“I’ll return you to your brother. But there’s a good chance we won’t get to be together.”
“So let’s run away.”
“Do you want to live your life on the run? Always looking over your shoulder?”
“No,” I whisper, realizing how right he is.
“You need your brother. He’s the one who can truly keep you safe. If you believe he’ll listen, then I’ll take you to him. But you have to be prepared that we might never see each other again.”
“Is that what you want? You never want to see me again?” Tears hit my eyes before I can stop them.
“No,” he says in a gruff voice. “I want to keep you in my arms. But I’m realistic. Your brother won’t allow us to be together. But as long as you’re safe then I’m willing to do it. I can’t be selfish with you any longer. I just… can’t.”
A sob escapes my throat. It’s for all the pain I’ve been through these past couple of weeks. The fear and anxiety. The desire and lust for Will.
And the love I now have for him. Only for it to be taken away because he’s right. My brother won’t agree with me being with Will but he can keep me safe. So I have to choose: safety or love.
“What if I choose you?” I ask.
“I can’t let you do that.”
“But you said I get to make my own decisions in life.”
He sighs deeply and pulls away from me. That’s the thing that hurts most of all. “I know what I said. But I can’t let you choose a life with me. Not when it puts you in danger. I don’t want that.And I doubt you want that either. So, I don’t want you to choose me, Gianna. I want you to choose safety.”
“What about happiness? Don’t I get that?”
“Will you actually be happy going on the run with me? Answer me honestly.”
I hesitate because I know he’s right. I won’t be happy with this constant state of stress I’m under. I need my brother… even if that means giving up Will.
“I’ll miss you,” I whisper.
He nods as the light in his eyes dim. “I’ll miss you too. But this is the right thing. We both know it.”
That’s the part that hurts most of all. We both know it and yet, neither one of us wants it.
“Can you give me a kiss before you return me to Enzo?” I ask. “Just one more kiss.”
Without a word, he pulls me into his arms for one final time and kisses me deeply. It’s a kiss I’ll never forget. Both passionate and sweet. Full of desire and pain.
I never want to leave this moment.
But it all comes crashing down when I hear a voice behind us.
“Get your hands off her.” It’s a voice I know very well.
Because it belongs to my brother.
Chapter Nineteen
Gianna
With a gasp, I pull away from Will and turn to face Enzo. He’s breathing heavy and glaring at Will.
“How did you find us here?” I ask.
“Francesca called me. Said I needed to save you from the hitman who kidnapped you again. She told me that he ruined your wedding to Nico. She gave me the license plate of your car. It wasn’t hard for my contacts to find it. I can get a lot done.” Enzo steps closer to Will. “You were touching my sister. If we weren’t in a crowded hospital right now, I’d kill you this second.”