"It was all an act."
She blinks, then her features close. "You put on an act. You faked your own death?"
"I had to do it. It was the only way to draw out thatstronzoFreddie. The only way to put an end to the danger he posed to us. None of us would ever be safe, as long as he was alive."
"You used me?" Her gaze narrows. "You pretended you were dead. You allowed me to believe that you were gone. That I’d never see you again. That I’d never hold you, or be close to you, or—"
"You realized that you love me."
Her amber eyes snap to life. She swipes out her hand, and her palm connects with my cheek. My head snaps back. I don’t resist. She slaps me a second time, then a third. Pain cuts through my head. My ears ring. I deserve it. Deserve it all, and much more.
"Let me up." She begins to pound on my chest.
I hesitate.
She rams her fist in my shoulder. "Let me the hell up, Luca, or I swear, I’ll hate you even more."
Goddamn. Going in, I knew there was a good chance she’d be pissed, that she might never forgive me for what I did. But to see the betrayal in her eyes… Nothing prepared me for that. I roll off of her, spring to my feet, and hold out my hand.
She ignores it. She pushes up, then dusts off her dress in slow precise motions.
"I’m sorry, Angel—"
"Don’t call me that. I ceased to be your anything the moment you pulled this stunt on me. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? How I’ve been blaming myself for what happened? How each time I go up on that stage to perform, I relive your death every night, Luca? Every night."
I wince. A hot knife stabs into my chest. My stomach hardens. I take a step toward her, but she holds up her hand.
"Don’t come near me. I don’t want anything to do with you."
"You don’t mean it..."
"You lost the right to tell me what I can feel or do. I don’t want to see you again."
She brushes past me, then stops when she takes in my brothers watching the unfolding drama.
"All of you knew?" She scans their faces. "Each of you knew he was alive, yet not one of you thought to let me in on it."
"It’s not their fault." I draw abreast with her. "I gave them no choice in the matter. All of this was my plan."
"So you could see me hate myself for what I did to you? So you could see my pain, and relish the hell I was putting myself through?"
"No—" I close the distance between us. "It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. I knew you would be upset when you thought I was dead, but I had no idea you would take it so badly. I didn’t think that you—"
"Loved you? You thought I’d mourn your death for a day, and get on with my life, is that it?"
"I didn’t think you’d get over it that quickly, no," I say slowly.
"So, you wanted to see me suffer, wanted me to weep over your body at the funeral, you—" Understanding dawns on her face. "That’s what you wanted. You wanted me to come across as the grieving widow to the world, so it would lend an air of authenticity. You wanted everyone to see me mourn you, so they’d believe that you were really dead. You used my distress as a display to flush out your enemies."
I grimace, then square my shoulders. "It’s true, I wanted the world to believe that I was dead. Another of the Sovrano brothers dying. This time, theCaposhot down by the gun of an assassin. I wanted Freddie to feel flushed with victory. To be confident enough to reveal himself and give me a chance to take him out. It was the only way to protect you. If I hadn’t gotten him, he’d have tried to kill you again, and I couldn’t allow that."
"So instead, you killed me while I was still alive. You turned me into the walking dead."
The band around my chest tightens until I am sure my ribcage is going to shatter. The heaviness in my stomach grows, until my entire body seems to be made of stone. I reach for her, but she pulls away.
"I had to do it." I swallow. "It was the only way. Protecting you while faking my death was the only way to draw Freddie out. He already tried to kill Axel and Theresa, and then Elsa and Seb. He almost succeeded in hurting you the last time. I couldn’t allow that, Jeanne. I had to do everything possible to remove the danger that lurked around you. I had to ensure you could lead a free life."
"Mission accomplished. Now, I want to be free, too—free of you. I sever all relations with you, Luca. I hate you. I’ll never forgive you for what you did to me. Never." She pulls off her ring and throws it at me. It hits my chest, bounces to the ground, and skitters away.