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ELIJAH

There was a time when her gaze made my heart skip a beat. I'd get excited just thinking about being with her, seeing her, and talking to her. I thought she was too good for the world I was born into, that she'd hate who I was in my reality. I wanted to give it all up for her, to be better for her and only her. But fate had other plans.

Now, I looked into the eyes of someone I thought I knew, someone I thought I could create a world with – a world without the blood, shallowness, and chaos. But it was all a lie. I found out through Vincent that The Rossos were still out there, trying to disguise themselves. They thought we'd given up, but we'd been watching, waiting.

"Cat got your tongue?" I said, walking over to Nadia. She looked like a different person, her thoughts unreadable. "What is it? Do you want me to beg for mercy?" she said, her voice laced with boredom. I chuckled humorlessly. She had no idea who I was or what I was capable of.

"Don't worry about your life; I won't kill you," I said. Nicholas spoke up, but I silenced him with a glance. "Leave me alone with her," I said, and after a moment, they backed off.

Once we were alone, Nadia started talking trash again. "Has the infamous son of Vincent Grey gone soft?" she said, and I slammed her body into the wall, not too hard but just enough for her to gasp. Her breath hitched as her eyes flickered between mine. She bit her lip, and I felt a surge of desire. I wanted to claim her, to taste her.

"You got into my head before," I said, my hands running up her hips, to her lower back. I pulled her closer, and she gasped. The ice in her eyes melted, and for a moment, it was like old times. I saw the need for me in her eyes, and it reflected in mine.

"I'll let you live because living will be your worst punishment," I whispered, my voice low and menacing. "You know nothing about this life, and I can see right through your facade." I leaned in close, my lips almost touching hers. "You can't fool me," I said, and then I pushed her away like she burned me.

Essentially, that's what she did. I thought, the pain still fresh. I'd never trusted anyone, but I'd put my trust in her. I'd never let anyone in, but I was more than willing to open up to her. I would never risk my life for anyone other than my sister, yet I would've done unspeakable things for her. All for her. And she didn't feel the same way. As much as I didn't want to admit it, it pierced my heart.

It was all fake for her, planned from the start. She was the one person I'd dreamt of as a kid but couldn't have. Yet, despite everything, I simply couldn't kill her.

"Why don't you just do it, Elijah? Why don't you kill me so this can all be over?" she asked, her voice laced with desperation.

"'Cause it would be too easy," I said, my voice cold. It was half a lie. It was true, but that wasn't the only reason.

"Remember this?" I said, opening my palm to show her the silver necklace with a small, intricately designed pendant. It was the same one she'd given me when we were kids.

Her eyes widened slightly as she recognized it. The pendant was shaped like a small bird, symbolizing freedom and hope.

Something we'd never have.

I remembered the day she'd given it to me like it was yesterday. We were kids, playing in the park, unaware of the animosity between our families. We were innocent, carefree.

My finger ran over the pendant she just gave me. I had the biggest smile like I had just won the lottery. "Sam I got this and I thought of you," She said. "Also, it brings good luck,"

I'd worn it every day since then, a reminder of the happiness and freedom of our childhood. But I never thought that my best friend from childhood would ever be her but it got to a point where I couldn't deny it. Something had told me her presence was familiar from the get go, I just never knew from where exactly. I never imagined I'd find out like this either. That for a second, the person who I thought was love of my life, would turn out to be someone I hardly recognised.

"Do you remember?" I asked, my voice softer now. "It was back when we were still kids, when we were innocent and we didn't even know our families were at odds with one another. When we didn't give two craps about that... What changed, Nadia? What happened to the girl I used to..."

I trailed off, my heart skipping a beat at what I was about to say.

"Used to what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head. "Doesn't really matter now, does it? You threw it all away. I hope you're happy."

I took a step forward towards the door, the pendant still clutched in my hand. "You can keep this since it doesn't mean anything," I said, offering it to her. But she didn't take it. I dropped it on the ground instead.

I shut the door without looking back, my heart and body yearning for her. But I couldn't make another mistake. Or this time, she'd be killing me. Not like she hadn't already. But this would all be harder for me now because I had to marry her. I had to marry the woman I now hated with every part of me.

And that's what would kill me.