“I want you to come with me.” I stare hard at my sister, thinking this is the only way it’ll ever work. If I ran off, they’d just make her take my place, and I won’t do that. She has to come, and she has to make that choice on her own.
“Fio, I love you, but you’re insane.”
“If you stay, you’ll end up like me one day. You have to see that. I know you think you’ll marry for love, but Papa won’t ever letit happen.”Or Raf won’t, but I don’t add that morbid thought. “We’re nothing but bodies to them, Elisa. You have to come with me.”
She sucks her lip. “Wow. You’re really not kidding.”
“It’s the only way you’ll ever get a normal life.” Desperation fills me. I know this is a stupid idea, but it’s all I have.
“They’ll come after us.” She leans forward, shoulders shrugging up. “They might let you go alone, but not both of us. We’re valuable, remember?”
“Not that valuable. Listen, I can do it. Maybe we’ll fake our death. Burn a car and make it look like we were inside.”
She smiles a little. “Sounds complicated.”
“I’ll figure out the details. I have a year, right? Just tell me you’ll come.”
I put my hand on her arm and squeeze lightly. I need her to know how important this is to me. I’d do anything for her. I’d kill, steal, lie, and sin if it meant keeping her safe. I’ve always gone further than any sister should ever have to go, but my job isn’t finished.
She’s my responsibility, and I won’t fail her.
“Tell you what. If you still want to run away in a year and you have an actual plan that might work, I’ll come with you.”
“Too many conditions. Just say yes.”
“No can do.” She shakes her head, smiling at me now. “Man,that guyreally did a number on you, huh?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say too quickly. “Promise you’ll come.”
“We’ll see. I’m not saying no, alright? That’s got to be good enough for now.”
It’s not even close, but I know her well enough not to push. If she says she’ll consider it, then she really will consider it. I just have to convince her it’s the right thing to do and come up with a plan that’ll really work.
Then in one year, we’re out of here.
I give her a quick hug, which she squirms out of, complaining that I’m all dirty. When I turn back to the car, I notice a person coming through the crowd toward us, someone who doesn’t belong here at all, who stands out like a diamond in a pile of rocks. He’s wearing a dark suit fitted to his gorgeous, athletic body, and he’s smirking slightly like he’s amused to see me back at work.
“Oh, wow,” I hear Elisa whisper behind me asthat guyapproaches.
Damn her straight to hell, but she’s got it right.
He’s gorgeous. Even more attractive than I remembered. There’s something in the way he looks at me, something possessive and primal, like all the action going on around him in the garage is just background noise and I’m the only one worth watching. He moves with confidence and grace like an undefeated fighter entering the ring. His clothes are expensive but understated, and his dark hair’s pushed back in a messy wave.
I remember his lips. I remember his voice. I’ve been obsessing about it for the last week.
And I wish I could wipe him from my brain completely.
“How’s she coming along?” he asks, nodding at my Spider. “I’m happy to see you’re back at work.”
His sultry voice snaps me back into myself. “He’scoming along great.” I pat the hood lightly and hope the bumper doesn’t fall off. “What are you doing here?”
“Just came to see how you were doing.” He hesitates and glances over at Elisa. “I’m Luca Marino. Nice to meet you.”
“Elisa Serrano.”
“Oh, you’re the sister?”
“That’s me.” She hops down, beaming and friendly. “I hear you saved Fio’s life. Thank you so much.”
