FACE TO FACE

Ariana’s pov~

I felt my husband’s gruff hands around my arms as we passed a narrow hallway.

I shook it off instinctively.

I couldn't believe I'd been a target all this while.

I needed answers, I needed to know if what Don Massimo said was true.

“That night..” I started, stopping halfway to the door leading to the feared shark’s edge.

“That night, of your party, did you? Did you come to me on purpose, was I just a pawn? To get to my father?” I asked slowly.

Each sentence coming out of my mouth was more scary than the last.

Mateo was quiet, he wouldn't look at me.

“Ariana, please not right now, we need to get out of here” I heard Serena say.

“No Serena, it has to be right now, im not leaving here without an explanation” I retorted.

I turned to face Mateo, he moved closer to me and took my hands in his.

“Yes I knew about tomas, and what your father was doing to him, trust me I wanted to kill him myself, not until I found out he wanted to get rid of me before my official recognition into the brotherhood, I had to act fast Ariana, officer Assisi and I made a deal yes, but it has nothing to do with you” he confessed.

“So you got me pregnant on purpose? Because you couldn't stand my engagement to Silvio? make it make sense Mateo!” I exclaimed.

He covered my mouth immediately and looked into my eyes.

“I never planned any of this, the baby surprised me just as he did you, yes I was pissed when I found out your father was giving you out to Silvio, but when I saw you, I didn't know what took over me, I wanted you” he confessed.

I pushed him away from me and walked toward Serena.

“As soon as we get out of here, I want a divorce, we can co-parent but that’s it, Mateo, I'm not continuing with this charade a second more” I announced taking Serena’s wounded arm and helping her lean on mine.

We walked towards the door with Mateo walking quietly behind me.

He didn't say anything, but I could feel the regret and guilt resonating from him.

Not much longer we got to the door, and as he opened, a mighty wind blew us backwards.

We were looking at the ocean all around us and the only way out of this mansion was the rough and stone-filled narrow route that was at the side of the House.

I was scared to death, any wrong step and I could see myself tumbling into the ocean below.

“Oh my God, I can't do this!” I cried before clinging to the door.

“Do you trust me, baby doll?” I heard Mateo ask.

Trust him? After everything I just found out? Not a chance.

But I knew in my heart he was the only person I deeply trusted with my life.

I nodded and looked away.

“We are going to walk in a straight line, Serena you are going to hold on to Ariana, Ariana you are going to hold on to me, and I'm going to lead the way, step where I step” he mentioned before taking my hand.

As he grasped my trembling hand I took a long deep breath before shielding my eyes from the might of the wind, trying to blind us.

 

“One step after another, take it easy okay?” he said.

Serena and I both nodded.

I held on to my sister’s hand and together the three of us set out.

As we closed the door behind us we leaned on the wall and started gliding slowly downward towards the ground.

It was a long way down, and all I could see was the fury of the ocean, its waves crashing below on the walls that separated it from the mansion.

“Mateo im scared” I cried, I could see my life flashing before me as we glided step by step.

“Look at me, Ariana, just me, not the ocean, just me” I heard him say, we stared into each other’s eyes and I saw something I had never seen before.

He looked at me in a way he had never done before.

Not the usual disgust, or annoyed expression.

Not desire either.

Something different, it felt like love…

“I won't let you go, Ariana, I'm getting you out of here” he started, my hand started to sweat and his grasp kept failing.

“Here, Hold on to my shirt,” he suggested.

 He led my hand to the back of his shirt and I gripped it tight.

“Serena, are you okay?” I asked her, my sister was scared out of her mind I could tell, but she was quiet, she only gave me a small nod in response.

“Look we are almost halfway there!” Mateo informed, I heaved a sigh of relief.

As we looked down into the horizon we saw a car waiting on the other side of the wall.

“Who is that?” I asked peering further than I could almost tipping Serena.

“Watch it, sis! Im not dying here today, I have a father to murder!” she finally said.

Mateo and I both turned to her, revenge evident in her dark eyes.

Mateo looked again and we saw a man get out and others soon surrounded him.

“It's Julius!” he exclaimed, “ah fuck! Never have I been happy to see that ugly piece of shit!” he laughed before waving at Julius.

He waved back, we are saved!

Just as we were celebrating our freedom a bullet whooshed past Mateo’s ear and into the ocean.

“What the fuck?” Serena exclaimed, turning to look back.

We all turned back to see what was happening.

My heart sank, why won't he let me go?

“You didn't think you’d get rid of me that easy Ariana,” Silvio shouted, sticking out of the door before stepping into the path leading to the shark’s edge.

We saw him cock his gun and point it toward Mateo.

“You have been very unfaithful Ariana, but Don't worry, this time I'll make sure you stay a widow before we give this marriage thing another shot”