51. Aria
51
ARIA
S tanding by the window in the bridal suite, I reach for my burner phone with the desperate hope to find a message from Dion , but before I can even unlock it, a voice cuts through the air like a blade.
“ He won’t reply to you.” I freeze, fingers hovering over the screen, my heart lurching in my chest. I turn slowly and meet Andrew’s smug gaze.
I stare at him, dumbfounded, trying to process his words. “ What do you mean?” The quiver in my voice betrays my unease.
“ He’s made his choice,” he replies, his tone dripping with malice, but doesn’t say anything else.
“ Y -you’re not supposed to be here, Andrew ,” I say, backing up. “ You shouldn’t see the bride before the wedding.”
Andrew laughs and it’s a wicked sound. “ We both know this isn’t a traditional wedding, Aria . I don’t give a fuck about what you look like,” he spits. “ I’m just here to let you know that any flicker of hope you had that your one true love, Dion , would come and rescue you, is a waste of energy.”
“ What did you do?” I breathe out. My heart is about to leap out of my chest.
He puts his hands in his pockets. “ That’s none of your concern. He’s no longer a problem.”
My fingers instinctively clamp onto my stomach, as if I can physically hold back the sickness rising within me, Andrew’s words hitting me like a punch to the gut.
My breath comes in short, ragged gasps. The room feels like it’s closing in.
Andrew moves closer, cornering me against the wall. I can’t stop myself from shaking, both from fear and revulsion. His breath reeks of alcohol as he leans in, his hands groping me roughly. “ You better keep your mouth shut or you’ll regret it.”
I try to push him away, but his grip tightens, fingers digging into my skin.
“ Get off me!” I scream.
That’s when I feel his hand move lower, grabbing my crotch with force. In a surge of desperation, I swing my fist with all my might, aiming straight for his stomach. The impact sends him staggering back, but before I can even move away, his hand comes crashing across my face with a sharp crack.
Pain explodes along my cheek, and I stagger backward, tasting blood in my mouth. My vision blurs for a moment as I struggle to stay upright.
Andrew moves toward me again and I yelp, stumbling along the wall.
And then, a sudden presence fills the room.
I look up to find Dion standing in the doorway, his eyes ablaze with rage.
For a moment, time seems to freeze.
“ Dion ...” I manage to choke out. Here’s here. He’s alive .
His face is marred by bruises and cuts, clothes stained with blood, his nose fractured. The paleness of his skin speaks of sleepless nights and days spent in darkness.
His eyes lock onto mine and he notices the red stains on my lips.
I look down, and his fingers squeeze around the machete he’s holding, its blade glistening with what looks like fresh blood. Yet , there’s a sense of power in the way he holds it, a promise of retribution.
Andrew’s eyes widen in shock as they flicker from Dion’s bloodied figure to the gleaming weapon in his hand. His face pales.
“ How —” he stammers, his voice trembling. “ How the fuck did you get out?”
Dion’s lips curl into a wicked smile as he takes a step forward, slowly closing the distance.
“ Nothing in this world could’ve kept me from Aria today,” Dion’s voice cuts through the tension like a knife. “ I would’ve sawed off my own feet if it meant putting an end to this wedding.”
“ Dion , be careful,” I whisper, stepping toward him.
But Dion’s gaze remains fixed on Andrew , his jaw set with determination. “ Move behind me, Aria ,” he instructs.
I hesitate for a moment, torn between wanting to stay by his side and fearing what might happen if I intervene. I take a step back, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“ I’ve waited long enough to get rid of you, you piece of shit. Soon , I’m going to bury you and dance on your fucking grave,” Dion seethes. I’ve never seen him this angry. Goosebumps rise along my skin.
“ First , you hack into Aria’s phone and send me a message, making me believe that she was in danger, knowing I’d come for her. ‘ Cause you weren’t man enough to face me alone.”
My jaw drops. Andrew did what ?
Dion takes more steps. “ Then , you lure me into a trap and keep me hostage for three fucking days.”
