28. Aria
Chapter twenty-eight
Aria
An unfamiliar tune dances around in my mind, playing on my lips like a well-composed melody.
Every cell in my body seems alive, still sore and tingling from the arousing spanks Elio’s hands and weird instruments unleashed on my body.
The experience was the exact definition of pleasurable pain. I never imagined I could reach that height of pleasure by being punished that intensely.
The mere thought of his hands rubbing my breasts, comforting the soreness inflicted by the clamps, pucker my nipples, making my breasts hungry for him again.
The black dress I’ve selected to wear to work today is sprawled out on the bed, and as I pick it up to slide my frame in, a muffled voice catches my attention.
A smile automatically grips my reddening face. The sound of his voice alone drives shivers over my spine. He promised to put a quick sandwich together for us since I have to leave this early to get to work on time.
It was my idea to continue staying at the honeymoon suite for an extra week after our honeymoon was over. I love the beautiful solitude in this part of the city, and I know I will miss it dearly once we leave.
My feet pad softly towards the bedroom door, pushing it open with a light squeak as I place my bare feet in gentle steps to trace the source of the voice.
He’s on the phone, and his voice sounds like he’s grumbling about something.
“Yes. Take out every single ammunition we have. Don’t underestimate them. It’s better to be over-prepared than to be outsmarted by those fleas…Yes, Cortez. I’ll make the call when I get back tomorrow.”
A sly curve seizes my lips as his shirtless torso gleans with beads of perspiration. His muscles ripple, contrasting with the scars mapping his back. God! This man is a work of art.
He turns around just as I step into the kitchen, drops the phone from his ear, and opens his arms wide for a large embrace. His arms close over my small frame as he says, “You’re all set,” and runs his eyes from my well-smoothened hair to my black pumps.
“Yeah. It’s work o’clock.”
His arms unwrap themselves to grab one of the sandwiches and hold it up to my lips.
“Don’t work too hard,” he murmurs, wiping crumbs off my lips with his thumb. His breath fans my cheeks, arousing color in them, and for a fleeting second, I feel like calling in sick. “Off you go now.”
I stand on my tiptoes so my lips touch his lightly. “Have a great day, Elio.” A silly giggle seizes me as I hurry back to the bedroom to grab my handbag. The thought of pestering him to stay at the suite for yet a third week crosses my mind, but I shake my head at the thought.
I’m the reason he hasn’t returned to assume his duties in the family, and even when I know he’d do anything for me right now, I don’t want him to think I’m taking advantage of him.
For now, I’ll just take it one step at a time.
***
“Aria! Thank God you’re here.”
Friedrich. His voice is unmistakable even amidst a crowd.
A fake smile plasters itself on my face as I turn around to meet his gaze. He’s headed towards me in a frenzy, a pile of documents in one hand.
“I’ve been thinking of how to get this to the DA’s office...” He holds a file stretched out towards me. When my hands close over them, a small smile creases his lips. “I have this board meeting to attend, and I cannot be late. Could you be a darling and help me get this to the DA’s desk before he arrives?”
For goodness’ sake, I’m just arriving at the office! My eyes dart reluctantly to my wristwatch, “What time does he arrive?”
“9 a.m. You have to be as fast as possible.”
He turns around to walk away, leaving me gaping unbelievably at his receding figure. “I owe you one now Abruzzi! Or is it Donatelli?” He turns to wink at me, then disappears down a hallway.
It’s 8:40 a.m. right now. I have to be quick, especially since I have my own ulterior motive.
My feet pound maniacally against the marble floor as I hurry towards the elevator. I don’t know if Friedrich doesn’t realize the place is off-limits for me but, oh well, he’s the ADA’s secretary.
The clock seems to be in a race of its own, defying me in every way possible and hitting 8:45 a.m. by the time I arrive at the DA’s office.
My heels prevent a full sprint, but they carry me as fast as I can into the DA’s office. By 8:50 a.m., the document is safely on his desk.
I lower myself into his chair, inhaling and exhaling deeply to relieve myself of the shortness of breath I’m experiencing, when I realize I’m once again in front of the DA’s computer.
My fingers hover over the power on button, then click on it. Luckily, the system powers on, but it’s asking for a password.
Without wasting time, I carefully yank the desk drawers, searching for any hint of his password. My eyes flit over a pile of documents, skimming, but I release a nervous breath when I don’t find anything meaningful.
Fuck. This may be my last chance.
I open the rest of the drawers, trying to find something. When my attempts are unsuccessful, I lightly slam my hand on the desk. The keyboard jerks slightly at the movement, and something catches my attention underneath it. I move the keyboard and find a small piece of paper with his username and password scribbled on it. Thank fuck.
My fingers tremble, and I feel a bead of sweat roll down my forehead as I type in the credentials. With each second the screen rolls, my heart races until it loads and finally refreshes the case management dashboard.
