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“This is all your fault,” I whisper fiercely. “You did this to me. You put me in danger in the first place. I never would be in this position if it wasn’t for you.”
She pales and reaches for me. “Christina.”
“Save it.” I snap. “You made your choice and didn’t think of me then, so why should you claim to be thinking of me now? If you make me do this, you’re dead to me.”
I shake my head. Too much has happened in the last couple weeks.
I could never be free of them. Never. Not even if I wanted to be.
I swallow back the sob that threatens to escape from my throat. Marrying Jimmy won’t make me free. It will only trap me in this world without the ones that keep me safe. It will put me in even more danger.
“This isn’t fair,” I say. “I’m an adult. Wasn’t it enough that you tried to steal my dreams from me with your shitty life choices? You had to steal my happiness and love too?”
“Life isn’t fair,” my mother says, sharply. “And you’ll do what you’re told.”
The shouts grow louder and hope blooms in my chest when I hear Nico.
“You can’t fucking marry her off,” he yells. “She doesn’t belong to you.”
“The fuck I can’t,” Albert shouts back, “Calm the fuck down, right now, boy.”
“She’s ours,” Nico’s voice grows louder. “She’s fucking ours.”
I need them. I need them right now. I urge my legs to let me up but my body is still in shock, refusing to move.
I strain my ears to listen, but another door shuts and their fighting muffles.
No. No. Come back. Save me.
I cry harder.
“Christina, look at me,” my mother snaps, her voice bringing me back to the present.
“Please.”
“I don’t want to be free,” I say, the words coming out like a whisper. It’s the first time I’ve admitted it out loud and it is terrifying.
But it’s true.
My shoulders shake. If freedom means leaving them, then I don’t want it.
Besides, short of locking them up in a dungeon somewhere, there’s no chance they’ll let this wedding go through without a fight.
I have to believe they would never, ever abandon me.
An announced engagement won’t change a thing.
They’ll still love me. Want me. They have to. Nico has said it only once - when we thought I was pregnant. My heart blooms in my chest. I know Enzo must feel the same too. Right?
“What? What are you talking about?” My mother asks, sharply.
I look up with tear-streaked cheeks. “I’m in love. I refuse to marry Jimmy.”
“No, Christina. You can’t refuse. Tell me you understand that” she says, patiently. “You can’t.”
I shake my head resolutely and her eyes widen with fear.
“No, mom. I’m telling you. It’s too late. I love someone else.” Technically, two people.
