“Yes,” he said simply, and leaned in to kiss me.I jerked back on instinct.He frowned.
“What’s the matter?I thought I told you never to refuse me.”
“N-no, Nicola!I-I’m just...trying to wrap my head around the fact that I can go shopping,” I stammered.“What are we shopping for?”
“For our wedding,” he said with a smile.
And just like that, the fleeting warmth died.The air in my chest collapsed.Every ounce of hope I felt vanished as dread crawled up my spine.
After D’Angelo announced the wedding would happen next month, I hadn’t slept properly since.Every night, I thought about running.But if I did—if I left—my mother would suffer for it.I couldn’t let that happen.
“W-When?”I managed to ask, my throat dry.
“Soon,” he said.“In the meantime, we should sleep.Come on.”
He stood, took my hand, and pulled me back inside.I stumbled as he pushed me onto the bed.My heart raced.He stared down at me with that familiar, cold glare, then circled to his side of the bed.I exhaled slowly, praying he’d just fall asleep.
“Spokoynoy nochi, sladkiy malysh,” he whispered, burying his face in my hair.
I lay still, forcing my muscles to relax.Relief washed over me when I heard his breathing slow.For once, I could rest—just for the night.
.
***
"“ARIANA?”
I turned and saw Mom in the doorway with a plate of food.I dropped the things I’d been holding on the bed and faced her.My lips cracked.
“Mom...”I croaked.
She closed the door behind her, set the plate down, and wrapped me in an embrace.My throat felt like it might close from holding everything in.I wrapped my arms around her and started to sob into her shoulder.She was my rock — since Alessandro left, she’d been the only thing keeping me going.
“Mom, I can’t do this.I don’t want to marry him,” I cried into her.
“I know, cara.I know.”She pulled me back, wiped my tears, cupped my cheeks.“You are not going to marry him, do you hear me?”Her eyes were bloodshot.I blinked and searched her face.
“What...what do you mean?”I sniffled.
“Run away, Ariana.”Her words landed like a punch and my stomach dropped.I shook my head, refusing.
“No.No, Ariana.You have got to listen to me.It’s the best thing to do right now.”
“And leave you here?No.I — I can’t leave you.That’s not going to happen.”I gripped her hand tight.
“Bambino,” Mom murmured, cupping my face with trembling hands.Her voice cracked and tears leaked down her cheeks.“Il mio amore, listen.You have got to understand there’s no way out for you if you stay.If you don’t run, you’ll end up marrying him.I’m going to help you escape before the wedding.”She fiddled with a strand of my hair and used the soft, pleading tone she always used to reason with me.
I shook my head again.“I’ll only do this if you come with me.”That made Mom let go of my hand and sigh in frustration.
“No, Mom — listen to me.You can’t handle this.You can’t handle D’Angelo anymore and the longer you stay, the less likely you are to live.”I squeezed her hand, trying to convince her.“Mom...you deserve better than this.You deserve a good life.”
Mom watched me with a tender stare, cupped my cheeks, and kissed my head.She let out a shaky breath and hugged me tight.
“What did I ever do to have a daughter like you, mi amore?”she whispered, smiling through tears.“I love you, tesoro.”
“I love you too, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile.
Our hug ended when a roar tore through the house from downstairs.We pulled apart and stared at each other, wide-eyed.Mom opened the door.
