Finding Beauty in the Darkness

While checking the books, I take note of the loans that aren’t up to date, so I can have Franky and Carlos, my loan enforcers, handle them this week. I don’t take lightly to people agreeing to pay a certain amount then not paying. It’s just not good business. While writing down the names, I notice one of the names is Mayor Watkins. He’s a huge gambler at the casino, so I note to let Nico know on Saturday while I’m there.

There’s a knock on my door. “Come in,” I say, too lazy to get up and answer the door. The door opens slowly and Aria’s face peeks in.

“Am I bothering you?” she asks nervously.

“No, but did you manage to already get by Rome?”

She cocks her head to the side. “No, but he argued for damn near ten minutes before I finally convinced him to just walk with me over here. You can’t make me stay in a room all day.”

“I’ll let Rome and the other guys know that as long as you don’t try to run, you can go where you would like on the property as long as someone is with you. Even if you tried to run, we’re on hundreds of acres. Unless you have a car, you aren’t getting far anyway.”

“Got it. Find a way to steal a car.” Aria smirks, and I shake my head.

“How was your nap?”

She has a seat in the chair across from me. “It was good. I feel like I’m finally almost myself again. I’m still sore, but I’m not in pain. And I haven’t had a panic attack all day.”

“Good. Dr. Fox wants you to talk to someone. I’ve found a few people…”

Aria shakes her head vehemently. “No, the pills are working. You can get them for me, right?”

“I can, but you’ve been through a lot. You should talk to someone about it.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. My mom died, my stepfather went crazy and held me captive while abusing me. Now I’m being held here by you until you find another way to destroy Weston.”

“Well, when you put it like that, it’s not traumatizing at all,” I say sarcastically. When the hell did I become a smartass?

“I wasn’t a virgin when he took me. I’d had plenty of sex.” Images of Aria naked and sweaty pop into my head and I quickly change the subject.

“You’re a victim.”

“Yeah, so? That doesn’t mean I have to let what happened to me own me. He’s a crazy asshole. Yes, he raped me, but I’m not going to let him take more from me. I’m broke and have no idea where I stand with school. I need to move forward. I need to get a job and get school figured out. Maybe I can even take online classes while I’m here if you aren’t going to let me leave. I need to do something.”

I love how strong this woman is. She has every right to place blame and cry and make excuses but instead she’s picking up the pieces and handling business.

“All right. Money isn’t an issue while you’re here. Anything you need, I’ll provide. As far as school goes, I’m sure we can figure something out. I get you want to be strong and I commend you for that, but I’d feel better if you would at least talk to someone…just once. If you don’t feel it will help then you don’t have to see her again, and keep in mind she’s the one who will be prescribing your meds.”

Aria huffs loudly, but I can see her giving in. “Fine, one time.”

“Good girl. Now how about that movie? I’m sure we can get you some snacks from the kitchen and I might even be able to convince Maggie to make you a milk shake.”

Aria smiles wide. “Only on one condition. You join me.”

“I need to work.”

“Take a break.”

I know I’m going to regret giving into her. It’s like watching two trains coming toward each other on the same track and not being able to stop either of them. I know the wreck will end tragically of epic proportions, but I can’t help but watch. I want to look away, but I can’t. I know being around Aria more than necessary will only end catastrophically, but I can’t help but be drawn to her. The more I try to fight it, the more I want to be near her.

“Fine,” I concede.

“Yay!” Aria grins, her nose scrunching up in the adorable way it always does.

Yep, I’m well and truly fucked.

Chapter Twelve

ARIA

It’s been almost two weeks since Giovanni saved me from Weston, although saving me might be a somewhat lenient term since in return, he’s keeping me here at his mansion-slash-club under lock and key. I’ve quickly learned Giovanni has multiple sides to him. He can be cold and calculating when he needs to be, like when he confronted Weston or when he had to take a business call during our movie. Without so much as raising his voice, he made threats to whoever was on the other line, which weren’t even aimed at me but still sent chills right up my spine. Giovanni is not a man I’d want to cross.