Chapter 6 - Kidnapping

Aria woke up sleepily. She noticed that she couldn’t move, something was holding her hands. A rope probably. 

The place where she was was was dark and bleak. However, she could notice several armed men leaning against the walls. And a red-haired man pointed his gun at her. His shirt was open and he was wearing sunglasses. 

"Look at Mancini’s new whore. What a cutie. Finally, one decided to stay with him. Even in the same house is living." He said, approaching and squeezing her face.

"What do you want? Where is Laura?" she asked, even afraid, ignoring him. 

"Bring the mouse." He ordered.

Laura had her mouth gagged with duct tape. The child cried and ran to Aria when she saw her.

"How dare you do that to a child?" Aria screamed.

"Who cares?" The man laughed. " The Mancini have been screwing up my company for a long time. There’s nothing fairer than me being rewarded, is there?

Laura looked at Aria scared. She had prepared for moments like that. But her childish mind still couldn’t process everything. 

"I’m here, Laura. Don’t worry." Aria tried to reassure her. 

"Ah. Nanny thinks she can protect the mouse?" He laughed. " Do you think you’re her mother?" He approached. 

"You don’t even know who you’re dealing with, do you? How innocent." 

The man approached Aria and tried to kiss her. She spit in his face, making him laugh.

He wiped his face, saying, "You just spread your legs for your boss, don’t you? Obedient bitch.

Angrily, Aria managed to slip her leg, knocking him over. Her old ballet training was useful for something. 

The men did not hold their laughter when they saw their boss lying on the floor. He stood up, humiliated and showing his blue eyes, due to the fall of the glasses. 

Then, without patience, the stranger slapped her and stepped on her leg. Just in the one where Aria had suffered the accident.

Aria screamed in pain, feeling the bones break due to the force he applied. Her leg bled, especially when she was shot. Now there was no way for the girl to move. 

Laura wiped Aria’s tears and the nanny smiled. Her little girl was being very brave. 

The ringing of a telephone was heard:

"Hi. No, I didn’t find the brat. Yes, I did everything right. She "is" here in front of me." 

Suddenly, Aria heard a loud noise. She brought Laura close to her with her own body. 

"Laura. Hang on to me." Aria screamed in the blast. 

Smoke swept over the place, Aria coughed. There was fire all over the place. She heard sounds of gunfire and men falling. 

"Are you all right, Miss Aria?" she heard Alissa’s voice.

"My leg." I was able to answer between coughs. 

"Take Laura first." 

Alissa agreed and held Laura in her lap. 

Aria tried to get up and fell, her leg couldn’t hold, but she thought she could crawl. 

She thought she would fall in the middle of that fire. But someone took her. 

Giovanni looked at her with cold eyes, now expressing concern. 

"You were brave, Aria. Congratulations on the job." he said holding her in his lap.

The nanny didn’t answer anything, she just closed her eyes, with his gaze in mind. 

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After the class was over, Lorenzo left without saying goodbye. Just taking Cassandra with him. Another driver had picked them up. If Alissa wasn’t there, it meant he was right. Something had gone wrong. 

"You look tense, is that okay?" Cassandra asked, noting the energy in the air. 

"Yes, it’s all right..." 

He stopped when he heard the message notification. Everything was fine, but Aria had been injured. 

"Cassandra, stay calm, okay?" 

Cass squeezed his arm in worry. 

"Tell me. What happened? Aria and Laura got hurt?" 

"There was a robbery and Aria hurt her leg. But she’s fine. Laura’s fine. We’re coming, they’re home. 

Cassandra said nothing more, just held Lorenzo’s hand, tight.

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When Aria woke up, she was in her room at Mancini’s. It still hurt to open her eyes, but she tried to see if there was anyone there. 

Laura was lying next to her, hugging her and Aria stroked her hair. The nanny was relieved to see her well. 

Next to the bed was Cassandra, sitting in an armchair. She also slept. Aria touched her sister’s wrist slightly, opening her eyes. 

"Ari?" I said sleepy. 

"I am alive." 

Cassandra stood up and, guided by her hand, hugged her. 

"What a relief. Lorenzo said you were robbed. I was so worried." 

"Robbery?" Aria thought. "Good boy. "

Aria noticed a presence in the door, Giovanni was looking at them. His gaze had returned to the same cold gaze as before. 

"Hello, Mr Mancini." Aria greeted him with a wave. 

Cassandra separated from her and waved. 

"I’m so glad you’re awake, Aria. I’m gonna take Laura out of the room so you guys can work it out." 

He took the girl in his lap and reached out to Cassandra. 

When the two were alone, Giovanni sat in the armchair and asked:

"How are you doing?" 

"Well, sir. Thank you." she said shy. 

"You were very brave, Aria. And you knew how to protect Laura. Thank you for that." 

"It was my duty, sir." 

"It is not the duty of anyone to be kidnapped, Aria." he said, approaching and she walked away. 

"I’ll understand if you want to leave. It can cause fear in anyone." He said sincerely. 

Aria was surprised by the question. I hadn’t thought about it. But she answered honestly. 

"I have no chance of another job, Mr. Mancini. I have never received so many things for one. Something like this can happen anywhere. In the end, it turned out all right. I’ll stay." She smiled, confident. 

Giovanni waved a smile that made her blush. 

"Your leg is badly injured, it’s already been treated, but you’ll have to keep it in a cast for a month." 

Aria accepted with a nod. 

"Rest. We’ll talk later." he said, just leaving.

He closed the door and Aria kept thinking about it. There was something strange in that family, maybe she should do more research on it.