I rub my lips together. “Because I didn’t want to hurt Jasmine anymore.”
I’m not going to tell him about Jasmine’s true suffering. That’s her decision.
Luca sighs out loud and shakes his head.
“I want all of it to stop,” I add. “The hurt. The pain. The suffering. It needs to end. With us.”
Luca doesn’t even look at me as he parts his lips. “You think that’s still possible?”
“We make that choice,” I reply.
“Did you forget I shot you?” he retorts, raising his brow at me.
I shrug. “You were trying to protect Jill.”
My eyes narrow. “You’re telling me you’re not even mad?”
I shake my head. “Not anymore.”
“So what now? We all pretend nothing ever happened?”
“I didn’t say that. But I’m done fighting,” I say. “With you. With Jill.”
He snorts.
“I mean it,” I add.
“You think you won’t snap again someday?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I made Jasmine a vow. I intend to keep it.”
“What vow?” He throws me a look.
“It’s personal.”
He scoffs. “Cop-out.”
“Luca.” Finally, I have his attention. “I promise you, I won’t ever touch Jill again.”
“I could just shoot you, you know,” he says with cold-blooded eyes. “It would be easier.”
“You could, and it would be easier,” I reply, meeting his gaze. “But you won’t. Because I’m your brother. And deep down somewhere inside that shriveled heart of yours, you still want me back.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I add, “And I don’t care that you shot me. I deserved it. All I want is my brother and my girl back.”
It’s quiet for some time.
Too long, if you ask me.
Suddenly, he begins to laugh. Hard.
What the fuck?
“We really are a fucked-up family,” he says, still laughing.
I can’t help but laugh at the way he’s laughing. It’s infectious, I have to admit.
When the laughter dies down, I ask, “So you’re willing to give me a second chance?”