I gasp, hand flying to my mouth.
Dion’s chest is rising and falling at a rapid pace.
“ You really thought I’d give up that easily, motherfucker?”
Andrew attempts to mask his fear, scoffing as he straightens. “ Really , Dion ?” he sneers, though his voice wavers slightly. “ You think you can just barge in here and play the hero? I’ll have my men kill you.”
“ What men?” Dion’s smile widens, his grip tightening on the bloodied machete. “ I’m not playing, Andrew . This ends now.”
Andrew’s bravado falters. His hand darts to his jacket, and before I can fully process the movement, he pulls out a gun, aiming it at my head. My heart stops as a scream rips from my throat.
Dion’s voice cuts through my panic, calm and steady. “ Aria , it’ll be okay. Trust me,” he says softly, never taking his gaze off Andrew . “ I’ve got this.”
Dion takes a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate. “ You don’t want to do this, Galanis . Put the gun down.”
Andrew’s hand shakes slightly, betraying the confidence he’s trying to project. “ Stay back. I’m warning you.”
Dion’s expression remains unwavering, a picture of calm amidst the storm. “ If you hurt her, there’ll be no going back for you. You know that. My clan is out there, and we won’t hesitate to kill you— very slowly.”
Andrew’s grip on the gun doesn’t waver, his eyes locked in a dangerous stare with Dion’s . In an attempt to distract him, I move toward the door, Andrew’s gaze following me. Dion takes the opportunity to charge forward.
The impact sends the gun flying from Andrew’s hand, and it skids across the floor.
I lurch for it, my fingers wrapping around the cold metal as I rise and point it at Andrew . My hands are trembling uncontrollably. I’ve never shot a gun before, but the resolve coursing through me tells me that I will if I have to.
Dion and Andrew clash violently, grunts and the sounds of fists connecting with flesh filling the room.
Somehow , Dion gains the upper hand, forcing Andrew to his knees.
With a final look, Dion lifts the machete high. “ As you take your final breath, never forget that you’re worthless , and you’ll be remembered not for your power or your family name, but for your fucking failures. I hope you rot in fucking hell.”
Before Andrew can react, Dion brings the weapon down with a swing.
The blade slices through Andrew’s neck, and blood splatters everywhere, reaching my white wedding dress. He gurgles, choking on his own blood, before his body crumples to the floor, lifeless.
Shock paralyzes me, my mind struggling to process what I just saw.
There’s so much blood.
Dion stands over him, chest heaving with exertion as he ensures Andrew is truly gone.
Then , he turns to me, his eyes softening as he takes in my blood-streaked form. He stands up and gently takes the gun from my trembling hands before pulling me into his arms, holding me tight. I bury my face in his chest and cry.
“ It’s over,” he whispers.
I nod, frantically. It’s over, it’s over, it’s over.
I cling to Dion , as the reality of what just happened begins to sink in.
When my sobs subside and the tears finally stop, Dion wipes my face with his rough, bloodstained hands. His touch is tender, a stark contrast to the violence of a few moments ago. He tilts my chin up, and our eyes meet.
Without a word, he leans in and kisses me. It’s explosive, a kiss that ignites something deep within me. For the first time, there are no more worries, no fears, no what-ifs. I allow myself to be fully present, to lose myself in the moment—in him .
The kiss deepens, growing more frantic with each passing second. Our bodies press together, hands roaming as if trying to memorize every inch of each other. The blood on our faces mingles, a macabre reminder of what we’ve just survived.
But in this kiss, there’s freedom. A release of all the pent-up tension, fear and pain from the past couple of years. It’s raw and intense, an expression of everything we’ve been holding back.
Dion’s hands travel up my back, pulling me even closer, and my fingers tangle in his hair. The world around us fades away, and all that exists is this moment, this connection. We say everything we can’t put into words—that we’re alive, that we’re together, and that nothing will ever come between us again.
We melt to the floor, never breaking apart.
