All Chapters of Marked By Him: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

ARYA’S POVI looked up through blurred vision to see Marco standing a few feet away. "Marco?” I cleared my throat and tried again. “What are you doing here?” "You weren't answering your phone. I got worried." He moved closer, crouching down beside the bench. "What happened? Where's your friend?"I shook my head, the tears coming again. "She's not coming." The words broke on a sob. "I don't know why but she won't answer.”"Oh, Arya." Marco pulled me into his arms, careful not to disturb Dante. "I'm so sorry. Come on. Let's get you home."I shook my head again. “Let’s wait a while. Maybe she’ll-““It’s been hours already, Arya.” He gently cut me off and there was something pitiful in his eyes. “If she was coming, you would have seen her hours ago.” My gaze fell to Dante who was now blinking at me with open curiosity. I looked down at my phone where my message was still staring at me unread.What the hell is going on, Cherry? I wanted to ask but my voice was suddenly gone. “Come on.”

ARYA’S POVI woke up to pain radiating through my shoulder from where I had hit the floor.For a disoriented moment, I didn't know where I was or what had happened. I blinked, slowly taking everything in and it all came rushing back.The argument with Marco and his hands on me, pushing me. The door slamming and the lock clicking shut. I was on the floor of my bedroom, still in yesterday's clothes, my body stiff from sleeping on the hardwood.Dante.Panic seized me as I scrambled upright, my head spinning from the sudden movement. But he was still in his bassinet by the bed, sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that his mother had passed out on the floor.Thank God. Thank God he was okay.I pushed myself to standing, using the bed for support, and stumbled to the door.It was still locked."Marco!" I pounded on the wood, my voice hoarse. "Marco, let me out! Please!"There was no response. .I hit the door harder, again and again until my palms stung. "MARCO! You can't do this! Let

GIOVANNI’S POVThe silence was oppressive. Just me and the ghost of what could have been.Enzo was going to be a father and he was going to live a life with the woman he loved.While I was sitting in an empty room, talking to shadows."Hey, baby," I whispered to the silence.The words felt foolish but I said them anyway."I don't know if you can hear me. I don't even know if you exist yet, or if…." I stopped, unable to voice the fear that Arya might have lost the pregnancy. "I'm sorry," I continued, my voice rough. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I’m sorry for everything I did that drove you both away."The room offered no response. Just silence and the faint scent of jasmine that might have been my imagination."Your uncle Enzo is having a baby," I said, because the silence was too heavy to bear. "You'll have a cousin soon. And aunt Jasmine is going to spoil you rotten and if….”I paused releasing a weary sigh and leaned my head back against the chair. "I'm looking for you," I promised

GIOVANNI’S POVShe nodded. "Yes. He noticed things like missing money, and deals that didn't add up. But he didn't want to believe it.” Isabella shook her head, dabbing her fingers underneath her eyes. “Marco has been with our family since he was a boy. Robert trusted him like a son."My heart was slowly thudding now but I asked. "What happened tonight?""Marco came back late. Robert was still awake, in his study. I heard them arguing." Isabella's voice shook. "Marco confronted him and asked him to stop you from helping search for Arya."I blinked. "Stop me? Why would he want that?""Because Marco didn't want her found." Isabella's hands fisted in her dress. "The argument got worse. Marco said terrible things about how Robert was weak, and how the family had gone soft. He even mentioned that he should have been the one leading instead of taking orders."The pieces were falling into place. Too many pieces, all of them damning."He revealed his alliance with the Riveras," Isabella conti

ARYA’S POVIn the elevator, I held Dante close and tried not to think about how easily Marco lied. How convincing he was as the concerned husband and father.I tried very hard not to think about how trapped I was.We managed to find the pediatric wing and walked into the office. Dr. Lombardi was a kind-looking man in his fifties with gentle hands and a warm smile."And who is this little one?" he asked, gesturing to Dante."This is Dante," I said quietly. "He's been running a fever since this morning. He's crying more than usual, barely eating and… I don’t know what to do."He smiled softly, like he understood my struggle and my shoulders relaxed. "Let's take a look." He took Dante carefully, his hands checking his temperature, examining ears, throat, and listening to his chest. "How old is he?"I provided automatically. "Four weeks.""And has he had any other symptoms?” He asked, looking up to stare at me. “Difficulty breathing? Unusual discharge?"I answered his questions while Ma