The Woman Behind the War

Aria’s POV

The first thing I notice is the cold It creeps through my clothes and settles into my bones making my fingers ache against the ropes binding my wrists the second thing I notice is the smell dust, damp stone, and something metallic blood. I slowly open my eyes I am sitting on a wooden chair inside an old chapel broken windows line the walls, and moonlight spills through the cracks in the roof. The altar is covered in dust, and several candles burn near the entrance my head throbs I try to remember how I got here I remember leaving Massimo's office I remember walking toward my bedroom then a hand covered my mouth a sharp pain darkness I pull against the ropes but they only tighten around my wrists “Help”

My voice echoes through the empty chapel no one answers I try again “Somebody help me”

Footsteps sound behind me I turn sharply Dante steps out from the shadows wearing a black coat and a smile that makes my stomach twist “Good evening Mrs Lockwood”

I glare at him “Go to hell”

He laughs “I can see why Massimo likes you”

“Then you should know he will come for me”

“Oh, I am counting on it”

He walks toward the altar and picks up a small glass of water “Drink?”

I stare at him “I would rather die of thirst"

He shrugs and places the glass on the table “As you wish”

I study him carefully he looks calm, almost bored, as though kidnapping me is nothing more than an ordinary evening activity “Why are you doing this?”

He turns toward me “Because your husband has something I want”

“Power?”

“Power is never enough”

He walks closer “Your husband is about to become the most powerful man in the underworld he has the loyalty of several families, the support of the council, and an army of men willing to die for him”

He crouches in front of me “But he has one weakness”

I lift my chin “Me”

His smile widens “Exactly”

I force myself to remain calm “You are making a mistake”

“Perhaps”

“Massimo will kill you”

“Perhaps”

He stands “But before that happens I want him to understand what it feels like to lose something he loves”

I stare at him there is no reasoning with a man who believes cruelty is a form of entertainment I have seen men like him before. My father is one of them qnd that realization makes something inside me harden I will not beg Dante I will not give him the satisfaction of watching me break Instead, I study the room there are two exits the main entrance is guarded and a narrow door near the altar appears to lead into another part of the building one candle is burning close to my chair a loose nail sticks out from the wooden armrest and the ropes around my wrists, though tight, have a little room I begin working my hands against the nail slowly, carefully Dante notices me watching him “Something on your mind?”

I look up “I was wondering whether you have always been this unpleasant”

He laughs “You really do have a death wish”

“Maybe, but if I am going to die I would prefer not to spend my last moments listening to you talk”

His smile disappears for a second, I think he might strike me. Instead, he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him “Listen carefully Aria your husband has spent his entire life believing that he can control everything around him. Tonight, he will learn that he cannot control me”

I stare into his eyes “And you think kidnapping me proves that?”

His grip tightens “It proves that I can reach him”

“No, It proves you are afraid of him”

He releases me abruptly I smile despite the fear twisting inside my stomach “There it is”

His expression darkens “What?”

“The truth you know Massimo is stronger than you and the only way you can compete with him is by hiding behind a woman”

He raises his hand I flinch before I can stop myself but the blow never comes Dante lowers his hand and steps away “Enjoy your confidence while you still can”

He walks toward the entrance and speaks to one of his men I take the opportunity to pull harder against the nail the rope begins to fray my heart pounds come on just a little more the fibers loosen I pull again one wrist slips free I almost cry with relief. I keep my face still, pretending nothing has changed while I work on the second knot Dante returns several minutes later “Your husband has received my message”

My stomach tightens “Let me guess he is coming”

“Oh yes”

He smiles “And that is exactly what I want”

I look down at my hands the second knot loosens I need more time I need to get out of here before Massimo arrives because I know Dante. He is not planning to let either of us leave alive “Can I ask you something?” I say

Dante raises an eyebrow “Go ahead"

“Why Massimo?”

His smile fades slightly “What?”

“Why are you so determined to destroy him? You have other enemies other families. Why him?”

For the first time something changes in his expression hatred, old, deep hatred “Because his father took everything from my family”

I stare at him “His father?”

“Years ago, my family controlled several territories in Italy we had money, influence, and alliances that stretched across Europe then Massimo's father decided he wanted more"

He walks toward the altar “He took our businesses, destroyed our alliances, and left my father to die in prison”

I remain silent I know Massimo's father was a powerful man, but I have never heard this story “Massimo inherited everything” Dante continues “The empire, the respect, the fear. He walks into a room and people bow their heads”

He turns toward me “And I have spent my entire life watching him become everything I was denied”

“So this is revenge?”

“This is justice”

“No” I say quietly “It is jealousy"

His face hardens I know I have struck a nerve before he can respond, a loud crash comes from outside every man in the chapel reaches for his weapon Dante turns toward the entrance “What was that?”