I glance at my wristwatch and gasp when it boldly displays 8:54 a.m. Swallowing nervously, I input the case number. The first thing I see when I click on the case is a warning, this case is sealed.
My breath comes out in shorts as my eyes run over the case notes . I click on the motion filed and nervously wait for the page to refresh. When it does, my breath catches in my throat.
Date of Sealing: July 21, 2020
Filed By: Patrick Howard
Reason Provided: To protect sensitive national security details…
Patrick Howard…My heart tightens in my chest as I recall that I’ve heard the name. He’s Elio’s lawyer. The temperature in the room suddenly goes cold, freezing my blood as the realization dawns on me.
My heavy eyes flicker to my wristwatch, 8:58 a.m.
I quickly revert to the home screen, turn the system off, and hurry out of the office like a possessed person.
Patrick Howard is that lawyer working for the Marino Empire and, since Elio is the don, it means he knows about it. He probably ordered him to do it because… he’s somehow involved in the case?
The air leaves my lungs in a rush, and I feel like I’m drowning, gasping for oxygen. My brother wasn’t just some random casualty. It wasn’t a robbery gone wrong. It was even beyond the corrupt politician I’d been chasing in my mind for years.
My husband has a hand in my brother’s murder.
Does he?
My hand flies to my mouth as a choked sob escapes. My chest tightens so hard it feels like I’m being crushed. I try to deny it. There has to be a mistake. Elio couldn’t have killed my brother.
God, I cannot believe I’ve been having sex with someone that could be my brother’s murderer. My hand reaches protectively for my stomach. I’m carrying this man’s baby, for God’s sake. Our baby.
My breath hitches, and tears spill freely down my cheeks. How could I have been so blind to the possibility of Elio being involved? How could I have let myself fall for him? And now, the stakes are higher than just my broken heart. I have a life inside me, a life that depends on me to find out the truth and make the right decisions.
I can’t stay silent.
I grab my phone, my fingers shaking as I dial Mia. She picks up on the second ring.
“Aria? Are you okay? Girl, I saw your wedding shots all over the net. You couldn’t even let me know you were getting married!”
“I need to see you,” I cut her off. “I need you right now.”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
“Please, Mia. Just come to our usual place.” I hang up before she can ask any more questions.
***
Mia arrives in less than twenty minutes at the restaurant beside my office where we usually hang out, her face etched with concern.
“Aria, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”
“Mia,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “It’s Elio. I found something. Something about Mario.”
Her eyes widen. “What? What did you find?”
I take a deep, shuddering breath and explain everything that transpired this morning. Friedrich’s sudden errand, the DA’s office, the latest discovery about Mario’s death, and my suspicions of Elio’s involvement. By the time I’m done, Mia looks as pale as I feel.
“Aria, this is… this is insane. Are you sure? Maybe you misread…”
“I didn’t misread anything!” My voice is a notch higher than I intended. My chest rises with air and quickly deflates again as I force myself to calm down, my hands gripping hers. “I saw his lawyer’s name as the person who requested for the case to be sealed. That means he’s a prime suspect. And I have a bad feeling about this. Elio, he’s…dangerous.”
Mia’s face is contorted into a mask of disbelief. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, Mia, I’m pregnant.” I break down as a heavy sob racks my shoulders. Why does my life have to pan out this way? Chasing the truth only to get to a point where I wish I didn’t.
“Fuck, Aria. This is…” she hesitates with a breath, “really serious.”
She rises to envelop me in her warm arms, rubbing a hand over my back until my breath calms.
“You can take your time and think about it until–” Mia starts, but I cut her off.
“No…there’s no thinking to do,” I whisper, taking in a deep breath. “All my life Mia, I’ve waited to bring Mario’s murderer to justice…and I’ll do just that. I have to tell Dad. I know he’d dig further and discover the truth. Whatever happens, it’s justice before love.”
Mia bites her lips and I see the wheels spin in her head until she nods. “You go back to work for now. We’ll see your dad as soon as possible.”
“I’m not at the house right now. We went away for this fancy honeymoon thing, but we’ll be leaving tomorrow…”
“We can wait till then,” Mia interjects, “Just hold on for one more day, Aria.”
With a single nod, I acknowledge her words and stand up. I can’t bring a child into this world and pretend everything is fine. I can’t live a lie. And I can’t let him hurt anyone else.
She stands up, too, squeezing my hand before hugging me. “I’m sorry,” she breathes.
A tear slips past my eyes as I hug her tighter. I’m sorry, too… for myself, for my unborn child… and for Elio. Whether I die trying or not, two things are certain: First, this child I’m carrying will never know their real father, and second, Elio and the entire Marino Empire will crumble to the ground if I confirm that he had a hand in Mario’s death.