Finding Beauty in the Darkness

“I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” Amber says through her tears, holding me tight to her. I hold her back, just as strong. There’s a throat clearing and we look up to see Johnny and Caesar standing over us, both of their eyebrows raised.

“Can we help you?” Amber’s attitude is the same as it was nine months ago. I attempt to stand but my body, still sore from the abuse, doesn’t work properly, and Caesar catches me. helping me onto my feet. Johnny puts his hand out to help Amber, but she ignores his gesture and stands on her own.

“Amber, this is Johnny and Caesar.” Not knowing how to explain to Amber that they’re my bodyguards who work for the man technically holding me captive, I just leave it at that. We go inside, both guys behind us, and order coffees and pastries, then sit down at the table together. Johnny and Caesar stay back, but it’s obvious they’re guarding me.

“Okay, Aria, spill.”

“Gah! Okay, but it’s not pretty.” I sigh. “So, you know my mom died right after my birthday, but then a few weeks later, I was taken from my dorm.”

“Like kidnapped?” Her hand flies to her mouth.

“Yeah. I don’t know who took me, but I ended up in my basement. My step—Weston held me captive down there.”

Amber’s chair slides toward me until she’s close enough to hold my hand. “I always knew something was wrong with that asshole. So what, he just let you out?”

“No, he had no intention of letting me go. I think he planned to hold me until my twenty-second birthday. This guy, Giovanni, found me and saved me.”

“Holy shit! Aria, this doesn’t make sense. When I went to your dorm to study for our finals, Antonio was there cleaning out your room. He told me you needed a break from it all to get through your mom’s death. He said you left and didn’t want to be found. I texted and called for days, but you wouldn’t answer. I told him I wanted to go to the cops, but he told me not to. He showed me messages between you two. They all said you were leaving and to not look for you.”

Amber’s right. None of this makes any sense. “Maybe Weston used my phone and told Antonio all of this.”

“Maybe. Have you spoken to Antonio since you got out?”

“No, his phone is disconnected, and I don’t have a cell phone.” Speaking of which, I need to talk to Gio about getting one. “Can you try to look him up on Facebook?” He was never into social media while we were together but maybe something has changed.

Amber takes her phone out and starts a search. Nothing comes up. Not wanting to waste our time focusing on Antonio, we spend the rest of our time gossiping about school, our friends, old boyfriends, Amber’s crazy, strict parents, and the latest fashion styles. Amber’s majoring in fashion design and marketing. I tell her I’m planning to go back to school as soon as I can and that I need to look for a job. When she asks about my living situation, I stick to details like the indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and beautiful gardens. I make it a point to leave out the parts about being held there against my will and that the place is filled with high class prostitutes-slash-escorts.

I have no idea how long we sit and talk but when a hand lands on my shoulder and Amber goes all googly-eyed, I jump and turn around, only to find Gio standing next to me.

“Holy shit!” My hand goes to my heart. “You scared me.”

“Definitely not my intention, but I’m glad to see you’re at least alert.”

“What are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting.”

“It ended quite a while ago, so I had Johnny come get me. You’ve been here for almost eight hours.” I go to check the time and remember I have no watch or cell phone.

“I’m so sorry. Gio, this is Amber, my best friend.” Gio nods once and gives her a reluctant half smile, if you can even call it that. Must he always be so serious?

“My mother has requested my presence at dinner. Since we’re already in the city, it looks like you’ll be coming with me.” He frowns. Well. screw him. It’s not like I want to go break bread with people who are probably just as stuffy and serious as Gio is.

“If you don’t want me to go to dinner, I can go back to the house.”

“The house?” He quirks up a brow and I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, the house where we live.” His eyes dart to Amber, then he chuckles, finally catching on. For such a smart businessman, he really is dense sometimes.

“We came in one car, an oversight on my part.”