Page 102 of Sigma

I shake my head. “Is anything ever that simple, Apollo? No, not just like that. You’d have to give some things up.”

“Such as?”

“This silly, childish revenge plot of yours, obviously.”

“And your parents just get away with it?”

“They already did, Apollo. It was twenty years ago, and it was self-defense. Your mother was a monster who planned evil things for mine and used my father to get to her. Yes, my mother killed yours, but only because she had to. You know this. You told me yourself you know what happened. So just accept it, Apollo.”

“I can’t.”

“You have to.” I look up at him. “Listen to me, Apollo. Listen to me, okay? You…arenot…them.”

“But I am.”

“You’ve tried to be, and you’ve failed at it.” I claw my fingernails into his chest. There’s not much time left. “You took over your grandfather’s empire of guns and drugs…and you made itbetter. You made it safer. You’ve attempted this whole kidnapping plot as an attempt to become your mother, but you can’t even dothatright.” I touch his mouth with my fingertips to silence him. “Becausethat’s…not…you.”

“You said…” he shakes his head like a punch-drunk boxer. Blinks hard. Looks away. “You said I didn’t have to lose you.”

“You don’t.”

“But you won’t stay.”

“Not here, not like this.”

“I don’t understand.”

I gaze up at him. “Don’t you?”

“Choice.” His voice is a whisper; his eyes rake up to the ceiling—anywhere but mine.

The mask is wavering. There are gaps in the iron. Cracks in the façade.

“Exactly.” I match his whisper.

“How?” He finally meets my eyes. “How, Corinna? I don’t know how.”

“Choose me.” I take his hands. Hold them. “Let me walk away. Let my parents walk away.”

“How does letting you go end in menotlosing you?”

“You have to choose me by letting me go. And then, you have to prove to me that you can be the man Iknowis in here.” I claw his chest so hard I’ll probably leave marks. “Leave behind the Karahalios—all of it, the empire, the name itself even, if that’s what it takes. The dark, twisted legacy of your family doesn’t have to be who you are. You get to choose.” My voice is as soft as the whisper of silk across skin. “It’s all about choices, Apollo. Choose to be a man I could…” I blink, because these next words surprise even me. “A man I could fall in love with.”

He sucks in a breath.

“And I will.” I hold his eyes. “Iwillfall in love with that man. Iwillchoose that man.”

He shakes his head. His eyes are dark and dangerous. “Don’t lie to me,” he hisses.

I lift up on my toes, cup his face in my hands, and I kiss him. It is soft and slow and deep—and intimate. “Does that feel like I’m lying to you?”

“And all I have to do is change…everything?” His voice is drenched in sarcasm.

“You have to decide what you want, Apollo.” I step away from him. “I can’t make you do anything. And I wouldn’t if I could.” I look over his shoulder, and see that my parents are close, now. “Time to make your choice.”

“And if I choose…the other direction?”

I walk toward the exit. “Then people will die.” I stop at the door. Turn and look at him. “My parents. You. Me. Your men. The men who helped raise me, who are like uncles to me.”