"Would you turn it down if you were me?" Arya replied raising her brows. She looked calm and unbothered, cocking her head to the left. Belle didn’t say anything back. She stared at Arya for a moment, her jaw tight like she was holding something back. Then she looked away, clearly annoyed or upset.Arya saw that and let a small, knowing smile appear on her face.“Yeah. That’s what I thought,” she said.The room went completely silent after that, and in order to reduce the simmering tension in the room, Hernandez who noticed how awkward everything had becoke decided to talk, trying to lighten the mood. He spoke in a casual tone, like he was trying to act like everything was normal. “Hey, maybe Juan should let Arya stop by the bar or something,” he said. “Some lady even came looking for her a few weeks ago.”As soon as Arya heard that, she turned her head fast. Her eyes got wide with surprise. She looked directly at Juan, hope and energy suddenly back in her voice.“See? I told you some
Arya didn’t move. She stood frozen there on the porch, phone still pressed to her ear. Her whole body felt cold, like the air had stopped around her. Her fingers were stiff. Her lips were shaking. Her legs felt weak, like they might give out at any second.“She passed away this morning,” the voice repeated again, soft and careful, like they were trying not to hurt her more.Arya didn’t answer right away. She couldn’t. She just blinked, once, then again, trying to hold herself together. She swallowed hard.“Can… can you send me the address? Please. I’d like to see her. I want to be there. For the funeral.”There was a pause on the other end of the line. “I’ll send it to this number,” the person said.Arya nodded, even though they couldn’t see her. “Thank you.”Then the call ended. The screen went dark. But Arya still didn’t move.She stayed there for another few seconds, frozen in place. Then slowly, she lowered the phone and turned around.She walked back into the house, quiet, her s
She was shaking in his arms, her whole body trembling like it was too much for her to carry anymore. Her sobs came out quietly, but im short bursts. Her head was splitting with pain uncontrollably and her eyes felt tired from all the tears but she could not bring herself to stop. Juan's shirt was soaked through within minutes but he didn't mind it. Arya's mind was foggy with too many thoughts, thinking about what could have been if perhaps she wasn't here. Yes, Francesca would have still died but she would have built a deeper friendship with her. Francesca's friendship was short, not too deep but the best Arya had all her life.Juan didn’t speak. He didn’t tell her it would be okay or ask her what was wrong. He didn’t try to stop the crying. He just held her, wrapping his arms around her and not letting go. Every time she gasped or let out another shaky sob, he pulled her even closer, like he was trying to hold all her broken pieces together with his arms. Like maybe, just maybe, if
Arya was never one to listen— especially to Juan. She leaned in closer, planting her lips softly on his, almost hesitantly. "Mio Angelo," he murmured gently against her but she took it as a signal to deepen it. She pulled him in closer, her hands sliding to his hair, gripping them harder between her fists. They kissed hungrily, like they’ve both been starved of each other for an eternity. Desire coursing through their veins. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer like she was afraid he would suddenly disappear. While kissing, they stood from the ground slowly, Juan backing her against the wall, his hands sliding on her waist to pull her closer as if she wasn't already close enough. His hands slipped up her shirt slowly and she gasped, suddenly feeling unsure of what she had started. She could still feel Diego's hands on her and—"Mio Angelo, what's wrong?" He asked, pulling away and searching her green eyes with his. "N-nothing," she stammered, swallowing hard.
