My body trembles. One of us isn’t going to survive this. One is going to die. Because of me.
I look at both of the men I love. Love is such a strange word and an even stranger feeling. It’s not something I’ve admitted to either of them. Or even to myself. But, right now, when our lives are truly on the line, it makes it easier to admit it. I love them both. I don’t know how it’s possible to truly love more than one person at a time, but it’s how I feel. I won’t question it.
“Time is ticking, Nina, and I’m not a very patient man. Who is worthy of becoming my next heir?” He pauses, smiling. “Or, better yet, whom do you love? Whom can’t you live without?” He laughs to himself. “Maybe you aren’t about to leave so quickly after all. If you truly didn’t care about my sons, you would have already chosen. You would have killed one of them without a second thought if it meant your freedom. So, which of my sons has won by stealing your heart?”
I look at both men standing in front of me. Neither of them deserves to die. I can’t choose.
But I don’t deserve to die either.
I feel the tears in my own eyes as I look to both of them like one of them will have the answer. Matteo smiles with his eyes. He loves me; I can see it in his eyes. He tells me with his whole body how much he loves me. But he doesn’t tell me not to shoot him.
I look into Arlo’s eyes. He doesn’t tell me anything. In fact, he barely looks at me, seeming indifferent, even though I know, deep down, he cares about me.
The way they look at me is the same way they are toward me. Both men are so different, yet I love both of them.
They both tried to save me. They both deserve to live.
I close my eyes. I deserve to live, too. Words pop into my head. Save yourself, like you promised.
More tears pour down my cheeks as I know what I have to do. My eyes dart back and forth between the two men. I bite my lip, and then I let the words start pouring out of me.
“I promised I would save myself.” I take a deep breath as I look at Arlo. “And I keep my promises.”
Arlo takes a deep breath as I stare at him. I made a promise to him that I would save myself. And the only way I can live with myself after tonight is to honor that promise.
I swallow hard, and then I say, “I choose to save Matteo.”
35
Matteo
Nina says my name, and I rejoice and about die at the same time.
She is saving me.
But she’s just killed my brother.
I don’t know whether to love her or kill her.
But I don’t have time to think about that. I look at Enrico, who has a shocked expression on his face. He was expecting her to choose death rather than choose one of us to kill. But, now that she’s chosen, it’s only a matter of seconds before he follows through.
He turns, aiming the gun at Arlo.
Arlo takes a deep breath.
“No!” I scream, trying to stop him, running toward Arlo.
I hear the pop of the gun and watch as Arlo moves, trying to avoid the bullet, but he doesn’t move far enough. It hits him square in the chest. I continue running to him as he falls to the ground.
Nina screams, sobbing behind me, but I don’t turn to look at her. I’ll deal with her later. Right now, all I can think about is Arlo.
I get to him in seconds, immediately applying pressure to his wound to try to stop the bleeding.
“Just hold on, Arlo. You’re going to be okay,” I say, not really believing my own words. Of all the times Arlo has been shot, this is the least safe I have felt when saying those words. Not just because his wound is in one of the worst places for it to be, but also because, at any second, Enrico could shoot him again.
Arlo winces as he tries to move.
“Relax. Just stay still, and let me take care of you.”