“I’ll keep you safe, Gianna. You know I will.”
“And Will?” I sob. “Will he be ok?”
“I hope so.” Enzo shakes his head with a sigh. “He saved your life. He saved my life. He didn’t have to.”
“He’s changed. I told you.”
“You really love him, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“And do you think he’d agree to marry you? This is the only way this works. You can’t date a hitman. But if you marry him, I can make an alliance with him.”
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “We haven’t had the chance to talk about it. He has to make it through this first. But if he agrees to marry me… then you’ll let me and Will be together?”
“I have no other choice. You clearly want to be with him and he’s shown that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. There’s no one better.”
I close my eyes and say a prayer, hoping that Will survives and I’ll get the chance at freedom I’ve always wanted.
Chapter Twenty
Gianna
The moment I get the word that Will is out of surgery and alive, I rush to his bedside. He’s still asleep when I see him so I sit down beside his bed and hold his hand. I want him to know I’m right here when he wakes up.
Enzo waits in the room with me. Neither one of us says anything. There’s too much uncertainty in the air.
It begins to feel awkward when someone else bursts into the room. Our aunt.
“Francesca?” I ask. “How did you know we were here?”
“I told her,” Enzo explains. “She had the right to know you were ok. I explained everything to her over the phone. That Will saved both of our lives.”
“I… might have been wrong,” she admits, wringing her hands together. “About Nico. And Will. I didn’t realize.”
“No, you didn’t,” I respond in a hard voice. “You thought Nico was the best for me without realizing what I wanted. You never put what was best for me first.”
“You told me you used to make yourself throw up because of me.”
“What?” Enzo asks, clearly shocked.
“I did,” I answer honestly. “Because you would control my every move. Every day. I had to find control of my own. But ever since I was kidnapped… I haven’t thrown up. And when Will and I formed a connection, I realized I didn’t want to throw up anymore. I just wanted my own freedom to make my own choices. That’s it.”
“And you want to be with him?” she asks, trying not to sneer. I can tell it’s hard for my aunt.
“I love him. And he’s shown that he will risk his own life to save me. That’s the kind of man I want. Not one who will control my every action. So when he wakes up, I’ll ask him if he wants to marry me. I know it’s the only way we can be together. He needs to form an alliance with Enzo.”
“And if he says no?”
“Then…” I sigh. “Then I’ll be heartbroken but I can’t force him to be with me. I can’t ask to have my own freedom and take away someone else’s. If he chooses to be with me, then I’ll be happy. If not, then I’ll be sad but I’ll heal. I know I will. And I will not be forced to marry someone else. I will not.”
“I agree,” Enzo says. “I won’t force you to marry anyone, Gianna. I promise.”
“Francesca?” I ask.
She stares down at the floor for a long moment before she sighs. “I never realized you were hurting so much because of me.”
“I just need to be my own person and you need to accept it. If you can’t… then you can’t be in my life.” It’s the first time I’ve ever been this bold with my aunt. I can see the surprise on her face but also the resignation.