"It's okay principessa," he murmured, kissing her hair once more. She rolled over to face him, burying her head in his chest and before long, she forgot all her worries, dosing off into sleep. The next morning, she woke up early— Juan was still cuddling her. She glanced over at him, smiling at how his lashes rested on his face. He looked so peaceful while he slept and not like the ruthless person she knew.Prying away from him seemed impossible as the grip he had on her was just too tight. He stirred slightly. "Where are you going Mio Angelo?""To um... Bathe. The funeral is today.""Isn't it by ten?" He asked groggily."Well yes."He glanced over at the night stand. "It's just six a.m Arya. Stay for a while.""The place is an hour away. So we have to leave by nine," she said with a wry smile. "I'll need time to prepare.""You're going for a funeral not a dinner. You don't need that much time to get dressed.""I do," she said, finally prying away from him. She walked into the bathroo
Greco chuckled over the phone and then gave another sigh. "I'll update you later then.""Alright." Juan cut the call and set his phone down, walking towards the bathroom. He opened the door without warning, earning a yelp from Arya who was covered in soap surds."How long does it take you to take a shower?" He asked with a raise of his brows, casually taking off his shirt. "I was starting to think you were using the tub instead.""Um... I'm still... Washing up," she said in a shaky voice, using her hands to cover her body as much as she could. Now, she wished she had taken a bath in the tub so she could use the water to cover herself up. "I can see that," he responded, pulling his trousers down. "What are you doing?" She asked, panic suddenly washing over her. "Coming to take a shower," he commented as if that was the most natural thing to happen in the world. "You have your own room," she said in a weak voice. "I'm aware of that." He has pulled his underwear, making Arya to swal
"Oh, um thanks," she mumbled, swallowing hard. He took a step back from her and patted her back. "I'll be back soon."Arya nodded, watching him leave the room with a sigh. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and then stood up from the vanity area, smoothing her outfit and checking it in the mirror. She picked out a pair of black flats and smiled wryly. Juan really did prepare for her coming here before he kidnapped her from Dominic because why on earth were there a sufficient amount of female clothes?Or did he have a woman before?She shook her head. These clothes were new and belle didn't live here until her accident. Moreover, she and belle did not use the same size of clothes. She sprayed herself generously with the rose scented perfume on the table and the sighed for the hundredth time that day. It was eight thirty already. How fast time flies, she murmured to herself. The door creaked open just then and Juan sauntered in, buttoning up the black dress shirt
Greco tapped his pen lightly against the desk. He stared at the complaint form, filling in the necessary details.Manslaughter.Vehicular collision.Suspicious tampering. He signed at the bottom, folded the papers neatly, and slid them into a file. Grabbing his jacket off the chair, he tucked the file under his arm and headed out.The courthouse was about twenty minutes away, and traffic was mercifully light. Greco drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he moved the car.When he got there, he didn't bother waiting in line. He walked straight past the security checks, giving a slight nod to the guard who pretended not to see him.He chose to use the stairs instead of the elevator and then went to the third floor, walking towards Judge Santiago's office that was at the end of the hall way. He rapped his knuckles once on the door before pushing it open. The judge looked up, looking mildly annoyed until he saw who it was. Greco set the file down on the desk, flipping it open
"You know... It's funny," Juan smiled. "Your Italian saviour who deserves to be the top Mafia is not coming to save you..."Ricotta said nothing, but only gritted his teeth even harder. "How easy were you to brainwash," Juan shook his head. He turned his head to Hernandez who stood in the door way and then gave him a nod. Hernandez walked towards Ricotta, his expression blank as he punched him in the eye. However, Ricotta's scream was no where near Diego who was in intense pain. "Just kill me already," Diego gasped. If it were possible, he would have burst open and his eyes would probably pop out of it's socket. The burning sensation in his p3nis was brutal and not something a human should endure. It was exactly what Juan wanted— for the pain to be unbearable to the point where he would wish for death. "Kill you?" Questioned Juan. "No, that would be way too easy Diego. You cause lifelong damage, I intend to give you pain that matches."Juan stood up once again, slowly. He walked t
Juan gritted his teeth together and then gave Dominic a long stare.“Very well then, we have a deal,” he said.Dominic put out his hand for a shake, while Juan only gave him a mean look. He sighed and then retracted his hand.“I should go,” Dominic said.“Yes, you should,” Juan replied, and then turned, entering his car.He sat beside Arya and picked up her hand, placing it on his lap while interlocking fingers with her. The trees ran past them as they drove through the city. It was a long drive, and after what seemed like eternity, they arrived at a deserted street. The car was parked, and then Juan got out, opening the door at the other end for Arya.He held her hand as he led her into the warehouse. It was the same as Arya remembered, with people hanging from ceilings and all what not. He put his hand over her eyes, realizing that she did not particularly enjoy seeing these men.Arya was led into a room by Juan, where she saw her stepfather being tied up, and there was a man she had
"Il Lupo?" Dominic's voice was hoarse when he asked the question. "You're sure of it?""I spoke with him. He's alive," Juan responded, eyes cold and distant as if lost in a memory that has passed a hundred years ago.."But you killed him in the last war," Dominic said, blinking rapidly. Confusion was marred into lines on his forehead. "You literally killed him. I remember... That day my father and I came to help... You were the one who pulled the trigger from the top of that building when he thought he was victorious. After he killed your father and mine.""I pulled the trigger," Juan confirmed, his voice still in that dangerously calm icy tone."It went into his head. You didn't miss. A funeral was done... He...""He is alive Dominic, and I don't know how.""Wow..." Dominic muttered. "We should have let go of tradition and not given his men the right to bury him.""I should have burnt his body, but there's no use in dwelling in the past now, is there?" Juan asked. After a brief momen
