Page 142 of Brutal Crown

I nod, sniffing. “I forgave you a long time ago.”

Silence falls upon us again, then he breaks it.

“You’re one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known, Lia.”

I hold onto that, let it steady me.

There’s a pause. Then I ask the question that’s been sitting in my chest like a heavy weight.

“Have you heard from him?”

Marco leans back, exhaling slowly. “That’s… partly why I came.”

My stomach knots.

“He’s doing something reckless,” Marco says. “He’s called forAntico Giudizio.”

I go still. “What is that?”

I already know it’s something dangerous.

“It is an ancient or traditional judgment process, a formal procedure used to challenge the authority of Elders or leaders within the Society,” Marco explains. “It hasn’t been performed in decades, way before we were born.”

“Oh god.” I feel sick.

“He lured three Elders to a secret location and confronted them alone. He had no backup or exit strategy. Just him and whatever evidence he’s collected. He’s risking everything.”

My heart thunders in my chest.

“Why is he?—?”

“Because he believes it’s the only way,” Marco says. “To end this. To avenge you. To free us all.”

I shake my head slowly, breath catching. “It could kill him… right?”

“They’ll do everything in their power to make sure he doesn’t see that day.”

Silence falls again, heavy and thick.

“Don’t worry about Francesco’s life.” He slides his hand over mine and squeezes. “Nothing will happen to him.” He clenches his jaw. “We won’t let anything happen to him.”

I nod, believing him.

“I’ve had time to think,” Marco says after a while. “About everything. About you. Me. Him. About my suppressed emotions.”

I look at him, really look at him. The pain on his face. The shame. The guilt.

“I’ve been selfish, Lia. I made you feel like you didn’t have a choice, like you owed me something. That wasn’t love. That was control. That was me trying to rewrite something that was never meant to be mine. I’m sorry for making my fears and insecurity your burden.”

I blink away tears. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.”

“But I did,” he says. “I’ve been scared of being second my whole life. Scared of being passed over. I let that fear drive me.”

“Did you go to therapy or something?” I joke to lighten the mood.

I’m happy he laughs. “I had a talk with my father, if that counts.”

“It does.” I smile at him.