Gunshots erupt in the distance my heart leaps Massimo Dante curses and rushes toward the door “Stay here” he orders one of his men

The man remains beside me his gun pointed toward my chest I look at him “You know you do not have to do this”

He ignores me “I am serious” I continue “Whatever Dante promised you it is not worth dying for”

“Shut up”

I glance toward the candle beside my chair then at the nail then at the man's weapon. I wait until he looks toward the entrance qnd I move.

I swing the chair backward with all my strength knocking into his legs he stumbles. The gun falls from his hand.

I twist free of the remaining rope grab the weapon, and point it at him “Do not move”

He freezes my hands are shaking but I keep the gun steady “Now tell me how to get out of here”

He says nothing I take a step toward him “Tell me”

He points toward the narrow door “Through there It leads to the old storage room”

I back away slowly keeping the weapon trained on him then I run t he corridor is dark and narrow and my shoes slip against the uneven stone floor. I can hear shouting behind me followed by more gunshots I reach the storage room and slam the door shut there is another exit at the far end I rush toward it the door opens into a small courtyard surrounded by crumbling walls for one brief second, I think I am free then a man steps out from behind a pillar I recognize him immediately my father Alessandro Revani.

He looks at me without surprise “Aria”

I stop moving “Father?”

He glances at the gun in my hand “Put that down”

I stare at him in disbelief “What are you doing here?”

“I came to finish what I started”

My stomach drops “What does that mean?”

He takes a step closer “Massimo's father should never have been allowed to live as long as he did your husband inherited the consequences of that mistake"

I shake my head “No”

My father continues as though he has not heard me “The marriage was supposed to give us access to the Lockwood family you were supposed to gain Massimo's trust weaken his defenses and help me destroy him”

Tears sting my eyes “I never wanted this”

“And that is why you have disappointed me”

The words hit harder than any slapvI stare at the man who raised me the man whose approval I spent my entire life trying to earn “You knew Dante was going to kidnap me?”

He does not answer “Father!”

“Yes” he finally says “I knew”

My breath catches “You let him take me?”

“It was necessary”

I shake my head, unable to believe what I am hearing “You are my father”

“And you are my daughter you should have remembered your duty”

I look at him through my tears “My duty?”

“Yes”

“To kill my husband? To betray the only person who has ever protected me? To become exactly like you?"

His expression turns cold “Do not speak to me that way”

“Why? Because the truth hurts?”

He steps closer “You have no idea what I sacrificed for this family"

“And what did you sacrifice for me?”

Silence I laugh bitterly “You never loved me enough to see me as anything other than a weapon"

His eyes narrow “You have become weak”

“No” I whisper “I have finally stopped being afraid of you"

For a moment, neither of us moves then a gunshot rings out behind the courtyard wall my father turns. I use the distraction to run toward the opposite exit I barely make it through before someone grabs my arm I scream and swing the gun “Aria”

I freeze Massimo he stands in front of me his face pale with fury and relief his suit is torn, and there is blood on his cheek. For a second, I cannot move then I throw myself into his arms he catches me tightly holding me against his chest “I have you” he whispers “I have you"

I bury my face in his neck shaking uncontrollably “I thought I was going to die”

His arms tighten around me “You are safe now”

I pull back and look at him “My father is here”

Massimo's expression changes “What?”

“He knew about the kidnapping he said he wanted to finish what he started”

Massimo goes completely still before he can answer a voice comes from behind us “Massimo”

We turn Alessandro stands at the entrance, holding a gun Dante appears beside him blood running down his forehead my heart stops Massimo immediately moves in front of me “Alessandro"

My father smiles “Massimo”

The two men stare at each other I can feel the tension between them, the hatred built over years of secrets and violence then Dante raises his weapon “Enough talking”

He aims directly at Massimo I scream “NO!”

The gunshot explodes through the courtyard Massimo jerks backward for one terrible second, I cannot breathe then I see the blood spreading across his chest “Massimo”

I catch him as he falls, dropping to my knees beside him his eyes meet mine he tries to speak, but no words come out I press my hands against the wound “Stay with me please, Massimo look at me!”

His fingers weakly close around mine behind us, I hear shouting and more gunfire as Massimo's men storm the courtyard but I cannot look away from my husband “Do not leave me” I sob “You promised me you would come back”

His lips move I lean closer “Aria…"

“I am here”

He struggles to breathe “I love you”

My heart breaks “I love you too so much. Please, just stay with me”

His eyes begin to close “No”

I shake him gently “Massimo open your eyes”

Then a hand grabs my shoulder and pulls me away I scream and fight, but someone drags me backward as the courtyard erupts into chaos I catch one last glimpse of Massimo lying on the ground. Then Dante's voice sounds beside my ear “Now Aria, we are going to finish what your father started”

I turn toward him in horror he holds up a second gun and points it at my head “Your husband is dying” he whispers “And in a few seconds you will be joining him.”