Page 109 of Die for You

“Choose what?”

“Choose who you sail off into the sunset with. Bria. Or Valentina.”

I exhale slowly. I don’t expect him to choose me, but I know that he will.

And so does Bria.

She bites her lip, stopping her tears. I actually feel sorry for her.

“Why?” Lenny demands. “You have everything you want! Why are you doing this?”

Gianna throws her head back, laughing. “Because, you silly, silly boy…I can.”

There’s no rhyme or reason. Gianna is torturing us because she can.

I risk a glance at Francesco, who still has the knife to Lenny’s throat. But his arm is slack. He nods at me subtly.

He’s on our side.

Gianna got to him as he feared, but it seems his loyalty isn’t with her.

I can work with this.

“Take care of Lettie,” I whisper to Lenny.

His eyes widen. “No, I can’t. I—” But he’s at a loss for words because whatever decision he makes, he will live with for the rest of his life.

“I’ll make the choice for you. Choose your wife.”

Bria’s confusion is apparent, and she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“You heard her, she’s making it easy for you. Or are you a coward?” Gianna baits Lenny who sneers.

“W-we can start again. Just you and me,” Bria says, eyes wide, begging he does the right thing. “I’m sorry for everything. I love you. So much. Let’s forget this life and run away.”

But Lenny isn’t moved.

“I can never forget,” he says with conviction.

“My father trusted you!” she yells, tears of anger cascading. “You promised to protect me! You fucking lied! You son of a bitch! How can you do this to me? I have been nothing but loyal to you. How?”

Lenny doesn’t retaliate as she spits abuse at him.

Gianna watches this shit show she created with fire in her eyes.

The commotion is what I need to gesture to Francesco that it’s time. I’m certain Lenny is biding his time. When he sees the opportunity, he’ll take the knife from Francesco and act in whatever way he can.

Lettie is watching me closely. She’s waiting for instructions. She is Lenny’s and my daughter after all. It shouldn’t surprise me that she knows what to do.

I thought we created a monster.

How wrong I was.

I nod, and everything happens in a split second.

Lettie twists and stomps on Gianna’s foot. Gianna topples over, unbalanced and caught off guard, which is my opportunity to charge at her. Lettie takes cover behind the altar. Francesco quickly hands Lenny the knife, then runs to protect Lettie.

Lenny grabs Bria by the waist as she fights like a wildcat, desperate to get to me.