Chapter 4

I twisted my arm free and shoved Gabriel back.

"Keep your hands off me."

He stumbled half a step before regaining his balance.

"And what does Bianca being kidnapped have to do with me?"

"You still have to ask?"

Gabriel's eyes were bloodshot. He looked as though he hadn't slept all night.

"If you hadn't said those things to her, Bianca wouldn't have run out of the estate crying. She wouldn't have been alone when our enemies took her."

His voice hardened.

"This happened because of you. Now you're going to help bring her back."

The bedroom door slammed against the wall.

Julian stood in the hallway, his face pale.

"Did they find Bianca?"

"No." Gabriel seized my wrist again. "But the kidnappers offered an exchange."

He raised my arm as though I were something he had already captured.

"They'll release Bianca if we give them Elena."

I stared at him.

"You expect me to trade my life for hers?"

"You caused this," Gabriel said. "Taking her place is the least you can do."

"Let go of me."

I struck him across the face.

The sound echoed through the hallway.

A red mark appeared on Gabriel's cheek, but he showed no regret. His grip only tightened.

"My father brought you into this family and paid you to protect us. You don't get to put your hands on me."

"This isn't my decision."

Gabriel looked directly into my eyes.

"Don Moretti approved the exchange. Lorenzo did too. The cars are already waiting downstairs."

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

My father and brother had decided to hand me over before anyone had even told me Bianca was missing.

Gabriel turned toward Julian.

"Help me."

I fought with everything I had learned in my first life.

I drove my elbow toward Gabriel's ribs and nearly broke free, but Julian was different. I had seen what he could do when he stopped pretending to be helpless.

If he helped Gabriel, I had no chance.

Julian came toward us.

I looked up at him, and for the first time since returning to this life, I let him see me plead.

"Julian, help me."

He stopped.

"You said you owed me a life. Help me leave now, and I'll consider that debt paid."

His throat moved.

Conflict flashed across his face as he looked from me to Gabriel.

For one second, I thought remembering my death might finally be enough.

Then Julian closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

He stepped behind me and pinned both of my arms against my back.

Gabriel forced me to the floor.

My shoulder struck the hardwood, and Julian's polished shoe stopped inches from my face. A plastic restraint tightened around my wrists.

I stopped fighting.

In our first life, Julian had taken the last survival suit from my body and given it to Bianca.

In this life, I had offered to forgive the life he owed me.

He still chose her.

And this time, he wasn't acting alone.

My father had approved the exchange. My brother had arranged the cars. Gabriel and Julian were only carrying out the order.

The entire Moretti family had decided Bianca was worth saving.

And I was the price they were willing to pay.