Page 140 of Fighting With Light

He chuckles and rubs his stubble as he folds himself into the reading chair in the corner of my room. Kicking his feet out, he crosses them at the ankle andlevels his dark gaze on me. Romeo is one of those tall, dark, and handsome types. He’s well-spoken, careful who he talks to, and cool as a cucumber. He will be the perfect family leader when it’s time and I’m hoping that’s sooner rather than later,but I have to get my bomb to Liam.

“I know you don’t want to say yes, and I understand that. Dad is making it worse by treating you this way, but this is how it is. It will help the family.”

I glare at him. “No,Romeo, it helpshimand I refuse to do anything of the sort. So sell me. Regardless, it’s all wrong. I don’t care how you want to swing it!” My pitch rises, and throw my arms out in frustration.

Romeo stays in his spot and remains quiet, unaffected by my outburst. A bubble of laughter sits on my chest, and I smile and look back out the window. The laughter crawls out of my mouth, and I think I’m having a mental breakdown. It wouldn’t be totally out of left field. No, I’m laughing at the disgusting reality of my situation.

My father, my flesh and blood, has such little regard for me that he is willing tosell meto the highest bidder simply because I don’t want to marry someone I’ve never met as a business transaction. Yes, I knew it was coming, but I thought I could get Mom and me away from it all.

Now I’m just like the women and kids we saved in Colombia, only my cage is carpeted and includes pretty clothes. If I were to marry Enzo Ballerini, it would simply be another cage. And the thought of marrying anyone but Liam is deplorable to me. I’d rather be sold, and I know what I’m facing.

“It’s a way for us to keep you safe,” Romeo says, giving me a funny look.

I give him a crazy smile back and he sits up a little straighter, resting his elbows on his knees.

“You may believe that, big brother, but you are fooling yourself. I will not marry him. Tell Dad he can kill me, but I will put up a fight. I will not justtake it.”

He grins and fidgets with the signet ring on his finger. “I never thought you would, piccolina.” He stands and hugs me. “I’m going to go talk to Dad again. Maybe I can buy you more time if I suggest that we meet this Enzo first.”

I purse my lips, crossing my arms. “Yeah, that might be okay,” I tell him because that might be the extra time I need to leave before Enzo touches down in the States.

51

Liam

Fifty hours. It’s beenfifty hours and not a peep. I’m done waiting.

“I’m going to go get my girl. Something isn’t right. I know it.”

“We’re going with you,” Kai says.

None of us have slept much. I’ve been too worried to sleep more than a few hours.

“No, Two, you’re staying home.”

Emerson is on the phone, likely to the pilot, to tell him we’re coming.

“Like hell I am, Three. If you’re going into war, I’ll be right there beside you.”

I glance at Mom and she’s wringing her hands in her lap, the only sign that she’s genuinely worried about what we are going to do. We will be closer to our father, and worse yet, we’re going to Marco Costa’s home. It doesn’t get riskier than this.

“I know, brother, but…it’s because we’re going to war that one of us needs to stay behind, and you’re the one with a wife and a child.”

“That’s…” he trails off and runs a hand through his hair.

I know he doesn’t like it, but Emerson and I agree on that. If any of us will continue living, it will be our brother, Kai. One of us has to stay for Mom.

“Accept it and deal with it. We will call you when it’s done,” I tell him.

His jaw twitches with anger, and I know two parts of him; the husband and father are being ripped in half by the son and brother.

Duty is a difficult burden to bear because sometimes it requires that you choose what is most important, despite your desire to fight back. Theo Coldwell is most important, and that little boy needs a father because we know what it’s like to grow up without one present. I refuse to let that be my nephew.

“Fine. But if you don’t call me in the next ten hours, I’m coming with an army.”

“Deal,” I tell him and pull my hair back. I need to cut it, but Aelia likes it longer.

“Alright, the jet is waiting for us. We’ll take off as soon as we’re loaded,” Emerson says.