"Juan," Arya gasped, sitting up and using the bedding to cover her chest. He didn't respond, rather he stared ahead into space. He was hungry for blood and needed the screams or someone pleading for mercy to ease the anger he felt towards life and he has just found the perfect scapegoat. First, the bastard sold her off to become a sex slave just so that he could pay his death and now he was hearing he had molested Arya as a child? Diego had been trouble from the start, swinging from one Mafia boss and gambling house to another, trying to help in dealing drugs so he could gamble away. Always getting himself caught up in one mess or the other. He had not been a responsible father to Arya when her mother had died and he still has the guts to molest her?Another surge of disgust coursed through his veins at that. He was going to kill the bastard. "You don't havw to.""I don't but I want to," he commented, swinging his legs off the bed. "Get dressed principessa."Arya did not argue thi
Dead people could not rise from the grave, but hearing the voice of Giuseppe Rinaldi was enough confirmation that dead men could rise from the grave. "Hello? Riccota? I thought you were on my side. I thought you were fighting for our cause," Giuseppe hissed angrily. "Why am I seeing news that it was the textile plant that needed cleaning that got bombed?""Il Lupo," Juan said, taking the phone out of Riccota's hands. "You are supposed to be dead.""Ah, if it is not Moreno's son." The wolf's voice changed into something amused. He was definitely not expecting to hear Juan's voice and was not yet ready to go into a heads on war with him, but with what had happened it seemed he was going to have no choice. "I killed you," commented Juan quietly. "Did you?" Guiseppe laughed heartily. "I'm alive and kicking Juan. You failed to do a thorough job, as always."Juan gritted his teeth together. "Daddy was always complaining, wasn't he?" Giuseppe continued laughing. "I am curious though. I g
"I never said I was waiting for anything," Ricotta said in a shaky voice. He appeared confused, glancing at the TV once more as if he was wondering why Juan was showing him what played on the TV. "Is that... Not the textile house?" he asked in a somewhat breathy voice.Juan didn’t say anything at first. He stayed quiet and slowly took a sip from his wine glass. His eyes looked half closed, like he was thinking about something far away, not the drink in his hand. On the TV, the video kept playing. It showed a building with blackened, burned walls. Smoke rose slowly into the evening sky. In a few minutes firefighters moved around, spraying water on what was left of the building, trying to stop the last bits of fire."Oh, yes it is," Juan said offhandedly. "I'm thinking of starting a new vineyard there so I guess it needed cleaning up."The faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner suddenly felt louder and more pronounced. Ricotta swallowed hard. "May I ask why you are tellin
"I suppose it does," he commented drily. He did not necessarily seem interested in whatever Juan was saying. He was glancing at the grandfather's clock at the end of the room way too frequently. "Do you have somewhere to be?" Juan asked, looking at the clock. Surprisingly, a lot of time has gone. It was five forty five p.m. already, that meant the bomb was due in fifteen minutes. "Not at all," he said, looking all too relaxed. "But you seem so interested in the clock," Juan replied, lifting a brow in challenge. "Is there a reason for that?"He shook his head and shrugged. "Not necessarily. I just like it... Archaic... Beautiful even. The ticking sound... It's... Soothing," he smiled but Juan could see an evil smile beneath that. Maybe Juan was overthinking it but perhaps the ticking of the grandfather's clock in the corner was soothing because he was expecting something to happen. And the evil smile was probably because he was happily anticipating for Juan to receive the news that
"What?" She asked, her voice already hoarse and cracked from the tears."Who did it to you, mio Angelo?" Juan asked again. Beneath his skin, his blood was boiling like never before. A feeling of anger clawed at him, begging to release a beast on whoever had dared to hurt her. "What are you talking about?" She asked in a small and timid whisper. "You know what I'm talking about Arya," he replied, stepping further into the room. "What is his name?"Fear and realization washed over her in that instant and she gasped softly. How could he have known that a man had assaulted her when she had never said anything about it? Could he read into her mind and soul? "I don't know what you're talking about Juan," she lied in a timid voice. "That's a lie, Arya," he walked towards her menacingly. "Tell me who he is!" He commanded.She flinched, moving backwards a little. Just then, a knock came on the door interrupting the conversation. Juan did not bother to face the door or look at it. His eyes
The room went quiet. The kind of silence that felt heavy, like a weighted blanket being draped over something. Juan ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated and unsure. He looked at her one more time before standing. He grabbed his underwear and trousers from the floor, putting them on promptly. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ll give you space.”She didn’t move or even look at him for a second. She just stayed there, wrapped up in the blanket, her whole body tensed. Her eyes stayed on the wall, unmoving. That looked distant, and even though she was in the room, Juan could tell her mind was not. Her thoughts were loud enough for him to see but not loud enough for him to hear. He wondered what had happened, why she had suddenly backed off when she seemed to be enjoying it. It was not her first time, so why had she been scared?Arya, on the other hand, didn’t know how to explain what she was feeling. Shame. Fear. Hurt. It all mixed together.Then he left.The door closed behind