Back to her father's house

Chapter 8

Ariel

"Where's Freud?"

I hated that I sounded vulnerable and weak, but he didn't deserve whatever he was going through right now. He might have been flirty and weird at first, but he was a perfect gentleman throughout my stay in his house.

Maybe five days weren't enough to discern who he truly was but it didn't matter anymore. These cruel men had him tied up and probably beaten and it was all because of me.

I should have run away again, yet, I stayed back and now someone's life was in danger because of my stupidity. Fresh tears cascaded down my cheeks and I tucked my head between my thighs.

Guilia, I thought about her and shivered, wondering what they might have done to her to make her give up my location. I didn't care about the pact she broke, I just wanted her to be fine.

I wanted all of them to be safe, and that was why I had to change my mind about my decision.

I felt a finger, tucking my hair away from my face and I flinched, shoving his hand aside. "Don't touch me," I snarled, wiping the tears off my face.

A dry chuckle hummed in his throat and he folded his hands. "The marriage will still hold, Ariel. Don't you think you should get used to my touch? Do I need to remind you that it's going to be one of our activities at night? Touching?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, but his eyes gave no emotion.

How could he pull it off so effortlessly? Being cold, yet, annoying?

"You're not going to touch me," I objected through gritted teeth. "You'd have to kill me first," I sniffed.

"Nah, I'm not a psycho and I can't sleep with a corpse. You have to pay for what I'm about to do for your father with your body. Nothing else is accepted," He informed, his tone icy and dismissive.

He made it obvious that I had no say in whatever concerned my well-being, but I wasn't a child anymore. I'd tried to run away but I failed woefully and put two innocent people in danger. What else would work?

"Don't you believe in love? How can you get married to me knowing that nothing will ever come out of this marriage? Wouldn't that be torturous for you?"

He barked out a laughter and his cold dark eyes gaped at me derisively. "Oh Ariel, how naive can you get? Your ignorance turns me on," He mused.

I squirmed and shifted uncomfortably from him, wringing my fingers nervously.

And then he caught my chin with his thumb and trained his gaze on me as a shiver worked through me. "Love doesn't exist and even if it does, it's for weak men who believe in stupid emotions rather than logic. And don't expect me to treat you better because you are married to me. You are just a symbol of an alliance between two mafia families, nothing more,"

I tried to look away from him, but his eyes held mine and none of us were willing to break the contact until the car came to an abrupt halt.

The panic that had receded since I was in his car returned with a greater force and the urge to remain hidden in the car plagued me. Dmitri noticed my fear and stretched his hand.

And the most stupid thing that I never imagined I'd say spilled from my lips. "Can I see your face?" I blurted hopefully.

I was dealing with the devil, at least, he should do me the favor of showing me what he looked like.

He retracted his hand and placed it behind him. "Let's go in. Your father is waiting," He replied with a stoic tone.

Blood drained from my face instantly and I blew a series of short breaths to get control of my emotions, but they weren't even working. My heart was broken and I couldn't believe that the man I never thought I could do without was the same man I didn't want to see.

"Is it necessary that we go in?" I voiced out my fear.

He sighed in irritation. "If you hadn't pulled off this stupid stunt, you wouldn't be asking me such a question. Come on, let's go,"

I dug my teeth into my lips and nodded, squaring my shoulders in readiness for what was to come. No matter what, I wouldn't cower before him.

As we made turns into the familiar grounds of the Capo's house, a nostalgic feeling closed in on me. I glanced at the facade where I used to play with my mom and a particular incident where I'd bruised my knee because of a butterfly I was chasing flooded my mind.

My childhood was filled with fun and joy, sadly, my adulthood had taken a different turn all because of my father's selfish decision.

My legs stopped moving on their own accord when I caught sight of the familiar brown wooden frame; an obstacle that prevented me from going in.

"We are here," Dmitri noted as if my eyes were on vacation.

"I know,"

I was reluctant to go in and it hurt because his office used to be my haven. Some of my father's men muttered amongst themselves but I pretended to be oblivious of their gossip.

No matter how much they detested what I did, they couldn't speak their minds openly. At least, they still had that much respect for me.

My father would be livid and remembering how he hit me without hesitation at the engagement party, I didn't doubt his ability to turn me into a punching bag, but now that I knew the truth, I was determined to make him feel pain as well.

I wasn't someone who could be easily deterred and if there was any reason I was agreeing to this farce of a union, it was because of the innocent people I had to protect.

After taking a deep breath, I reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open. The first person my eyes darted to was my mom who was seated on the couch, her eyes red from crying excessively.

"Mama," I called quietly.

Loud footsteps dashed toward me and even without looking I knew who it was.

"Good evening, Father," I attempted to be respectful.

He raised his hand swiftly and I stood still, expecting his palm to connect with my cheek but nothing happened. Then I peered at his hand and saw it hanging in the air with Dmitri's hand on his wrist.