Aria’s voice is hoarse with frustration. She is soaked from the rain and she looks more tired than I have ever seen her. She put herself in such danger for me, trusting that this would all come to an end. I thought I was doing the right thing by coming here like this to save her. But now, I am not so sure.“Your father doesn’t know anything but violence,” I bargain with her. “It’s the only way he has ever settled his disputes. I’ve always tried to play fair, and he hasn’t honored me with the same attempts. I tried to bargain with him and he had me locked away, just like last time”Gabriele clenches his jaw.“You’re naïve, Aria,” he says. “I did not get to this position by bargaining and compromising. I took what I have, and I made it happen for myself, and nothing will get in the way of that, especially not Edoardo.”“It has never been my intention to take what you already have,” I say. “Auriet was meant to be fair game, and you didn’t play fair. That was a lifetime ago. Aria does not
EdoardoEvery possible out come for this situation crosses my mind as I stare into the barrel of Gabriele’s gun. At any moment now, he’ll pull the trigger. Only a second has passed, but it feels like a complete eternity. I no longer know what is happening around me as my mind races to decide what I should do next.I think I should pull the trigger. Aria is still my main priority, and I cannot risk this. Even if it means that we need to flee for a couple of years. Gabriele will be out of our lives, the rest we can figure out later. My fingers tighten slightly, and I am about to fire my weapon when Aria steps in between us.“Stop!” she screams.I was so close to firing; had I done it only a split second earlier, it would have gone through her head and I would have killed her instead of Gabriele. My heart sinks into the bottom of my shoes at the thought of it and I immediately loosen my grip on my weapon.And Gabriele loosens his grip too. He might have treated Aria badly, but in his min
I pass a broken window, with an unconscious body lying beside it. Someone must have thrown him through the window. I would be lying if I said I am not impressed by the strength of Edoardo’s men. There have been many attacks on my father over the years, but none of them have been quite this overwhelming. The bodies of his men lie scattered all over the place, and it is clear that Edoardo’s men have the upper hand. But they have not met my father yet, and he has not lost a fight yet. This is far from over, and the pain and suffering will only become worse.I push open the door to my father’s study. It is on the furthest end of the house, and the fight seems to be happening on all sides of the room. This is the best place for me to try and locate Edoardo, or my father. I see that my father’s gun safe has been opened, and it is completely empty. He’s going after Edoardo, I know that for certain. He wants to kill this beast by cutting off its head. That’s how he has always won his fights
The two most important men in my life have gone too far. It has done nothing to change anything. They still hate each other, they still fight, and I still suffer. I’ve had enough. It cannot get much worse than this, and I refuse to see anybody die over it.I ignore the doctor’s pleas and step out into the fresh air. I haven’t moved much lately and I am stiff, but my legs carry me quickly through the garden. My heart is racing. I don’t know which direction is the best one to go, so I just pick one and start to run.I jump over the unconscious bodies of men as I try desperately to locate my father or Edoardo. The rain is making it difficult to see and I slip as I run. All around me men fight with each other; it should shock me, but I can’t lose my determination.The ground is covered in puddles of rain water mixed with blood. But I do not slow my stride. Suddenly, I regret my hunger strike. I am weaker than I’d like to be, and my head is already spinning. I stop for a moment and let the
AriaIn an instant, this day has taken a complete turn. One moment ago I was worried about Edoardo and what might be happening to him. Now, I think I know the answer to that.The sounds of chaos only become louder. There are no more guards surrounding the room where I’m held. I know those sounds. There is an attack on my father. And I’m pretty sure I know who is behind it. In the distance I can hear a few gunshots go off.Immediately, I wonder what would happen if one of those bullets traveled through Edoardo. Were he to die, and my father likely going to prison for a long time, I’m not sure what I’d do. That is not the kind of freedom that I am hoping to achieve.What is the point of going through all of this if I still don’t have my happily ever after? I can’t stand the thought of it. But the noise outside only grows louder and now I can hear men shouting out in pain as the battle continues.I look through the window and see that every single one of my father’s men are running towar
“As it turns out, I stopped caring about you years ago,” I say, straightening out.I reach for my knife and arm myself. I cannot afford to lose this fight. There is a contingency plan if Gabriele dies, and right now, that is looking like my only option. He has no intention of leaving me alive, I see that anger in his eyes.I wait for Gabriele to make the first move this time. He takes a step forward and swings and it just misses me. I duck down and swing my blade but he moves, and I only scratch his leg. But it is enough to draw blood.I waste no time slamming my heel into his foot as I push my open hand up against the bottom of his chin as hard as I can. It does a good job of stunning him, but only for a moment before his elbow comes down on the back of my neck.He hits me hard and I feel as my body hits the wet tar. From the ground, I see bodies lying everywhere and I pray that not all of them are dead. If they are, then there is no returning to this country once we’ve escaped.Gabr
I buckle over as an unexpected fist slams into my stomach. For a moment, I enjoy the pain, knowing it will fuel my counter attack. When I look up, I look directly into the eyes of the man that hit me and smile.I reach out and slam my open hand into his jaw, before stepping as hard as I can on the side of his ankle. I feel the give as his ankle buckles and breaks beneath my foot. Then I clench my fist and slam it right into his rib cage. I watch his hand reach for a knife, but I won’t give him the chance to get it. I beat him to it and bend down, his blade in hand, to slam the knife through his foot. The man yells out in pain as I stand back up, towering over him while blood drips down from his weapon. I can see the fear in his eyes right before I take the butt-end of the knife and bring it down on his skull.He drops to the ground at my feet. He’s alive, but I’ve ensured that his recovery will take some time. My adrenaline rush only grows stronger, and so does my need for violence. I
EdoardoThe rain has already started as my army descends on the Morino residence. We’re all pumped with adrenaline and ready for a fight. We walk in silence down the road toward his mansion. I know Gabriele doesn’t expect us. As far as he is concerned, I am still in prison. While we march down his street, I send the notification to Dalton to push the button on Gabriele’s confession.The first guards to spot us are quickly taken down by my men. The satisfying sound of a skull as it cracks against the sidewalk wakes me up better than any cup of coffee ever could. A satisfied murmur runs through my men at their first success. Just as I turn the corner onto the driveway, I catch a glimpse of Gabriele through the gap in the window as he sips on his coffee.He has no idea what’s about to happen. And I can’t wait to see his face when he sees me here.With the first guards down, the next guards sound the alarm. A siren rings out, and I watch as Gabriele immediately scrambles for safety.He can
The doctor closes her eyes and takes a breath.“Keep your money,” she says, looking my father straight in the eye. “I won’t say anything, you have my word. As long as my family is safe from you in return, this remains our secret.”My father smiles; he’s pleased with himself for this.“And as for Aria,” the doctor continues. “I’ll help her with her medical needs. But I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for her and the baby, is that understood?”Her tenacity takes my father by surprise, but I can see that he appreciates it. She has managed to earn his respect, not that I think she’d be all that proud to know it.“We have a deal,” my father says with a sly smile. “I’ll leave you to it.”I stare in disbelief as my father calmly leaves the room. I’ve never seen a stranger stand up to him that way, and I am impressed with the doctor. Her actions remind me to remain courageous, and suddenly, I find my hope restored.“You’re a brave woman,” I tell her, once the door has shut.“I’m a mom,”