Chapter 21 #3
"Then we run. Take Lia and disappear. Use the contingency plans I've been setting up. New identities, offshore accounts, everything."
My mind was spinning. Racing through worst-case scenarios. Salvatore finding out before we could present the evidence. Him killing Kai. Locking me away. Forcing the wedding immediately. Making me watch while he destroyed everyone I cared about.
"I can't lose you." The words came out broken. Desperate. "I just found you. I can't lose you now."
Kai pulled me against him. His arms wrapped tight around me. His chin rested on top of my head.
"You're not losing me. You're never losing me. No matter what happens tomorrow, no matter what my father does or doesn't find out, we're in this together. You and me. Always."
I looked up at him. Saw the determination in his dark eyes. The absolute certainty that we'd survive this somehow.
Then his mouth was on mine and everything else disappeared.
His lips moved against mine like he was memorizing the taste of me. One hand cradled the back of my head, fingers tangling in my hair. The other pressed against the small of my back, holding me close.
I poured everything into responding. Every ounce of love I felt. Every bit of fear and hope and desperate need. My hands fisted in his shirt, holding on like he was the only solid thing in a world that kept shifting beneath my feet.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard. His forehead pressed against mine.
"I love you." His voice was rough. Raw. "God, I love you so much it terrifies me. You've become the center of everything. The reason I keep fighting when everything seems hopeless. The only good thing in this nightmare existence."
Tears blurred my vision. "I love you too. So much. More than I thought it was possible to love anyone. You make me want to be braver than I am. Stronger than I feel. You make me believe we can actually survive this."
"We will survive this. We're going to expose my father.
Save Lia. Get our freedom. And then I'm going to take you somewhere far away from all of this violence and darkness.
Somewhere you can just be Aria instead of a transaction or a prisoner.
Somewhere I can wake up next to you every morning without fear. "
"Promise me." I gripped his face. "Promise me that no matter what happens tomorrow, you'll survive. That you won't do anything stupid or heroic that gets you killed. Promise me."
"I promise to do whatever it takes to keep you safe. That's the only promise I can make."
It wasn't what I wanted to hear. But it was honest. And I loved him more for that honesty.
He held me for another long moment. Then pressed one more lingering touch of his lips to mine before pulling away.
"I need to go. Find Marco. Set everything in motion. Stay in your room tomorrow morning. Lock the door. If my father summons you, find an excuse. Delay as long as possible. Give me time to get to the Council."
"Be careful. Please be careful."
"Always." He touched my face one last time. Then he was gone.
Slipping out of my suite like a shadow. Leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and terror.
I couldn't sleep. Didn't even try. Just paced my room for hours while my mind spun through every possible disaster scenario.
What if the Council didn't act fast enough? What if Salvatore found out before they could intervene? What if Kai got hurt trying to protect me? What if I lost him before we ever had a real chance?
By the time dawn broke, I was exhausted and wired simultaneously. Every nerve on edge. Every sound making me jump.
A soft knock on my door at 7am nearly gave me a heart attack.
"Miss Aria? It's Mrs. Rossi. May I come in?"
I opened the door. Mrs. Rossi stood there, her face grave. Worried.
"Don Salvatore has summoned you to his study. Immediately."
My heart plummeted into my stomach. Crashed through the floor. Kept falling.
"Why? Did he say why?"
"No, child. Just that you're to come right away." She touched my arm gently. "Whatever happens in there, keep your composure."
So she knew. Or suspected. Of course she did. Mrs. Rossi knew everything that happened in this house.
"Is Kai...?"
"Already there. Along with Luca." Her expression softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry, dear. I wish there was something I could do."
There wasn't. We both knew it.
I tried to think positively as I walked through the hallways. Maybe this was about something else. Maybe Luca hadn't reported anything. Maybe Salvatore just wanted to discuss wedding details.
But the sick feeling in my stomach told me I was lying to myself.
The door to Salvatore's study was open. I walked in and my heart stopped.
Luca stood near the window, arms crossed, expression smug. Victorious. Like he'd been waiting for this moment for weeks.
In the far corner, Kai stood with his arms folded across his chest. His face was completely blank. Deadpan. Giving nothing away.
But when his eyes met mine for just a fraction of a second, I saw everything. Love. Determination. A silent promise that he'd protect me no matter what.
He was trying to tell me he had this. That I should trust him.
I wanted to. Desperately wanted to believe we'd walk out of this room alive.
Salvatore sat behind his massive desk. Cold fury radiated from him in waves. The temperature in the room felt like it had dropped ten degrees.
"Sit." His voice was flat. Emotionless. Terrifying.
I sat in one of the chairs facing his desk. Kai remained standing in the corner.
Salvatore's eyes moved from me to Kai and back. Assessing. Cataloging. Like we were specimens under a microscope.
"Luca has reported something very interesting to me this morning. Would either of you care to explain before I share his observations?"
"No? Very well." Salvatore leaned back in his chair.
"Luca has been noticing things for several weeks now.
My son spending an excessive amount of time with my future bride.
Closed door meetings that seem to go on longer than necessary.
Missing hours where neither of you can account for your whereabouts.
And last night, he found Kai in your sitting room, Aria. In my wing. After midnight."
My hands clenched in my lap. I tried to keep my face neutral. Failed miserably.
"It's not what it looks like. Kai was checking on me because I was upset about my parents. He was just being kind. That's all."