Our kiss grows frantic, Dion’s hands moving with urgency. He lifts the hem of my bloodstained wedding dress, his touch sending shivers down my spine. My breath hitches as he pulls my panties down, the fabric sliding against my skin.
His fingers find their way to my core, and I tense, a moan escaping my lips.
We’re only a couple of feet away from Andrew’s lifeless body, but I don’t care.
The fear, the violence, the blood—all of it fades away, leaving just the two of us.
Dion’s fingers move inside me with an expert touch, eliciting another moan from deep within me. My body responds, arching into his hand.
I can feel my climax building, a powerful rush that threatens to overtake me. Each movement, each stroke, pushes me closer to the edge.
He places his thumb on my clit and begins to circle it.
“ Dion ,” I pant as I cling to him, nails digging into his shoulders. The sensation is almost too much.
His lips find mine again, and I groan into his mouth, the sound vibrating between us.
The pressure inside me builds, a mounting tension that coils tighter and tighter. My breaths come in ragged gasps, my moans growing louder.
“ Dion , I’m … I’m so close,” I manage to say, my voice breaking.
He responds by quickening his pace, his fingers working me with a relentless rhythm that drives me wild. Heat pools low in my belly, ready to explode.
And then, with a final, breathtaking surge, I shatter. My climax crashes over me, my body convulsing in his arms. I cry out, the sound muffled by Dion’s kiss, every muscle tensing and then releasing in a flood of ecstasy.
“ I love you, Aria ,” Dion whispers against my lips.
My breath hitches.
“ You’re not spending another day without me,” Dion continues. “ You’re all mine, and I’m never letting you go. No matter what storms brew, no matter what pain we face, I’ll always love you. You are worth every single moment, every tear, every struggle. I’d cross any darkness just to see your smile, to feel your warmth beside me.” He places a hand on my chest. “ What I feel for you is like a flame, fueled by the essence of who you are—your kindness, your strength, your beauty, both inside and out.”
Dion gazes into my eyes as tears shed down my cheeks. “ You’re worth every trial, every tribulation, because in the end, it is you. It’s always been you.”
His words, possessive and devoted, make my heart race. Before I can respond, Dion grabs me and positions me so that I’m straddling him. With one hand, he unbuckles his belt and frees himself.
I feel a surge of desire as I look down at his cock, my body still humming with the aftershocks of my release. Slowly , I lower myself onto him, his thick length filling me. “ Oh my God ,” I moan. I take him deeper. He grips my hips, guiding me as I begin to move, our bodies finding a rhythm that feels both frantic and tender.
I ride him, hands on his shoulders for support, my eyes fixed on his. His hands travel up my back, pulling me closer, and I lean forward, capturing his lips in a searing kiss.
“ Fuck , baby. Your pussy is perfect for me. I never want to fuck anyone else for the rest of my life.”
Our movements grow more urgent, driven by a shared need to claim and possess each other fully. The intensity builds again, each thrust of his hips sending sparks of pleasure through my body. We move together until pleasure overtakes us both.
With a final, powerful plunge, we shatter, our cries of release mingling in the air.
Breathless , I collapse against him, our bodies slick with sweat and blood.
Dion holds me tightly, his breath warm against my ear.
After a few moments, I pull back to look into his eyes, and take a deep breath. “ I love you, too, Dion . When I’m with you, it feels like the world is a garden in full bloom. You make everything brighter, more beautiful. You make me feel like I can be myself, without fear or hesitation.” I reach up, gently touching his face, tracing the lines of his jaw with my fingers. “ Your patience, your unwavering support—they’ve become my anchor, my refuge. With you, I feel seen, cherished, and loved in a way I never thought possible.”
Dion’s eyes glisten as he leans into my touch.
“ I love you so much,” I say, my voice filled with all the emotion and certainty I’ve felt for a while. “ I always have, and I always will.”
“ You have no idea how much that means to me, astéri mou ,” he replies, his voice raw. “ You are my light, my inspiration. And I will love you forever.”