“What are you doing?”
He doesn’t answer. His thumbs move across the screen, typing rapidly. Italian characters I can’t read from this distance. When he’s done, he turns the phone toward me.
A text message. To a contact listed asGabriella Rossi.
I step closer despite myself. Read the words on the screen.
Il matrimonio è annullato. Troverò un altro modo per far felici entrambe le famiglie. Mi dispiace.
“What does it say?”
“The marriage is off. I’ll find another way to make both families happy. I’m sorry.” He holds my gaze. “Watch.”
He hits send.
The message delivers. A small checkmark appears. Then two, indicating it’s been read.
Three dots appear. Someone typing a response.
Elio turns the phone off. Puts it in his pocket.
“There.” His voice is rough. “It’s done.”
I stare at where the phone disappeared.
“You just...” Words fail. “You broke off an engagement. Via a text message.”
“Yes.”
“A twelve-year engagement. To a woman whose family has a blood oath with yours.”
“Yes.”
“Bytext.”
Something hot and ugly rises in my chest. Not relief. Not gratitude. Something darker.
“Wow.” The laugh that escapes is hollow. “I don’t know what I expected from a man who kidnapped me, but breaking a woman’s heart via text message really shouldn’t surprise me.”
His expression flickers. “Violet?—”
“No, it makes sense.” I back away from him. “You’re exactly who I thought you were. Just a darker, stronger version of every asshole who ever cheated on a naive woman. The kind of man who makes promises he doesn’t intend to keep. Who lies to get what he wants. Who?—”
“Stop.” The word tears from him. A plea, not a command.
“Why? Because I’m getting too close to the truth?”
“Because you’re wrong.” His voice is shaking. “Because you’re looking at me like I’m?—”
He moves.
Fast. Too fast. Before I can react, my back hits the wall and his hands grip my face. His body cages me. His eyes?—
His eyes are wild.
Not angry. Not controlled. Not the predator I’ve come to know.
Terrified.
