Page 90 of Twisted Union

I’m holding his hand when there’s a knock at the door. Emilia pokes her head in, startling me. “When did you get back to LA?” I ask in a quiet voice.

“Less than an hour ago. Marco told me what happened.” Her eyes flit to Viktor and then back to me before she sighs and comes over to me, wrapping her arms around me.

“What’s this for?” I ask, slowly hugging her back.

“Marco told me that you stepped in front of Franco’s gun to protect Viktor. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I’m sure you almost had a heart attack when you heard.”

She pulls back, laughing slightly. “Yep. I did. I hate the idea of my sister being in trouble.” She looks at Viktor again, shaking her head. “He’s the one who put you in the way of trouble.”

“No.” She gives me a pointed look. “Ok … fine. Viktor has put me into some dangerous situations. But what happened—in the basement of your house, I might add—wasn’t because of Viktor. I chose to go there and save him. I chose to stand up to Marco and Franco.”

“Why?”

I look at my big sister, the one person I’ve always looked up to my entire life. The one who was always there for me and still is, even if she doesn’t fully understand why I make the decisions I make.

“Because I love him.”

Emilia’s eyes widen. “But he—”

“I know,” I cut her off. “I know he did something horrible. Has done a lot of horrible things. I’m not defending that. All I’m saying though is that I love him. Maybe that makes me crazy, but it’s what I feel. And don’t I have the right to spend my life with the man I love?”

“You do … but—”

I roll my eyes. “Here we go. Lay it on me.”

“But he’s murdered people, Gemma,” she whispers, her eyes flitting to the door. “He hurt me because he was desperate to make a deal with my husband. And now, Marco tells me he agreed to make a deal with Viktor to save your life, which I’m grateful for, but I know it’s not what my husband wants. Wouldn’t this all be easier if Viktor just … didn’t exist anymore?”

“What have you done with my sister? Emilia, you would never have suggested someone be killed before you ever married Marco. You’re becoming a mobster’s wife, all right.”

She gently swats my arm. “Gem, I’m serious. How can you love a man like him?”

“The same way you love your husband. Because he’s a good match for you. You might think I’m not observant, but I’ve seen how you and Marco have been with each other these past two years. I see how good he is for you. You finally have someone to help take care of you, and I know how important that is for you since you never really had anyone taking care of you growing up. You were always taking care of us.”

“I wanted to,” she says, rubbing my shoulder.

“Maybe. But that choice was also forced on you by our parents. By Mom, especially. You never had someone to care for you, but now, you do. Marco does that. Do you know what I needed? Somone who understands I craved excitement and freedom. Mom was ready to have me married to any guy as long as I got married and shut up and acted like the good little girl I was supposed to be. But Viktor …” I look at him, squeezing his hand. “He likes my passion. He likes my snark. He accepts me for those parts of myself that always seemed to irritate Mom and Dad and … you.” I glance back at Emilia, who’s staring at me intently.

“I know you think I can be immature.” I continue when she opens her mouth to object. “No, it’s ok. I know it. But with Viktor, I can just be myself. I don’t have to pretend to be a sweetheart if I don’t want to be. He likes me for me. He loves me for me. I didn’t fully realize how much I loved him until this past week. Being without him … I never want to go through that again. I hope you can understand that. And if not,” I say with a shrug. “Well, then, so be it. But Viktor’s my husband now, and I’m standing at his side because I know he’d do the same for me.”

A tear slips down Emilia’s face, startling me.

“Em?”

She shakes her head as she pulls me into another hug. “That was beautiful. I’ve never heard you speak like that before. You’re really growing up, huh?”

“I guess I am.”

We pull apart as Emilia laughs a little bit, wiping her tears away. “I’m a mess.”

I shrug. “No, you’re just my sister.”

She sighs and looks at Viktor again, shaking her head. “I still don’t like him. I’m not sure I ever will. But if he’s serious about making a deal with Marco, I know my husband will uphold his end of the deal. Viktor needs to do the same. If he can show he won’t hurt random, innocent people, nor any member of my family again, I—I’ll try. I’m not promising I’ll ever like him, but I’ll try to give him a chance. For you, Gem. That’s the only reason.”

“Thank you. That means a lot. I want to be able to be with Viktor and see you guys. I don’t want it to be one or the other.”

“I’ll always make an effort to see you. You know that.”

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