He flinches. “You haven’t called me ‘daddy’ in a long time.”
“That’s because I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a grown woman that can make up her mind and I’m telling you right now: I’m choosing Enzo. We will deal with Marco Amato together. If the Mafia and the Bratva stand together, he doesn’t stand a chance against us. But if you kill Enzo, you’ll only make things worse. So Daddy, please let him go. Let my husband go.”
“Kira…”
“I can make my own choices and I’m choosing Enzo,” I repeat. “You have to listen to me. For once in my life. Truly listen to me and hear my words: I want him in my life. Do not do this.”
“Listen to her, Gregor,” Nikolai says. “I don’t want you killing Enzo either. It’s going to lead to worse things. And I don’t want to kill you either. Death is not always the answer for us. Not when we want to keep the women in our lives safe. I have my wife to think about.”
“And so do I,” Maksim adds. “Dad, listen to Kira. Don’t do this.”
“But Enzo shot you in the back,” Gregor hisses.
Maksim sighs. “He did and I fucking hate him for it. I never wanted Kira to marry him. But… she’s clearly safe. He has protected her. He literally saved her life. If Kira wants this, then I’ll stand at her side.” And he does. I smile at my brother as he takes his place right beside me.
“Thank you,” I breathe out.
“What are brothers for?”
“My own children turning against me?” Gregor asks.
“We’re not turning against you, Dad,” I say. “But Maksim and I have been ignored by you for far too long. You’ve always been so hard on Maksim and as for me, you treated me like your little princess without seeing me for the real me. But the real me is standing before you and I am using my voice. I am asking you to accept it. I want Enzo in my life. I truly mean that and if you take him from me… I’ll never be able to forgive you. And you will only hurt us more by plunging us into a war. So please, Dad. Don’t do this.”
“Gregor, don’t,” Nikolai says. “Listen to your daughter. Don’t kill Enzo.”
Gregor looks between me and Enzo strapped to his table. Enzo hasn’t said a word since all of this began. His eyes are glued to mine like he’s trying to see into my soul.
“You really love him?” Gregor asks.
“I do,” I say without hesitation. I know in this moment that I mean it with everything inside of me. “So don’t kill him.”
With a gasp, Gregor backs away from the table and stumbles against the wall. I rush to Enzo’s side and unstrap him from the table. With a groan, he sits up, still gazing down at me with wonder in his eyes. His chest is covered in small cuts.
“We should get you to the hospital,” I say. “Clean you up. I don’t want these getting infected.”
Enzo still doesn’t say a word as he gets to his feet. He sways and I help right him.
“If my sister says she loves you, then you must be doing something right,” Maksim says. “So, I’m sorry for my father.”
“I’m sorry for shooting you in the back,” Enzo says. “And for kidnapping your wife. I shouldn’t have done it.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” Maksim’s voice is tight. “But… I just want peace. I’m tired of all of this fighting. So if my sister is vouching for you, then… I’ll accept you as part of our family. Just don’t ever think to shoot me in the back again.” He holds his hand out to Enzo and after a beat, Enzo shakes it. Nikolai does the same.
Enzo glances at my father but Gregor doesn’t say a word. My dad is a stubborn man and it will take him a long time to come to terms with all of this but today, he did the right thing. He spared my husband’s life.
“Come on,” I say, gently nudging Enzo forward. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
We leave my father’s house. Enzo still doesn’t say a word to me on the drive to the hospital and it’s eating me up inside to not know what’s on his mind.
Enzo is brought into a hospital room right away when a nurse sees the blood seeping from his chest.
“How did this happen?” the doctor asks – a young man – as he comes into the room and starts looking Enzo over.
“This man mugged me,” Enzo says. “Cut my chest in the process to steal my wallet.”
“We should call the police.”
“No. No police. It was just a wallet. We won’t find the man who did it. Just stitch me up.”