"Is that so?" Salvatore's eyes narrowed. "And what about all the other times? The private conversations? The way you look at each other? The constant proximity?"
"I was following your orders." Kai's voice cut through the tension. "You told me to watch her. To keep her in line. To make sure she understood the family business. That required time together. Conversations. Teaching her what she needed to know. There's nothing inappropriate about any of it."
"Don't insult my intelligence, boy." Salvatore stood slowly. Deliberately. "I'm not stupid. I know exactly what's been happening under my roof. My son has been fucking my future wife. Making me look like a fool in my own house. Disrespecting me in the worst possible way."
"That's not..." I started.
Salvatore moved so fast I didn't see it coming. His hand connected with my face, the backhand blow so hard it knocked me out of the chair.
I hit the floor. Tasted blood. My cheek exploded with pain.
Kai lunged forward instantly. Got between me and Salvatore before I could even process what had happened. Rage transformed his features into something dangerous. Deadly.
"Touch her again and I'll fucking kill you."
The threat was raw, honestly terrifying and it was all the confirmation Salvatore needed.
He moved back to his desk. Pulled open a drawer. Extracted a gun with practiced ease.
"I always knew you'd betray me eventually.
Just like your mother tried to leave. Just like everyone who thinks they can defy me and live.
" The gun was pointed at Kai now. "You're weak.
Always have been. Too soft. Too emotional.
I should have known you'd fall for the first pretty thing that smiled at you. "
"I'm not weak. I'm smart enough to know that Aria deserves better than being your possession.
That she's worth more than whatever sick fantasy you had about her.
" Kai's voice was steady despite the gun aimed at his chest. "She was never yours, old man.
Never wanted you. Never will. She belongs to me and she always has. From the first moment I saw her."
Salvatore's face went dark. Purple. Veins bulging in his neck.
"Fine. If you want her so badly, you can watch her die. See what your defiance costs."
The gun swung toward me. Time slowed. I saw Salvatore's finger on the trigger. Saw the barrel pointing at my chest. Saw my death coming.
Then Kai moved. Stepped directly in front of me. Put his body between me and the bullet. His arms spread wide, blocking me completely.
"You want to shoot someone? Shoot me. Leave her out of this. This is between you and me."
"No! Kai, don't..." I tried to pull him back. He wouldn't budge.
Salvatore's smile was cold. Cruel. "As you wish."
The gunshot was deafening.
Kai jerked. Stumbled. Blood bloomed across his left arm, spreading fast. He went down on one knee.
I screamed. Tried to get to him. Luca grabbed me, held me back.
"Kai! Oh god, Kai..."
He looked up at me. Even bleeding, even in pain, his eyes were fierce. Protective. Telling me to stay back. Stay safe.
Salvatore stood over him. Gun still raised.
"I'm not killing you. Not yet. That would cause too much chaos when my enemies discover I'm without a direct heir.
They'd descend like vultures. No, you get to live with the consequences of your betrayal.
But you're dead to this family. Finished.
If you ever set foot on this property again, I will put a bullet in your head. Do you understand?"
Kai didn't respond. Just stared at his father with pure hatred.
"Guards!" Salvatore's voice boomed.
Four men rushed in. Took in the scene. The blood. Kai on his knees. Me being held by Luca.
"Throw him out. He's no longer part of this family. If he tries to return, kill him on sight."
"No! No, please..." I struggled against Luca's grip. "Please don't do this. He needs a doctor. He's bleeding..."
"He'll live. The bullet went through clean.
Whether he survives after that is his problem.
" Salvatore turned his cold eyes on me. "As for you.
Take her to her room. Lock her in. Post guards.
The wedding is happening in one week. I'm not waiting any longer.
She's not leaving that room until she's my wife. Do you understand?"
The guards moved. Two grabbed Kai, hauled him to his feet. He swayed, blood dripping from his arm onto the expensive carpet.
Two more grabbed me. Started dragging me toward the door.
"No! Let me go! Kai! Kai, please..."
I fought. Struggled. Screamed. Nothing worked.
They dragged Kai out one way. Dragged me the other. I twisted, desperate to see him one more time.
Our eyes met across the hallway.
Blood soaked his shirt. Pain etched lines around his mouth. But his eyes burned with determination. With love. With a promise that this wasn't over.
His lips moved. I couldn't hear him over my own screaming but I could read the words.
"I love you. I'll come back for you. I promise."
Then they turned the corner and he was gone.
Blood trail on the marble floor the only evidence he'd been there at all.
I collapsed. The guards had to carry me the rest of the way to my room. I couldn't walk. Couldn't think. Couldn't do anything but sob.
They threw me inside. I heard the lock click. Heard guards taking positions outside my door.
I was trapped. Locked in. One week until I became Salvatore's wife.
And Kai was out there somewhere. Bleeding. Possibly dying. Definitely planning something reckless to save me.
I crawled to the window. Pressed my hands against the glass. Stared out at the gardens below where we'd spent so many stolen moments.
One week.
Seven days.
That's all the time we had left.
Either Kai would find a way to save us, or I'd be married to the man who'd murdered my father and shot the man I loved.
I slid down the wall. Pulled my knees to my chest. And prayed harder than I'd ever prayed in my life.
Please. Please let him be okay. Please let him survive. Please let him find a way.
Please don't let this be how our story ends.