Page 114 of Ruthless Secrets
He’s right. We don’t have a choice.
We sit in silence for a while, the weight of what’s to come settling between us. Eventually, Andre leans back and studies me like he’s trying to decide if he wants to say something.
“What?”
“You love her.”
I stiffen. “What?”
“Clara.” He tilts his glass toward me. “You love her.”
“Yeah, I do.” I set my drink down harder than necessary on the table. “It’s fucking terrifying. Every second, I’m afraid I’ll lose her or Zoe. Even if we take out Alfonzo and Tommaso, I don’t think that fear is going to diminish.”
“You’re right, it won’t.”
I scoff. “Way to make me feel better. I was hoping for some advice or some shit.”
Andre is quiet for a moment. His eyes stay glued on mine.
“The pain and fear that comes from loving another person is worth every second. Because without it, we’re just empty shells.”
I mull over his words in my head.
Deep down, I already know Andre is right. Clara and Zoe are the only things that make any of this worth it, but that just means I have more to lose.
I nod. “We should get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
It’s all I can do to hope that by the time it’s over, my brother and I are both still left standing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
CLARA
I can barely standas I watch Marco drive away.
Zoe starts to cry in my arms, as if she can sense my fear.
That can’t be the last time we see him, it just can’t.
Alio places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Let’s get you inside.”
Terrified that if I open my mouth, I’ll just start hysterically sobbing, I settle on nodding and following him inside the cabin, which is to be our home for god knows how long.
As I hold Zoe, it dawns on me that Marco and I never discussed arrangements if anything were to happen to us. I’d like to think Andre and Lila would take her in, but they’re being targeted too.
What if none of us survives?
My chest starts aching, and I can’t breathe. “Oh, god.”
“Clara?”
I look up to see Lila frowning at me.
She’s the only other person who understands how I’m feeling right now. But then my eyes flick to Rosa, and I know this is not the sort of conversation to be having in front of her.
“I-I’m sorry.” I hastily wipe my eyes.
I don’t think I’ve cried this much since Adam left and I vowed then that no man would ever make me cry like this again. But then Marco came along and changed everything.
