Page 83 of Promised

But Adam heard my hiss of pain. He released me, settling us both on the bed so my cheek rested on his chest. His arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me close. “You’ll feel better in a few weeks. You have a concussion, broken rib, sprained wrist, and some bruising. The doctor looked at you while you were sleeping.”

I sighed in relief. A sprained wrist would heal fine. I would be able to draw again. Britney hadn’t taken anything from me.

I closed my eyes, absorbing the safety of his warmth as I thought about her. I wondered if her mind had been born warped or if it had changed over time. It was crazy the scenarios people created in their heads.

She needed to justify why she’d sold me out to my father. Why she was willing to kill an innocent person. She had to blame me for her greed. I was the villain in her story, and she was the hero.

I suppose she was partially true. I had killed her like a villain would.

But in my story, I was the hero. And I wouldn’t feel bad for protecting myself. She would never have stopped if I let her live.

We both jumped as the door swung open. Adam immediately flew from the bed, reaching for the gun in his waistband. My heart smacked my rib as I waited to see my father or some other enemy. Someone else coming to steal my happiness.

“Zara!” I shouted in relief as my sister walked into the room, but it immediately turned into a wince as my ribs stabbed me. She bent over the bed to give me a gentle hug. “How are you here?”

“Matteo brought me.” Her lips pulled down as she grasped my hand. “I can’t believe Britney did this. I knew she was a la puttana.”Bitch. I laughed as she whispered the word. “But I never imagined this.”

“We never really knew her.” I sighed as I slumped back onto the pillows. “She was more ruthless than she let show. Apparently, she’d been feeding information topapàfor years. So if there’s anything you told her, he probably knows.”

“I was never close to her like you.” She shook her head. “I know better than to trust anyone in this life.”

It was the sad truth. We had each other, and that was it. Even then, we’d been torn apart for years. Guilt clogged my throat as I squeezed her hand, knowing there was nothing I could do to stop what was coming.

“Piccino.” I croaked. “I don’t think there’s anything I can do about Angelo. I—I think you’ll have to marry him.”

More tears pooled on my lashes. I’d disappeared on my sister for seven years. And now I couldn’t help her when she begged me to. I’d come back to find her happiness instead; I’d found my own. I was selfish.

I wanted to hate myself for it. But I couldn’t. Not when Adam was the only thing I’d ever wanted. The one thing I needed to feel alive.

“Actually.” I turned my gaze to him. He leaned against the wall, his expression cold and hard as he looked back at me. “You can save her from Angelo if you want. You still have the video. Mitchell Kent keeps the appearance of his family clean. But you’d make an enemy of your father and the entire Gallo Mafia. You’d both have to leave. You could never come back.”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe as I realized what he was saying. I had a choice. My sister or Adam. I couldn’t have both. He wouldn’t leave Matteo.

“Adam.” A sob ripped from my throat as I stared at him.

He hadn’t told me before because he didn’t think I’d pick him. Because no one had ever picked him.

“No. I don’t want you to leave again.” My head whipped to Zara. “Sorellona, don’t use your card on me. You might need it someday. Especially withpapàso upset about Adam’s promotion.”

“What are you saying?” I squeezed her hand tighter, unwilling to let her go.

“You’re meant to be with Adam. I’m not going to take that from you.” She gave him a small smile before looking back at me. “I’ll be okay. We always knew this would happen. But having you here will make it easier.”

I ignored the pain in my ribs as I wrapped my arms around her. “You’ll always have us to come to.”

Zara stayed for the next hour, but soon, she had to leave before our father got suspicious. It was only a matter of time before he heard about Britney and what she’d done if he didn’t know already.

Adam and I stared at each other as she left the room. He was still leaning against the wall as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to be near me but also couldn’t leave. I could feel his tension. His worry.

“I would’ve chosen you,” I whispered.

There was a tiny prick of guilt in my chest as I admitted the truth. A sliver of hate as I realized I couldn’t give him up. Not for my sister’s life. Or my own.

I didn’t have a life without him.

When I was lying in that clearing, Britney above me, I thought it was over. I thought I’d never see him again. And there was so much pain. Knowing I’d lost all those years. That because of her, we fought to learn how to trust each other.

I didn’t want that. I wanted him. I wanted to get to the good parts. Back to how we used to be.

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