God. My heart.
“I have to go,” I plead.
Or I won’t leave at all.
I feel a tremor rake through his body before he lowers his arms. I turn around and rush to the door, but Viktor's hoarse voice stops me. “Rosalie.”
I don’t turn back to face him. “Yes.”
“Tell me one last lie.”
My body starts to shudder as tears spill down my cheeks. “I hate you, Viktor.” A sob escapes me, and the rest of my words come out strained. “I won’t miss you at all.”
I dart out of the room and flee from the house that’s been my prison for three years.
I have so many mixed feelings about my captivity. There were bad and good days. I lost so much, but I also gained.
Sobs burst from me when I hear Luna bark. I quickly climb into the backseat of the SUV, and when Joseph drives toward the gates, I glance out the back window. Seeing Viktor standing next to Luna, my heart shatters into a million pieces.
Tears stream down my face, and it takes the last of my strength not to ask Joseph to stop the car and run back to them.
You have to do this, Rosalie. For yourself.
Don’t look back.
You have to deal with the sorrow, the guilt, and the love that stole your heart.
You have to figure out what is real and what isn’t.
Don’t look back.
I close my eyes and cover my face with my hands as I weep while Joseph drives me to the private jet that’s standing ready to take me to New York.
Chapter 18
Viktor
I watch the SUV drive out of the gates, every muscle in my body straining not to run after her.
She needs this, Viktor. If she comes back out of her own free will, she will be yours to keep. Forcing her to stay is everything your family is against.
“You did the right thing,” Dad suddenly says behind me.
“Then why does it feel wrong?”
He pats Luna’s head. “Come, girl.” He throws an arm around my shoulder and steers me to the house I grew up in. “You’re both staying with us tonight. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“I’ll be fine,” I mutter as I pull back. “But Luna can stay with you.”
“Viktor.” Dad gives me a look of warning. “Just give it twenty-four hours for the initial pain to pass.”
It will never pass. I just watched the woman I love leave.
I need to fucking fight, and bleed, and kill.
“I’m going to head over to Luca and Mariya. I’ll stay with them,” I lie. Before he can try to stop me, I walk to one of the SUVs.
“Viktor,” Dad shouts. “Don’t do anything stupid!”