“We should be friends,” I say, linking our arms together. She stares down at our arms in shock before she slowly nods.
“I don’t have any friends,” she admits.
“How come?”
“For my protection.”
“Well, you’re safe here. It’s just Central Park in the middle of the day. No one can hurt us here. Too many people.”
We make it to the fountain and take a seat on the edge.
“Want to make a wish?” I ask. “I don’t have any coins but I don’t think that matters.”
“I can’t remember the last time I made a wish.”
I nudge her with my arm. “Then let’s do it.” I close my eyes after Gianna does and I make a wish that I’ll survive my marriage to Enzo.
“What did you wish for?” Gianna asks after we’re done.
“I can’t tell you that, now can I? We both have to keep our wishes a secret.”
I glance over Gianna’s shoulder at that very moment – almost like I can sense something – and see Enzo storming right over to us. I scramble to my feet and after a moment, Gianna does too.
“How did you find us?” I ask once Enzo reaches our side.
“Francesca called me and told me that both of you were gone. I then tracked your phone and found you here.”
I pull my phone out of my bag. “You put a tracker on my phone without me knowing?”
“For your own safety. And it’s a good thing too. Do you know who could have found you here? Any one of my enemies. You both could have been hurt. We’re leaving. Now.”
Gianna doesn’t hesitate to follow her brother but I stand my ground. “No.”
Enzo’s back tenses. “No? What game are you playing, Kira? We’re leaving.”
“It’s Central Park in the middle of the day. There’s tons of people around us. Who was going to hurt us? Be serious. You just want to control me. You don’t want me being around other people. Other men. But your sister needed a day out. She needed to get away from your overbearing aunt. And I gave that to her.”
“Is this true?” Enzo asks his sister.
She only ducks her chin and doesn’t respond.
“You’ve scared my sister,” Enzo snaps. “Not my aunt. You. You’re a problem, Kira.”
“Then you never should have married me,” I snap back.
“I’m seeing that now. Come along.”
“No.”
“If you don’t, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you away. Don’t test me.”
The last thing I want is to be humiliated so I follow Enzo out of the park, knowing I have no other choice. He brings us back to the hotel where Francesca is waiting.
“Oh thank goodness,” she says when she sees Gianna. “I thought you could have been hurt. That girl is a terrible influence. Let’s go home.” Francesca grabs Gianna’s hand and drags her out of the hotel without another word. At least that’s something.
“Your sister is miserable,” I tell Enzo.
His jaw tenses. “Don’t. Don’t talk about my sister like you know her.”
