.”
“Mara.” My name sounds like gravel in his throat. “Look at me.”
“No.”
Silence stretches between us, sharp as a blade.
He exhales, ragged around the edges. “I’m not here to fight.”
“Then what are you here for?” I finally turn, my chest tight and trembling. “To justify what you did? To explain why you traded for me like a fucking asset?”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t step closer. “You know that’s not?—”
“Don’t.” My voice threatens to crack. “Emiliano said you struck a better deal. Adeal, Nicolo. Do you know how that sounds? Like I’m leverage. Like I’m a bargaining chip.”
His gaze darkens with something that looks too much like hurt. “I did it to protect you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Tell me the real reason.”
Silence. A heavy, damning silence.
“You’ve made a decision about my life without me,” I whisper. “Again.”
His jaw locks.
