If I’ll even make it out alive.
Chapter Fifteen
Gianna
We arrive at another motel. Will pays for the room himself while I stay in the car to avoid anyone identifying me. The last thing we need is Nico finding us. If my brother found me, I know I’d be all right, but with Nico? I’m worried that he’ll try to hurt me again. There’s so much uncertainty from what Nico will do if he gets me, what Marco will do if he finds me, what my brother will do if he gets me back.
And there’s also my growing feelings for Will. I let him touch me in a way no one ever has. Knowing that he saved me from Nico again… it only makes me feel closer to him. It only makes me want him more.
If this is my one chance to live my life for myself, I am going to take it. No more hesitation.
Once Will buys the room, he comes back for me and he makes sure I get into the room safely. No Nico. No Marco. But they could find us at any moment.
I throw my arms around Will the second he closes the door.
“What’s this for?” he asks, holding me close.
“Thank you for saving me from Nico again. You didn’t have to. You could have just given me back to him. Your life would be easier if you did that.”
“It would be,” he admits. “But I care for you, Gianna. I’m… going to fight for you.”
I stare up at him in shock. “Really? Why me?”
“Because the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew I made a mistake in helping Marco kidnap you. You were just an innocent. You still are. You haven’t deserved any of this. I want to make sure you’re ok. I’ve never been honest with anyone about my life before. You’re the first. You make it easy to talk to.”
“You’re the first person I’ve ever told my secrets to as well. I never knew a hitman would be the one I would find solace in.”
“We live in a crazy world.”
“We really do,” I murmur, still keeping my eyes glued to his. My heart skips a beat, knowing I’m going to ask for something I can’t come back from. But the fact that Will could have died from Nico’s hand and survived means that I can’t hold back any longer.
This is my one chance to live my life for myself and I have to take it.
“Kiss me,” I say.
His eyes soften as he cups my face and does as I ask. The kiss starts off tender and sweet but soon a darkness overtakes it. There’s a desperation to Will’s kiss. Life and death. We both know we might never get this chance again.
He backs me up until we reach the bed. We laugh together as we fall down on the mattress, still kissing and clinging to each other. I know that Will and I don’t really have a future. Not unless I can convince my brother to let Will live. But that doesn’t mean I would get to be with Will. Most likely when I return to my brother, he’ll lock me up for my ‘safety.’
But I’m tired of being safe. I’m tired of being controlled. I want to make my own choices so I am making this one.
“Touch me,” I say into Will’s ear. “All of me. Everywhere.”
He goes still for a moment. “Gianna… are you asking me to…”
“I want you to take all of me. I know before I said I wasn’t ready. But I realize that I am now. I want to experience this with you in case anything happens.”
“If we weren’t in a life or death situation, would you be making this choice? I don’t want you to regret it.”
“Wearein a life or death situation, Will. So I can’t tell you what choice I’d be making otherwise. But I won’t regret this. I want to experience life. I want to experience sex. I want this.”
He stares into my eyes for a long moment before he nods. “Then if you’re sure…”
“I’m sure.”
He leans down to my ear. “Then I’ll make you mine.”
I shiver at his words. I know I can never truly be his – at least not right now. But for this one moment, I want to forget everything. I want to get lost in Will’s arms.