“What family?” Emma whispers. “The only family I ever had was my mother. I didn’t belong to my father. I didn’t know him. And I don’t belong to you. I don’t belong to anyone.”
Matteo’s lips quirk. “Funny. Your current husband seems to think you belong to him.”
“Because she is mine,” I growl, turning to Gabriel. “Find someone else to use as a peace treaty. It won’t be Emma.”
“I know what you’re doing, Leo,” Gabriel says. “You brought her here tonight to show her off. To get me to back down. But Matteo is offering us peace and this is the way to do it. So you have to make a sacrifice, even if you’re not happy with it.”
“It’s Emma who has to make the sacrifice. After all I’ve put her through, it’s not fair she should go through more trouble.”
Gabriel gazes at me carefully. “And who’s fault is that? You took Emma of your own accord. You brought her into this mess. This is on you, Leo. And you will fix it. You and Emma will get a divorce and she will marry Matteo for peace. End of discussion.” He walks back to Aurora.
Matteo gives both me and Emma a nod before walking away, though I can’t help but notice the way his eyes linger on Emma. It takes everything inside of me to not punch him.
“Am I really going to have to marry him?” Emma asks.
“No. I will fight for you. I promise. You won’t be married to Matteo. Even if it kills me.”
Emma’s eyes widen. “I… I need to use the restroom. I just need a moment. Please.”
All I want is to keep Emma near my side but I know I can’t control her every move anymore. “Of course. I’ll wait here for you.”
She hurries out of the ballroom. My eyes land on Gabriel and I frown. As my best friend and business partner, he’s betrayingme. But I’ll have to betray him to save Emma from marrying Matteo.
Emma
I hurry into the nearest restroom and splash water on my face, trying to get my breathing under control. This mafia world is a dangerous one. I’m not sure I’ll ever be safe, no matter how hard Leo fights for me.
“Emma.” I hear her voice behind me before I see her.
Spinning around, I come face to face with my mother. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to get you back. That terrible man stole you from me. Again. But you belong with me, Emma. You need to return home now. I can keep you safe.”
When she reaches out for me, I back away. “You. You said you’d keep me safe but the moment I came back to the farm with you, you locked me away again. You hurt me, Mother. I don’t want to come home with you. I don’t belong with you. I don’t belong to anyone.”
“That man seems to think you belong with him. I will not let that happen. I will keep you safe at the farm. I promise I’ll never hurt you again.”
Her promise is so eerily similar to Leo’s promise. Both people have hurt me. Both of them are promising they’ll change. ButLeo is the one who’s actually shown me he can do that. My mother hasn’t done the same.
“I am not going with you.” I’ll take my chances with Leo.
“You cannot seriously want to stay with that man. I’ve been watching you ever since he took you from me. It’s how I knew you were here. I saw a chance and I am taking it. You will come back home with me.”
“Alessandro is dead,” I announce. “You don’t have to worry about him coming for me again. I don’t need to stay with you anymore.”
“I heard that your father died and good riddance. But you are still trapped by that other mafia man. I cannot stand for that. If you won’t come with me, Emma, I will make you.” She pulls a small pistol out of her jacket pocket. “I will make you come with me.”
I tense. “You’re going to shoot me if I don’t come with you?”
“No. I don’t want you hurt. But I will shoot your husband you seem to care about. If you don’t want him getting hurt, then you will come with me. Right now.”
The thought of Leo dying…
On one hand, if he were dead, maybe then I’d get the chance to experience complete freedom. And yet, I’d still be married off to Matteo. Or I’d be forced to go back home with my mother.
I have no choices in life.
Leo is the only one who can offer me a life of happiness and I cannot lose that. I cannot be responsible for his death.
