Page 325 of Valentino

Horror dawns.

“Dear God,” I whisper.

“He’s coming after you next, Anna. Do you understand me?” His eyes hold mine. “I need you to go to New York where it is safe. Where he cannot get to you.”

I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you, Valentino. Don’t ask me to do that, I can’t.”

“Babe.” His eyes hold mine. “Listen to me….”

“No.” I screw up my face in tears. “I need to be with you. We need to be together right now.”

“Sweetheart.” He pulls me to him. “I’m going to end this. Once and for all.”

“No,” I cry against his chest. “It’s not safe.” I pull out of his grip. “I won’t allow it.”

“Anna,” he snaps. “Get in the fucking shower. You are going to New York, if I have to kidnap and put you in the trunk of my car.” He points to the door. “You are getting on that fucking plane.”

“I’ll only go if you come with me,” I fire back.

“I can’t.”

“You can. And you will.”

“I’m not coming. I have to stay here.”

“To fight?”

“I have to,” he fires back. “What choice do I have?” He throws up his hands. “It’s me that he wants. So it has to be me that ends this.”

He’s going to get himself killed.

“No.” I step back from him as panic begins to scream through my system. “No, Valentino. You are not staying.”

“This isn’t up for fucking debate,” he yells.

“We are getting married in ten days. I left everything for you and you promised me that you would listen to what I ask,” I spit through tears. “You promised me you wouldn’t put yourself at risk. That if I thought something was dangerous that you wouldn’t do it.”

“He killed my fucking father,” he screams. “He’s not getting away with it.”

I stare at him, fear sinks its teeth into me.

This is the last time I’m going to see him.

“Please. Please.” I try to hug him. “Please baby, listen to me. Listen to me.” I smile through tears. “Let the others handle this, you’re too close. This is too personal, this is not….”

“No.” He pulls out of my arms. “This is my war, Anna.” He hits his chest. “My fucking war.”

“Val,” I whisper, desperate to change his mind. “You come with me…or…or…we’re over.”

“Don’t start that fucking shit.” He reaches for me.

“I mean it.” I step back. “You come with me now. Or you will never see me again.”

“You don’t mean that,” he snaps. “Get fucking ready.”

“Try me.”

“I have to do this, Anna.”