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“With Finn at my side?” Dante laughs but there’s no humor to it. “Finn will backstab me the first chance he gets. I know. Because he’s done it before.”
“Fair,” I say. “But you should know that Aria is my wife now and I will go to war for her.”
Dante gives me an incredulous look. “You’re saying you actually care for Aria now? After you kidnapped her?”
“Come on, Aria. Let’s go. We’re never going to get through to him.” I push myself away from the doorframe.
But then Matteo gets in my way. “I can’t let you leave.”
Chapter Fourteen
Aria
Finn sneers at Matteo. “I can leave if I want and I’m taking Aria with me.”
I step between the two men before they can start killing each other. “Let’s just calm down and talk about this.”
“What is there to talk about?” Dante asks. “You don’t belong with him, Aria. Your father misses you. We can save you. Don’t you want to see your dad again?”
“Of course I do,” I practically cry. “But I don’t want you all to kill each other in the process. Dante, Matteo, you both know how impulsive Finn can be. Don’t tempt him.”
“She has a point,” Matteo says, taking a step back. “But Aria, you can’t leave with Finn. He’ll just end up hurting you.”
“He saved my life,” I remind them. “Were you not just listening?”
“After he kidnapped you!” Dante shouts, then begins to cough. I rush back to his side. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
“I came here because I needed to see you again. Finn brought me here knowing the risks. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Dante squints at me. “Why do you care if I like Finn or not? You hate him. He kidnapped you. Forced you to marry him.”
“I did hate him.” Maybe a part of me still does. “But then he saved my life and… Dante, I’ve seen a side of Finn no one else has seen.”
“Don’t reveal too much, princess,” Finn says from across the room.
I shoot him a look before turning back to Dante and taking his hand. “I know Finn has messed things up. Hugely. But I’m stuck with him now and I’m… trying to make the most out of it.”
“But you don’t have to be stuck with him if you just stayed here.”
“But then Finn would kill both you and Matteo and your doctor. You know that.”
“So, is this just preservation then? You’re just trying to make sure he doesn’t kill us?”
I hesitate for a beat too long. “I don’t know. I just know that I don’t want Finn to die and I don’t want you to die. I had to see you. Had to make sure you’re ok. But it’s obvious that you’re not ready to forgive Finn yet. I was hoping you could because then I could come home without having to worry.”
“Worry?”
“Worry that you’ll try to attack Finn and he’ll retaliate. I can’t risk it. I was hoping that by coming here today, you could see that Finn has the capacity for change. That you could make peace again.”
“And if I can’t make peace with that asshole?” Dante grits out. I glance over my shoulder to see Matteo and Finn glaring at each other.
“Then… I don’t know. But I have to leave with Finn. He’ll fight if you try to make me stay here and you know it. You’re in no condition to fight, so don’t be stupid. Finn came here knowing the risks. I think he wants peace.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“No,” I admit. “But I think he misses his brother. I think he’s tired of always being on the run. Just think about it. Make peace, not for him, but for me.”
“He’ll just try to backstab me again and then I’ll have to kill him.”