“I love him, Xanny. Nothing will change that. I’m staying.”
Xanadu drops her hand, her eyes watering as she looks at her sister. “You can’t mean that.”
“I do.” Zoey reaches for her hand and takes it. “But you can stay, too.”
Lenny gives a slight nod from his spot in the doorway, though he doesn’t say anything.
“Stay here with one of the most dangerous mob kingpins in the world–that’s your idea of safe?” Xanadu swipes at her eyes and pulls her hand from her sister’s grip. “Do you even hear yourself?”
“I love her, Xanadu.” I stand with Zoey. “I know you don’t believe me, but you need to trust your sister. What we have is real. I never would’ve thought it was possible for me, but the moment I saw her, something in me justknew.” I shrug, my arm aching with the movement. “So she isn’t leaving. I can’t let her go.”
Xanadu’s gaze bounces between Zoey and me.
“Please, Xanny. Stay. We need to make a plan.” Zoey steps toward her. “Please?”
Xanadu focuses on her. “Can we talk in private?”
Lenny glances at me. I nod. “Go and talk to your sister, Zoey.” That fear tries to creep in again, but I shove it down.
Zoey wouldn’t leave me. Not when she holds my heart in her hands.
“Okay.” She gets on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
Xanadu strides out, and Zoey follows.
“Want me to keep an eye?” Lenny asks.
“From a distance. Don’t interfere. Just make sure they’re safe.”
I force myself to sit down, even though everything in me is screaming for me to follow Zoey. But I can’t. Instead, I have to trust her. And I do. With my life. With everything that I am.