Chapter 63

Aurora POV

Gianna corners me in my room the second Dominic leaves.

“Okay,” she fixes me with a stern look, arms crossed over her chest. “What the hell is going on?”

I blink, still sitting on the edge of my bed from when I sunk down onto it after Dominic left. My fingers brush along the edge of the covers under me, his scent still lingering on the sheets—warm and smoky, familiar in a way that makes my heart ache.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, stalling, because I know exactly what she means.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” She points to my hand. “Girl, I thought we were running away? Weren’t you the one telling me Dominic’s too dangerous to be around? That you were scared what he was going to do next to not just you but me and my dad?”

“I…” My words fail me.

I have nothing to say because there’s nothing I can say that will be able to defend myself. I’ve flip-flopped on this subject for days now, none of which I’ve told Gianna about, let alone hinted at. To her, it seems like I’m going back on my word out of the blue when in actuality, I’ve been dealing with this struggle for almost an entire week.

Gianna lifts her eyebrows. “Aurora. Be serious. Is he threatening you again?”

“No, of course not.”

Gianna’s silence behind me is louder than any scream. I know she doesn’t believe me and that’s the worst part. She knows me better than anyone on this planet. Therefore, she knows exactly when I’m bullshitting her.

This situation couldn’t be more obvious.

I get up from my bed in order to head over to my closet, needing to do something with my hands so she can’t see them shaking in my lap. “Look, I haven’t exactly made a final decision yet.”

Which is a lie, I already have made the decision.

I’m staying.

But the words feel too heavy to say out loud. Not yet. Not when I know how much she’s been planning on us running away and starting a new life together. Somewhere away from the world of the mafia and away from the expectations placed on our shoulders just simply because we happened to be born female.

Gianna’s eyes flash. “What? I thought the final decision was us running when Camilla offered to get us those documents.”

“I’m just… I’m not sure running away is the right call right now.”

She gapes at me. “Are you serious?”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Yes.”

Gianna scoffs. “This is because of Dominic.”

“It’s not just him. There’s… there are a lot of things that are making me rethink this.”

“It is him.” She throws her hands in the air. “This is exactly what I was afraid of. You let your guard down for one second and now he’s got you wrapped around his finger again. He’s making you question actually doing something for yourself for once. Don’t you want to live free and away from all of this, Aurora?”

I open my mouth, then close it.

Because… well, she’s not exactly wrong.

“He’s manipulating you,” she finishes with.

“No, he isn’t.”

Gianna shakes her head. “Are you sure? Because this is textbook manipulative behavior. He senses you’re out, so he turns up the charm, gets under your skin and suddenly you’re starry-eyed and doubting everything.”

“That’s not what’s going on.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I feel it,” I snap, my voice louder than I mean it to be as I whirl back around to face her. “Because I’ve seen him when no one’s watching. I’ve seen how he looks at me. How he talks to me and how he is when it’s just the two of us. That man doesn’t fake anything, Gianna. If he wanted to hurt me, he would. He’s done so before without any care.”

She stares at me for a long time, the frustration in her expression is quickly shifting into something more angry. “Right and do you even remember what he did? What he planned to do when he was overthrowing his father? Or are you so deep in denial now that a few sweet words and a ring were enough to make you forget he was going to frame you for murder?”

I flinch like she’s slapped me.

“I haven’t forgotten,” I say, my voice smaller now.

“My god, then act like it,” she fires back. “You said we were getting out. You promised. And now you’re telling me you’re not sure it’s the right move anymore? You’re not the only one who's scared of the future, okay? I know exactly what’s waiting for me in a few years if Fracesco is able to talk my dad into marrying me off.”

The guilt hits me full force, carving a hollow ache into my chest. “What?”

Gianna laughs bitterly. “You think I haven’t overheard them talking while they’re in their private meetings? Your dad has been trying to convince mine for years to marry me off to some tycoon in order to get us more power. It’s only a matter of time before my dad gets worn down and gives in.”

Oh, god. I didn’t know. But it all makes sense. Of course my father wouldn’t stop at just me when it comes to using women to gain power. If Camilla wasn’t the golden child, she’d be in the same boat as Gianna and I.

Hell, maybe she will be if we disappear.

She turns and heads for the door, her hand on the doorknob when she stops to speak again. “You need to really think about the life you’re choosing. Because once you pick it, there’s no going back. For either of us.”

The door opens then slams shut.

I wince as a heavy silence blankets the room.

I run my fingers through my hair, pacing a little before forcing myself to follow her. I can’t leave things like this between us. She’s my best friend. She’s saved me more times than I can count. I won’t let one argument destroy everything we’ve fought for. If I’m able to talk Dominic into agreeing to offer her some kind of protection, then maybe she won’t hate me for staying.

If Dominic really has developed feelings for me and wants a future with me—a healthy one—he’ll agree to protect Gianna.

I step into the hallway and turn the corner, slamming face-first into Gianna’s back. I stumble back a step, rubbing my nose. “What the hell…?”

She’s staring into the living room for some reason, frozen in place. When I move to look around her, I notice what’s caught her attention.

A man sits on our couch. A stranger.

He looks… out of place. Comfortable in a way that says he doesn’t think he’s out of place at all. Dark suit, dark slicked-back hair and a faint scar above his brow. He wears a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Hello, Gianna,” he says, accent thick and unmistakably Russian. “Won’t you join me?”