“Stop,” I say, wedging myself between Will and Enzo. “Did Francesca also tell you that she and Nico deliberately didn’tinvite you to the wedding? Because they knew you would stop it if I told you the truth.”
Finally, Enzo turns his eyes onto me. “What are you saying?”
“Nico is a bad man. He’s hurt me.”
He shakes his head, taking a step back. “What? What are you saying?”
“I’m saying it as plainly as I can. Nico is a bad man. He’s hurt me.”
“How?”
“He tried assaulting me. He tried forcing me into a marriage I didn’t want. He ripped my hair. He’s a bad man. He wants to control my entire life and I will not stand for it.”
“But… but you agreed to marry him. I never wanted you to marry someone you didn’t want to marry. I don’t understand.”
“Because I was too afraid to voice my own thoughts when you first proposed marriage to Nico. Before I realized just how bad he is. But now I know and I don’t want to marry him.”
“So don’t marry him,” Enzo says simply. “I don’t want you married to a bad man. But Nico has been on my side. He’s been fighting hard to save you… from him.” He shoots another glare in Will’s direction.
“You have it all wrong,” I say, drawing Enzo’s attention back to me. “Nico wasn’t saving me from Will. He was only going to hurt me. I will not marry Nico. Do not take me back to him. I am not safe with him.”
Enzo looks into my eyes for a long moment before he nods. “You don’t have to marry him. I only want you to marry someone who will treat you right.”
“Then… marry me to Will.”
Both Enzo and Will go silent and still. I know the moment the words come out of me, I cannot take them back.
“What are you saying?” Enzo asks. “Marry you… to that hitman? No. He kidnapped you. If we weren’t in this hospital right now, I’d kill him.”
“Then I’m not leaving this hospital. Not until I know Will is safe.”
Enzo runs his hand down his face. “Gianna… what are you going on about? What has gotten into you?”
“I was kidnapped. Yes. It was partly Will’s fault. But he has saved my life. He saved me from Marco, when Marco tried to force me into a marriage. He saved me from Nico when Nico tried to do the same exact thing. Will may not be the best of men but he’s been the best to me. He has kept me safe and I know he’ll continue to do so. Don’t you want that for me?”
“Of course I want you kept safe. But you are not marrying a fucking hitman. Not one who kidnapped you. Not one who works for the enemy.”
“But he doesn’t work for Marco. Are you not listening? He saved me from Marco. He put his own life on the line to save me when he didn’t have to. That has to mean something.”
“You really want to marry this man?” he asks with a dismissive scoff. “Really? Just so you don’t have to marry Nico?”
“No,” I say in a softer voice. “Because… I love him.”
I can feel Will looking at me but I keep my eyes on Enzo. My brother needs to hear this. He needs to know exactly who I am and what I want.
Enzo rocks back on his heels like I hit him. “You… what?”
“Will has saved my life, Enzo. Multiple times now. And he was going to bring me back to you, knowing he was going to have to give me up. He acted with selflessness in order to protect me. I love him. I’m not going to pretend I don’t. And I’m tired of everyone in my life telling me what to do. I am going to make my own decisions from now on. I am going to be with Will, even if it’s not in marriage. But if a wedding must happen… then I wantit to be with Will. He will be on your side. He will help protect me. He will be an ally and help you in this war with Marco. And you can rest knowing no one will keep me more safe than him because he’s already done that.
“If it weren’t for Will,” I continue, “then I’d already be married to Marco. I’d probably be getting tortured right now. But he saved me.”
“Only because he kidnapped you in the first place.”
“He was hired to do it. Was it bad? Yes. But I’ve seen him change.”
Enzo scoffs. “Change.”
“He’s changed. I know you don’t see it. And even if you don’t agree with me and Will being together, then I will go home with you right now. But you have to promise to not kill Will. And you have to promise to not marry me off to a man I don’t want to be with. If you can do that, I will go with you without a fight.”
