Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
“The most dangerous prisons are the ones that feel like comfort, where the lock is his touch, and the chains are your own desire.” – Aria Boschett.
Iwake in warmth where there shouldn’t be any.
Not on the far side of the bed where I remember falling asleep.
A heavy arm traps me to his chest, a wall of muscle and heat.
Cyan. His scent woody, unmistakable, threads through my nostrils and clings to my skin.
My instincts collide. One moment, I know I should move.
Run. The next, I lie still, listening to the steady beat of his heart as memories of last night seep in.
His hands, that mouth, his low, addictive Irish accent.
I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing the sensations away.
No… no, Aria. Don’t get lost in feelings.
Cyan is holding my Nonna hostage. He’s using her to keep me docile, to keep me trapped.
He needs to let me go before Tasha gets back into Boston.
If I’m still trapped here, she’ll show up with Trevor in tow.
Then there’s Ethan and the FBI threats —that’s a whole different prison I refuse to think about.
I won’t trade one cage for another. I need a reset.
A hot shower. A rational mind. To figure out my next move.
Easing out from Cyan’s hold. The mattress shifts, and I freeze.
He murmurs something low in his sleep, then rolls onto my pillow, inhaling it.
His hand searches instinctively for me, fingers curling into the warmth I left behind.
The movement is so natural, so heartbreakingly human, it punches the breath from my lungs.
For a moment, I don’t see the Capo or my stalker but a man reaching for the place where I’d been.
When I’m certain he’s still asleep, I slide off of bed.
Cool air rushes over my skin, grounding me.
I stop long enough to look back. Cyan lips part slightly, and my fingers twitch with the irrational urge to touch him.
I don’t. Walking to the bathroom instead.
***
When I emerge from the bathroom later, dressed, hair brushed, mentally bracing for another battle, he’s gone. Something unexpected sits atop the ivory sheets. My phone, with a note.
Dove, here’s your phone. Remember it’s the only link you have to the outside world. Whether you keep it, is up to you. Cyan
He hands me back my phone like it’s a gift, when really, it’s a leash disguised in pretty ribbon.
Another reminder that my choices no longer belong to me.
He stole my Nonna, locked me in here like some prized possession.
Now he expects me to feel grateful. Screw him.
Before I can throw the phone across the room, it vibrates.
The screen lights up with a stack of missed calls and messages, all from Aunt Cathy.
Crap. I dial her right away. She answers on the first ring.
“Aria, thank goodness, child, what’s going on? You disappeared. Not answering my calls or texts… Aria, you scared me half to death! I was about to hop in my car and drive to Crescent Bay.”
Guilt punches me straight in the chest. “Aunt Cathy, I’m so sorry.
I didn’t mean to disappear on you like that.
” I pace near the window, gripping the phone tight.
“Had to leave in a hurry. I left my charger at your place, and by the time I realized, the phone was dead.” I force a weak laugh. “Classic me, right?”
There’s a pause on the other end before she sighs. “You scared the life out of me, Aria. What made you leave in a hurry? Is Nina okay?”
Again, guilt wraps tight around my throat.
“I’m sorry for stressing you out. Nonna’s great, everything’s fine now, I promise.
” It’s a lie. But what choice do I have?
Walking to the window, I press my forehead against the glass, staring out at the ocean.
“Nonna got accepted into the medical research program, the one I applied for.” I swallow.
“A spot opened up suddenly, that’s why I rushed back to Crescent…
they admitted her for assessment yesterday. ”
She exhales, an excited sound that makes my stomach twist harder. “Oh my, Aria! That’s... that’s wonderful news!” she yawns sounding tired and blame sits like a brick in my chest.
“Again, I’m so sorry, Aunt Cathy.”
“It’s fine… you’re okay; that’s all that matters. I have a four-day weekend coming up next week. I’ll drive over, and we can visit your grandmother together.”
Shit. Panic rises in my throat. “Uh... Aunt Cathy, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“What? Why not?” Lie. I have to lie.
“Be- because... because…” Think, Aria, think. “She’s still being assessed,” I blurt out. “It’s a drug trial. They won’t let us see her yet.”
There’s a pause. “Oh, right, of course. Those things can be strict.”
“Yeah,” I force calm into my voice. “No visits until the observation period is over.”
“Well, keep me posted, alright? I want updates.” I open my mouth to respond, but then she hits me with a bomb. “Oh–Aria guess who I ran into yesterday? Ethan.” Every muscle in my body locks up. “He told me you two are dating!” Her voice is filled with glee.
