Chapter 38
ARIA
Tears flow freely down my face as I sob uncontrollably. My whole body is in pure agony right now. But that’s not what’s worrying me the most. No, it’s the fact that I’m starting to feel some cramping in my stomach.
I didn’t know that’s what it was earlier, but over the last few minutes, I’m convinced that’s what’s happening. Everywhere hurts, so I thought it was the pain from all the trauma I suffered today. Now though, I’m starting to feel like something’s off.
“Please, please hold on, baby girl. You can’t come out yet. Not until we’re out of here and safe,” I sob, while begging the universe for a miracle. I haven’t moved from the bed since Salvatore left me earlier because I’m drained of all energy.
Just then, footsteps echo down the stairs. Two distinct sets, steady and getting closer. I let out a groan because I don’t want to deal with anyone right now. I don’t know how long has passed since Salvatore was down here, but I know for a fact it can’t be morning yet.
I struggle to sit up, and I’m breathless by the time I manage to get my body up and brace my back against the concrete wall.
The movement causes a sharp pain to shoot through my lower back and belly.
I let out a pain-filled moan at the intensity of it.
Somehow, this feels worse than all the other pain in my body.
When the wave of it passes, I look up through what feels like swollen eyes from all the crying, only to see Salvatore and my father standing in front of my cell staring at me.
Salvatore has an amused, hungry expression on his face, which makes my stomach roll. He is definitely a sick fuck if he can look at me with desire when I’m all banged up like this. My father is also looking at me, but his expression is one of disgust.
“What do you want?” I ask, trying to sound brave. I don’t want either of these assholes to see me cower.
“Look at you… so pathetic,” my father sneers.
“Look at you, still the world’s worst fucking father alive,” I snap. I wasn’t going to answer him but the man pisses me off too much. I turn to Salvatore. “What are you doing here? It’s not morning yet. You said I had until the morning to decide.” At least I hope it isn’t.
“You’re not deciding anything. You have a choice to make, and your only two options are keeping your baby or not,” he mutters. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter which one you choose. You’ll still be my wife with or without the brat.”
“Whatever. You said I had until morning to make the choice,” I grunt.
“I’ve changed my mind. I want an answer now,” he sneers.
“How can you work with a monster like him?” I turn my head toward my father and ask. “How can you do this to your own daughter?”
“Because I don’t give a shit about you. I never have. You should be glad that Salvatore still wants you even though you’re nothing but a disgraceful whore,” he sneers.
“I cannot wait to see the day the two of you pay for all of your sins,” I mutter.
“Well, you’ll have to wait a long time for that or who knows? You’ll probably be dead by then,” my father says, no emotion in his voice.
“You don’t think Enzo is looking for me? He is! And he’s going to find you and kill you both,” I tell him, my voice strong with determination because I know Enzo will find me no matter what. I think even if he has to burn the world down to find me, he’d do it in a heartbeat.
“He’ll never be able to find this place.
No one knows where it is. Besides, this place has no connection to either of us, so it’d be really hard to find you.
He thinks he’s smart, but he isn’t. He’s just a cocky son of a bitch like his father.
I’m sure he’s busy digging for all the places we own,” Salvatore says.
“If the two of you think you’re smarter than Enzo, then you’re the stupidest men I’ve ever had the misfortune of knowing,” I mutter.
Salvatore opens the cell door and stalks inside, slapping me hard across the face. My face stings, but I bite my tongue so I won’t make a sound because I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.
“Watch your fucking mouth!” he growls. I look up to see that my father has walked in here too. “Now tell me, what did you decide?”
“I’ll never be yours! Will never belong to you, and I sure as hell won’t ever be your wife, you disgusting pig!” I snap at him, spitting in his face. He lets out a laugh, the sound cruel in the otherwise silent space.
“Fine. Then I guess I’ll just have to make you my wife then,” he says, pulling out a huge hunting knife from behind his back. “I guess you didn’t love the brat enough to keep it. So, I’m going to cut it out of you. Since Bernardo is here, I guess he wants to keep it for himself.”
“No!” I scream. “There’s no way he’s getting his hands on my baby! There’s no way he’s keeping her!”
My heart starts beating so fast and hard, I’m afraid it’ll beat right out of my chest. I look at my father, and he has a twisted smile on his face as he watches my distress.
Salvatore moves closer to me, knife in his hand, but when I look up, I see Enzo and Luca at the bottom of the stairs.
My eyes widen… I think I must be dead already if I’m seeing my brother. Maybe Salvatore did cut my baby out of my stomach and left me in this room, on these ratty sheets, bleeding out.
