I watched as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, the both of them smiling as they basked in the sunlight. My lip turned up in a sneer as I watched them sway back in forth, Emerson speaking quietly to her sister’s headstone as if Sophie was right there listening to her.

I hated seeing that smile on her face, despised the fact that while I was still struggling to step foot outside my front door, Emerson had somehow managed to forget the destruction that night caused.

Maybe she was stronger than I was?

 

I could hear his footsteps pounding against the ground behind me, my heart racing as I ducked and dodged through the thick brush and forest.

 

No, she wasn’t stronger. I was strong. I’d made it through this once, I could fight back the darkness again.

My gut clenched even as I thought those words because they just weren’t true.

It had taken everything I had within me to recover the first time. This time, I just wasn’t so sure it would be as easy. I was already finding it hard to get out of bed every day, struggling to blank out the memories that I wished weren’t mine.

 

“I love you, princess,” he soothed as I lay on the floor sobbing. “I’m the only one who does.”

 

Emerson had been one of my best friends. She and Leah, whether they knew it or not, had really helped me to settle back into normal life and become a normal girl again. Well, as normal as I could be. I knew I could be a little outspoken and a tiny bit crazy, but it had become like a defense mechanism.

They wouldn’t come after me if they thought I would fight back.

I had to be feisty. I had to show them all that I was strong, and not the shy little girl that I once was. The little girl who couldn’t fight back.

 

“You’re so pretty, Ava,” he whispered as he brushed his knuckles against my cheek. I pulled my knees closer to my chest, trying to fold my body in on itself and hoping that if I could just make myself smaller, maybe I could disappear altogether.

 

My anger began to rise as I watched Angelo dip his head and kiss Emerson tenderly on the lips. My fingers gripped tighter to the cold metal gun in my hand.

I wanted to make the DePalma family pay. They had put me in this position, a place where I couldn’t escape my own thoughts. They think they are so powerful, that nothing can hurt them, yet they don’t care about the little people that get pulled down in the aftermath of their destructive ways.

What about me?

I was collateral damage.

Yet, Emerson was a part of the family so they would do everything and anything possible to make sure that she came out of this on the other side, with a smile on her face and a man beside her who would kill anything and anyone that looked at her sideways.

I was there too.

I watched Sophie—tortured, raped, and destroyed.

And I saw myself in her eyes.

 

I tugged at the restraints, wanting to scream and cry out for help as he cupped my face in his hands, so tenderly, so convincingly.

How could someone so beautiful cause so much pain?

 

“What do you think you’re doing?” I spun on my heel, turning toward the deep voice. He stood just a few feet away, his eyes watching me, his head tilted slightly to the right. His arms were folded across his chest, the intricate and detailed ink creating captivating patterns and pictures.

My heart thumped against my chest, heavy and hard like it could burst any moment.

I knew who he was. I’d done my research on the DePalma family, and he was the next in line.

Giovanni.

His sharp jaw line, defined muscles and the way his hair fell across his forehead was sexy and enticing. But I knew from experience that it was men like him who were the most dangerous.

“You gonna do something with that or is it just for decoration?” he asked when I didn’t speak. His comment was meant to be sarcastic, but the tone of his voice stayed the same, almost robotic. He stared at me, his whiskey colored eyes burning through me like I’d just taken a shot and my body was on fire. His right eyebrow was ever so slightly raised, daring me to move, like he would find pleasure in the challenge of dodging a bullet. It was as if he found some sick and twisted excitement in beating death.

I lifted my chin, refusing to let him distract me or make me second guess my decision. I was sick of allowing others to cause me pain, people like the DePalmas who just walked through life wreaking havoc and leaving others to suffer.

“It’s all your fault,” I growled, finally finding my voice. He raised his eyebrow and took a menacing step forward. I raised the gun and he stopped, his eyes flicking to the weapon before returning to me. “You don’t care what kind of pain you leave in your wake, you only care about family.” Even saying the word disgusted me.

He stood his ground, even with my gun aimed at his chest.

My aim wasn’t steady, but it was sure.

“Ava! What are you doing?” I heard Emerson call from behind me, worry in her voice. That alone almost made me melt into a puddle on the ground. I loved Emerson, she was my best friend, the one who didn’t care that I was a little bit out there, but would stand beside me anyway and at any time.

Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t move them from where Gio continued to stare me down, his eyes burning holes through me, creating all kinds of different emotions inside me. I could feel the strength flowing off him in waves, but for some reason, I wasn’t afraid. I didn’t feel like he was out to use his power against me.

Not every guy is like him. Not every guy is out to hurt you.

I squeezed the gun a little tighter, frustrated with myself, annoyed with the way he was affecting me.

“You want to hurt them, you’ll have to go through me first,” he said casually. I saw his body tense, his muscles clenching, but his face was a mask of relaxation.

That was it.

I made a split second decision.

One that I might regret.

One that could rain hell down around me.

But I didn’t care.

I wouldn’t let myself be tricked again.

“Fine,” I said with finality.

Then I squeezed the trigger.