I blink at him.
“Your name is not Katarina,” Julian says, his eyes glistening. “You are a Castiglione. Daughter of Don Castiglione. One of the five Dons in theLa Famiglia. Damiano’s biggest enemy.”
My mouth goes dry as I hear the words spill out of his mouth. Nothing makes sense, but everything felt like a gut punch.
“What do you mean?” I warn.
“Your cousin sent me to look after you and your brother until it was time to bring you back to Italy.”
Silence.
“You were a mole?” I say, my voice ragged, sweat pricks my forehead. His eyes snap at me with a pained look.
“I’m trying to derail your cousin so I can get you out of Italy. I’m not letting them get to you. I know what this life’s like, Kat. I grew up in it.”
“Oh my god,” I step back and walk towards the door, but he grabs my arm.
“Kat, listen,” he turns me around to face him before leaning in, his brown eyes glazed with an intensity he has never shown before, “I promised myself I’d never let you end up like the rest of them.” His voice cracks for a second; it doesn’t sound rehearsed.
“He thinks I’m bringing you to him, but I have a plan. We will take a different route once we’re in the ocean. He’ll never find us.” He rambles, but his eyes are wild, almost desperate.
“Get away from me,” I warn.
“You think I haven’t been torn up about this? Every night, knowing I would have to choose between you and everything I swore to your family… They saved me once, Kat. I owe them. But—.”
“But what?! What other lies have you been spewing, huh?” I shove his chest, my voice booming inside the cabin. He stays planted firmly on the ground, looking down at me as I lose it.
“You mean everything to me, Kat,” he pleads. “I love you more than my own life.”
I laugh hysterically.
“Liar!” I press a finger on his chest. “You think I’ll believe anything you say after all this?!”
“You don’t understand. Your family, they’re just as dangerous as Damiano’s, if notmore. I will die before they get their hands on you, Kat.”
“Shut up! My family is dead! Who are you working for?” I scream until my throat hurts.
“I’m telling you the truth! When Damiano found out who you really are. I knew it was over. He hates your father, Kat. Your father was the one who killed his mother. You were gonna get caught in that crossfire!”
Your father killed his mother.
His words are clear. I heard each and every one of them, but they don’t register.
Until Damiano’s words come back to me.
She has his blood in her veins… She’s my revenge now…
“No,” I take a step back, frantically shaking my head. I turn away and walk towards the door, but Julian walks in front of me.
“Please, Kat, you have to trust me. You’re going to end up dead if you don’t. Let me save you!” He pleads, his words tasting like poison. I sidestep and try to run past him, but he catches me easily and pins me against the wall.
“Let me go!!!” I shout, trying to get out of his grasp, but it’s hopeless. He’s too strong.
“Forget Nicolo, Kat. Damiano is going to kill you himself now that he knows who you really are. And your own family, they’re going to use you as a pawn. So come with me to Mexico, we can have a life there together!”
“Stop! Please let me go!” I cry and yell as his grip becomes suffocating.
“I love you, Kat. You have to believe me!” He whispers in my ear in pure desperation.