That lying, manipulative asshole. My grip tightens around my phone. Ethan must be trying to reinforce his bullshit leverage. My aunt now thinks I’m seeing him. I can’t deal with this now; it’s too much. “Not now, Aunt Cathy. I have to go. I’ll be late for work.”
She sighs. “Alright, but I want details next time we talk.”
“Maybe,” I laugh weakly. “Love you, aunty. Go get some sleep, okay, bye.” I hang up before she can dig further.
I let the phone fall to the bed, my pulse pounding.
Cyan’s cage tightens, and Ethan’s strings tug from the outside.
This is a mess. I need to get out of here.
I need to go to work. I need the numbers.
Will Cyan even let me go in? If I sit around in this room all day, stewing in my helplessness, I might lose my mind.
I test the bedroom door. It opens, surprised it’s not locked like yesterday.
I’m expecting one of Cyan’s men to be stationed outside.
The hallway is empty. A flicker of hope sparks in my chest as I step out and pad toward the stairs.
The house is eerily quiet, its high ceilings and grand architecture amplifying every move I make.
I should risk finding a car; maybe walking is best. I don’t want to risk missing this chance to escape.
Seeing no one downstairs, I make a beeline for the front door.
My pulse pounds as I reach for the doorknob, twisting the handle.
This door doesn’t budge. Then I see it–the keypad, a fingerprint scanner.
My stomach sinks; there’s no way out without Cyan’s prints. My fists curl in frustration.
“Going somewhere?” I jump, sucking in a sharp breath at the sound of the familiar voice. Spinning around, I come face-to-face with Rosa, the older woman from the pier.
“You?” Rosa smiles, her scar shifting. With her salt-and-pepper hair in a ponytail, her delicate features almost reminded me of Aunt Cathy. I remember how I begged for help. Rosa must’ve sold me out. Now she’s smiling as if we’re old friends.
“Good morning, Aria. I didn’t mean to startle you, Cyan said you’re not to leave without him.” I’m not falling for her tricks this time, not after what she did. My gaze flickers to the jagged scar on her cheek, a story I don’t know and don’t care about. “Cyan only told me yesterday—”
I cut her off, anger rising like bile. “You knew all along, didn’t you? That night at the bar, you knew who he was. You let me beg for your help while knowing you were working for him the whole time. How could you do this? How could you help him trap me?”
Rosa sighs. “You do not know how hard this is for me.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Hard for you?”
“I care for Cyan like a son. I’ve seen his demons, his struggles. But you bring something different to his world. There’s hope in you, Aria.”
I scoff. “Hope? What fucking bullshit.” My breath comes faster now, my emotions teetering between rage and desperation. “If it’s really hard for you as you say, help me. You know, he’s kidnapped my grandmother to control me, Rosa.”
Something flickers in her eyes. Hesitation?
Doubt? “Aria, you don’t understand. Cyan’s doing this for your safety…
our safety. There’s a misunderstanding between you two.
He’ll correct it when he sees fit.” Her words are a slap to my intelligence, and they solidify one terrible truth.
Cyan sees himself as my keeper, and Rosa? She accepts it.
“A misunderstanding? He drugged me, dragged me out of my life, and locked me in his. That’s not a misunderstanding, Rosa. That’s control… and my grandmother… she doesn’t deserve this.”
Rosa turns her gaze toward the window. For a moment, she’s still and silent. Her reflection stares back at her, unreadable in the glass. When she speaks, her expression has tightened, smoothed into something practiced. “I’ll confirm with my own eyes she’s safe. You have my word on that.”
It’s not enough. My hands curl at my sides, nails biting into my palms. Every instinct screams to tear through this house, to force Rosa to hand over her keys, but that won’t get me to my grandmother.
I bite my tongue until I taste iron. I want to claw at her but I must wait.
Not until I know where Cyan is keeping Nonna. I’ll bide my time.
“Like I believe anything you say.” My voice comes out raw.
She nods, her gaze steady. “That’s fair. I understand your anger and lack of trust. You’re not alone in this. If you need me, I’ll be here. But I’ll respect your stance.”
My laugh is harsh. Trust? That word doesn’t survive long in Cyan’s world. “Rosa, if I find out my Nonna isn’t safe, I’ll never forgive you, and Cyan won’t be the only monster in Crescent Bay.”