But then everything happens so fast. Enzo and Luca silently creep closer to the cell and through the door, dropping their weapons and lunging for Salvatore and my father.
I scoot toward the farthest edge of the bed as the only sound in the room is fist hitting flesh again and again. The knife clatters to the floor, and Enzo grabs it, plunging the blade straight into Salvatore’s thigh. He howls like a wounded animal while Enzo begins to slam his fist in his face.
Luca is punching our father over and over again until he’s unconscious. More feet come running down the stairs, and I don’t know if it’s their men or Salvatore’s or my father’s. A whimper leaves me.
The sound of my whimpers is enough to stop both Enzo and Luca in their tracks and both their heads snap my way.
“Boss?” someone asks. Both my guys stand up and look down at the bloody mess of faces that are lying on the floor, unconscious.
“Take them to my old house,” Luca says as Enzo rushes to where I’m pressed against the wall. Their men grab both bodies and start dragging them up the stairs.
“Baby…” he says, his voice coming out guttural and raw with pain. “What did they do to you?”
“You’re here,” I breathe, like I don’t even believe my eyes or my words. Sobs rack my body, and he rushes closer to me, dropping to his knees in front of me and pulling me gently into his arms. His hands on me are soft, like he’s afraid to touch me, afraid to hurt me more. “You’re real.”
“I’m real, baby. I’m here. We’re here to get you out,” he says and I sob harder. “I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you. I’m so fucking sorry I let this happen. I’ll never be able to forgive myself for letting them get the opportunity to take you.”
“It’s not your fault. They would’ve found a way whether you were with me or not. I’m glad it happened this way though, because if you were with me, then they would have killed you to get me. I can’t live without you. I don’t ever want to be without you,” I sob.
“You’ll never have to live without me, baby. You’re mine, and you’re staying that way forever. Fuck! I’ve never been afraid of anything in my life, but earlier today, when I realized that you were gone, I was so fucking afraid for you and our baby,” he murmurs.
“I was so scared too. I didn’t know if…” I say and trail off as my voice trembles. “I didn’t know if you’d find me or make it in time.”
“I’ll always come for you, baby. No matter what it takes. I knew I’d find you in time because I would have burned the world down to get to you,” he tells me, voice filled with conviction and devotion.
“I love you,” I sniffle.
“I love you too, baby,” he whispers.
Just then, I hear a sound and look up to see Luca standing there, watching us intently. He also looks like he’s lost and in pain, probably from seeing me like this. For a second, I forgot he was even here. “Is he real?” I whisper.
“Yes. He is,” Enzo says, pulling away from me.
Luca steps closer to me, bending down on his knees in front of me and lifting one hand to brush my hair back from my face. “Fuck! I missed you, sunshine.”
Hearing him call me sunshine after so many months without it has me wrapping my arms around him. The floodgates open, and I’m bawling my eyes out again. “Where were you?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it when you’re all better,” he says, and I nod my head against his chest.
“Fuck, baby! Where are you hurt?” Enzo asks.
“I’m okay,” I tell him quickly so he won’t worry too much. “I’m okay, just a bit banged up.”
“Let’s get you out of here and straight to the hospital. Can you stand?”
“Yes.” They both hold an arm to help me up, but I let out a cry. “Shit! Sorry. Salvatore dislocated my shoulder.”
“I’m going to fucking make that asshole’s death as painful as possible,” Enzo grunts.
“Yeah, same,” my brother mutters.
“Tell me everything that’s wrong,” my husband demands.
“My ribs are aching, I think my wrist and ankle are sprained, something’s wrong with my knee too, and my left side shoulder is dislocated,” I say, listing my injuries one at a time.
I watch as my words slam into my husband like a physical blow landing with each injury, I make him aware of.
“We have to get her out of here fast!” he tells Luca. “But fuck! She’s injured, and I don’t know if we should lift her. I don’t want to hurt her stomach,” he looks like he’s going to make himself go crazy with worry right now, so I decide to help him out a little.
“I can stand,” I say.
“What?”
“I can stand if you help me up. And if both of you hold on to me, I can maybe limp out of here?” He looks very skeptical of my suggestion. But the two of them try to help me up.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, moving his hand instinctively and placing it protectively over my belly. “I’ve got both of you.”
The moment I’m on my feet, my legs buckle. Enzo reacts quickly, holding me up so I don’t fall. There’s a sharp shooting pain in my stomach before I feel a gush of liquid leak out of me as more pain engulfs me.
“E-Enzo—” I say, my voice coming out wobbly and terrified.
“Yeah, baby?”
“I-I think something’s wrong—” I tell him before doubling over from the pain, a scream tearing from me.