“Of course we are, Ariana,” he said smoothly, his voice calm and coaxing.“But I was going to tell you something — well, it was supposed to be a surprise for our wedding, but I’ll tell you now.”
I frowned, studying him as he continued.
“It’s Christmas tomorrow — our wedding day.And after we get married, we won’t be coming back here, detka.We’ll be moving into our very own house.Away from everyone else.Away from this.”
My heart dropped to my stomach for what felt like the hundredth time today.A house with him?That wasn’t freedom — that was another prison.The walls might change, but I would still be trapped.
I blinked rapidly, my vision blurring with tears as the realization hit me — Nicola was going to rip me away from my family...from my mother.
He reached out, brushing his thumb across my cheek to wipe my tears.His touch pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts, but it shattered me all over again, because this was my reality.
“O net, detka, I promise to keep you safe and happy through everything.Don’t cry, Ariana.”
I clenched my jaw and scoffed quietly to myself.That was just another lie — one of the many Nicola had told me.Not once had he ever proven his promises true.
There was never going to be a day when he kept his word, because he was a liar.He was an abusive man — a rapist — and the cruelest truth of all was that I was the one who had to endure it.
Nicola's POV
"Nicola, ya mogu podtverdit', chto imenno on prisutstvoval v tot den'."
"I knew it!"I snarled, slamming my fists on the table as my anger exploded.My jaw clenched and I stared at the floor, fighting to keep control of the rage that threatened to swallow me whole.Alessandro should be dead — and D’Angelo had one job, one fucking job, that he didn’t even finish properly.
D’Angelo always underestimated me; that’s why I despised the motherfucker.His mafia work was garbage because he couldn’t complete a job, and his orders were as feeble as his mind.In a few days he’d watch his empire crumble to the floor, where it belonged — under my boots.I’d take everything that belonged to him, then put the number of bullets I thought he deserved into his body and dump him in the water.I’d waited for this day for years; knowing it was coming filled me with a savage thrill.He was finally going to fuck off out of our lives.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
All heads snapped to the door.I clenched my fists as D’Angelo stood there, his face set.My skin prickled; my anger spiked.I wanted to kill him then and there.I forced myself not to react — not in front of him — though the urge burned.Grebanyy ublyudok.
“It’s been confirmed — it was Alessandro who was present at the store,” I said through clenched teeth.“He was busy blowing up the fucking building rather than being dead!”
D’Angelo’s jaw tightened; he glared at me with cold hatred.“I’m working on it, so there’s nothing for you to do.”
“Really?What about Vicenzo?”I shot back, furious.D’Angelo’s stare sharpened like a predator’s.I leaned on the table, folding my arms, watching him crumble under the pressure I applied.This was his weakness; I knew it and I used it.
“What are you talking about?”he asked.
“I don’t know, D’Angelo.Why don’t you tell me?”I countered.
It was my turn to test him the way he always tested me — a game I hated.D’Angelo tensed, and I watched every twitch on his face with the satisfaction of someone who’s been waiting a long time for a crack to appear in the wall.I wanted to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze until he stopped squirming.
“What?Are you telling me you don’t know who Vicenzo is?”I scoffed.“Come on, D’Angelo — do you think I’m stupid?”I stepped off the table and moved closer, provoking him, and his agitation only grew.“You see, I did a little research of my own and found that Vicenzo is actually the bet—”
D’Angelo cut me off with a hard, piercing glare.He took two long strides and, before I could react, grabbed my neck and tightened his grip.My jaw clenched; breathing became difficult.He wasn’t going to beat me like that — not without consequences.
“You need to watch what you’re saying, little boy.Have you forgotten who the boss is?Huh, your fucking superior?”he hissed, anger raw in his voice.I gasped for air as he squeezed.
“If you weren’t marrying my daughter, I would’ve finished you right here, right now,” he spat, finally releasing me and flaring his nostrils.“My past is none of your fucking business.If I wanted you to know my past, I’d have taught you.”
D’Angelo turned to leave, then paused.“Make sure to cover up the mark on your neck for your wedding—before your big day arrives,” he said, and walked out.
As his footsteps faded, I slammed my fists on the table and trembled with rage.He had underestimated me for too long.Enough was enough.I would end him in ways he could never imagine.I’d ruin everything that belonged to him and then finish him off — he deserved every kind of pain.
His wife would watch it.His daughter would watch it.
I was going to fucking kill him.
