CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

RICARDO

"Do you know what this is?" Ginevra's eyes widened, not just because of my question, but because of what I had in my hand.

The bullets that were extracted from my ribcage where she had shot me.

"Do you know how long I stayed in surgery for? Seventy two fucking hours, Ginevra. When I woke up, Alex had told me that during the time when I was partially conscious, all I did was beg him not to sell you out. I begged that you were left alone even when I was dying from your bullets."

A maniac, hysteria laughter bubbled out of me.

"Do you know why I wanted you to be safe?" Ginevra's mouth hung open as her eyes stayed locked on the tattoo on my chest. "First, I believed you when you said that it was a mistake. I trusted that you'd never hurt me on purpose. Second, I wanted to pay the price for the sins I committed against you, for lying, for taking whatever game I thought I was playing too far. I needed to make it right." I bit my lip and a tear slipped down my cheek.

"Third? I l