FIRST STEPS TO FREEDOM

Ariana's pov~

Today would have been my wedding to Silvio, but instead, I was sitting in the back seat of a car with my presumed dead husband escaping from my fiancé.

Julius had driven the car a few meters away when the earth beneath us started to tremble.

Like there was an earthquake happening nearby.

"Mateo, what's happening?" I asked, I was scared and I was right to be.

Mateo had pissed Silvio off and I knew in my heart that he would stop at nothing to kill him.

"Julius stop the car" he instructed and Julius nodded in response.

Soon we veered off the road and parked.

We all came out and leaned on the car.

I was exhausted from the running, and all this tension I was putting my child through is it worth it?

"What's happening?" Mateo inquired, turning to look at the cloud of dust rising beyond,  where Don Argento's villa was located.

"I think you are going to get up there and check Mateo"  Julius started, "I've done enough acrobatics today my poor back can't take anymore" he finished.

I heard my husband laugh before mounting the car's tyre and ascending atop the roof of the car.

He looked out into the horizon and grinned.

He clapped his hands together in excitement and looked down at us

 "Well I'll be damned, it seems we have poked the sleeping bear" he laughed.

"The entire villa collapsed, I didn't think it would come to that honestly" he added.

Julius's face changed and I could tell he was worried.

I started to fidget, mateo may have just started a war that would not end soon.

All because of me!

I touched my slightly bulging belly lightly, in all this chaos I didn't notice my child had started to announce himself.

"This is dangerous Mateo, we may have just started a war between the three powerful houses, we can't afford to go to war right now"

"with your absence for a long time, our business suffered a loss and those Giovanni bastards are trying to encroach on your territories" Julius warned.

"They can try, but I will crush them before they put their plans in motion" he looked again into the horizon, he strained his eyes before jumping down from the car.

"Careful!" I exclaimed loudly "You are still hurt, why do you take so much unnecessary risk!" I complained.

I pointed at his bandaged chest, "Mateo we need to get it changed, it's starting to bleed out" I stated.

I walked to where he stood leaning against the car and touching his chest.

He took my hand in his and kissed it, he raised my chin to meet his gaze.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that, I just had to get you out of there" he smiled at me.

I felt suddenly warm inside, I couldn't believe this was happening.

"Ariana, I know I've been an asshole to you, I thought...." he paused looking into my eyes.

"I thought father sent you to spy on me," he concluded.

I shook my head and touched his cheeks lightly, 

"it was supposed to be a few hours, say congratulations and get the fuck out, it has been crazy Mateo, for you and me" I responded softly,

 "I'd have acted the same way if I were in your shoes, but here we are" I rubbed his cheek lightly again.

"Thank you for not reneging on your promise to come for me" I added.

He hugged me tightly before planting a kiss on my lips.

"I promise to do better from now on, I'll be a better father than the one we have, and I'll protect him..."

"Or her" I interrupted with a gentle laugh, I watched his eyes brighten at the thought of having a little girl.

"Or her, whoever they are, I'll protect them with my life I promise you that" he assured me.

He touched my belly and I could swear I felt my baby stir inside me.

In my heart I knew it was true, he may have been difficult in the beginning but his intentions were genuine.

"She moved," I smiled, taking his hand and placing it where I felt my child stir.

He waited to feel it and then his eyes lit with joy when he felt a flutter.

"My son!" he exclaimed, "Julius! My son!" he exclaimed again gleefully like a little child, gesturing to Julius to join us.

Julius smiled at us and waved him off.

 "I'll give you two a moment," he replied before turning and walking off. I saw him take out a device from his pocket and place it close to his ear.

I felt this overwhelming need to pull Mateo closer and kiss him, just like that moment in the tunnels.

As though he read my mind, he pulled me closer to him, his hand firmly on my flustered face, he pressed his lips on mine and devoured them.

It was so intense, that I wrapped my arms around him and closed my eyes, l lifted my arm to his head, and I stroked his hair cascading down to his neck as we locked our hearts.

For a moment we forgot Julius existed, we kissed like we did back in the tunnels.

We were suddenly interrupted by Julius who ran back to where we stood.

"We need to go now! I just got a transmission, Silvio is headed this way, we need to go back to the villa and prepare! It's going to be a long night Mateo "Julius interjected.

"No we can't go back to the villa, they will be expecting us there," Mateo said, he was lost in thought for a while before finally speaking.

"First we need to get everyone out, Becky... we need to get her out," I heard him say.

Becky? I had forgotten about her.

"Micola has been calling Mateo, She says Becky has been worried sick and calling nonstop," Julius informed before glancing at me briefly.

"I don't understand. I thought she was in a coma?" I inquired turning to Mateo, who tried his best to avoid my Gaze.

"She was, but she woke up a few days back" 

The words dropped like a grenade in my head, she's awake.

His fiancee is finally awake?

"You didnt think to tell me this before you fucked me in the tunnels you asshole!" I exclaimed, angry and embittered by this.

"Not right now Ariana, we need to go! I'll explain everything on the way but we can't be here right now"

I was furious but he was right, just as I was about to step into the car, a thought popped into my mind.

My sister Serena crossed my mind, if he can have Becky, I sure as hell will have my sister.

"We need to get Serena out" I started.

Both men glanced at each other and then back to me.

"Babydoll, we need to get to safety first and then we can come back for her" Mateo promised.

"No! I'm not leaving my sister in the hands of Massimo, she saved me, and I'm not leaving her behind, if you won't, I'll do it myself!" I retorted.

"Ariana this is not the time to be unruly!" My husband stated I could tell he was starting to get pissed off.

Good, he needed to get a taste of his own medicine.

"I'm not going anywhere with you until we get Serena out!"

He glared at me, his eyes intensely scouring mine with intimidation, but I kept eye contact.

I won't back down.

"Fine! We get Serena out and then we get out of the country for a while" he finally succumbed.

"Mateo! " Julius called, "What are you saying!"

"You heard My wife," Mateo said, turning to Julius.

"We break into Massimo's island tonight"