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Ariana’s pov~

I never thought I would see this beautiful island again, Malta, her beautiful seas called to me, finally I'm home.

The chopper landed on a private helipad, and Silvio helped me out of it. I looked around and breathed the sweet Maltese air.

“Why Malta?” I asked, “We could have gone anywhere else,” I inquired taking the hand offered as he led me through the doors of the smart house, the door and light functioned automatically.

“I had a feeling you wanted to come home, don't you miss it? He asked, pulling my arm close to him.

“I do but I don't think my apartment is still there,” I said with a pout, nostalgic memories about my little apartment in Valletta almost brought tears to my eyes.

“But isn't this the most obvious place anyone who knows me can find me?” I asked casually looking around and waiting for one of Mateo’s people to jump out from one of the white couches I was about to pass through.

Silvio laughed.

 “I promise you no one knows you are here, this house belongs to a dear friend, we will be crashing here tonight and moving on in the morning,” he said, pulling me closer to him until I was huddled up in his chest with his arms around my body.

“Please stop” I demanded, pushing him away.

 “Why, are you afraid of me?” he inquired touching my chin softly, 

“I must have scared you” he admitted. I was quiet.

He did scare me, I thought he was going to kill Serena, and then he killed his guest.

“Sometimes I can't control my temper” he started “especially when it comes to my woman” he added touching my arm.

“I am not your woman Silvio, I'm still married to Mateo, wanting a divorce doesn't get me off the hook, he has to sign the papers” I said as I brushed past him and sat on the couch.

He walked to where I was and bent low at my feet.

“look at me,” he said softly taking my hands in his, I avoided his gaze, 

“look at me Ariana,” he mentioned again, I looked down at him, his eyes looked sad as his next words followed 

“I'm not a monster” he started.

“I promise you, I was angry, she laid her hands on you, and he was an enemy” he continued.

“But she’s my sister, Silvio, as much as I hate her I don't want her dead,” I said, Serena came in just as I finished my sentence, she couldn't look at me for fear of Silvio lunging at her again.

“I want to use the bathroom” she muttered faintly, almost hard to hear.

“The rooms are on the top floor, get changed, we leave in an hour” Silvio replied sternly.

Serena ran up the stairs, I watched her go before turning back to Silvio who had gotten up.

His clothes were bloodied and ripped from the scuffle with Vincent's men last night.

Silvio had saved me from a bullet, I got up and walked to his back, I touched where the bullet had grazed to save me

“I'm sorry” I muttered, he turned and took my hand.

“No, I'm sorry, I should have been on high alert, the enemy sneaked into my camp and I was too distracted, I will protect you with every power I have in me” he replied, kissing my forehead, which sent chills down my spine.

 “I promise” There was something about the way he promised to protect me that softened my heart.

Suddenly every feeling of fear about Silvio was gone and in place of it was this fluttery feeling I couldn't explain.

Maybe I really should get divorced from Mateo, what we did was a mistake.

Maybe I should just be with Silvio.

Silvio touched my chin lightly, he looked into my eye as he did, maybe it was the fluttering I felt, but he looked different, not the regular Silvio I'm used to, he looked roguish with the way his hair scattered from yesterday’s fight.

His clothes were stained and smelled of blood and it drew me to him, I touched his chest lightly and returned his gaze, he leaned into me and I saw his lips part lightly before they rested on my lips.

I left them there, the feeling of it was unfamiliar, it felt strange kissing this man I've been terrified of all this time.

 he pulled me close and intensified the passion he kissed my lips with.

I squeezed a soft moan and wrapped my arms around his big neck.

“I knew it” a voice called behind me, I quickly broke away from him and I turned to see my sister standing behind us.

“He tried to kill me last night and here you are throwing yourself at him! Aren't you already someone’s wife!” she yelled angrily.

Silvio clenched his fist as his eyes flushed with anger at Serena, I held him back and shook my head.

“Silvio” I called warmly, “it's not worth it” I replied.

“No! Let him come at me, let him finish what he started!” Serena yelled again, Silvio was boiling from the inside, I could see that holding him back wasn't doing anything.

“Serena! Shut the fuck up!” I retorted, tossing a pillow at her.

“Why? So your new lover doesn't murder me? You watched him almost snuff the life out of me Ariana!” she yelled again.

Silvio brought out the gun from behind him and focused it on her scared face, she whimpered at the sight of his unshaken hand pointing the pistol at her.

“You have exactly five seconds to get the fuck out of here” he stated cocking his gun.

Serena bolted from the house barefoot and out the door with nothing but a big shirt, she wore.

“Why did you do that? Now she’s going to lead Mateo straight to us! We need to find her!” I cried,  I prepared myself to follow closely behind Serena but he held me back.

“Let anyone come, I'm ready for them,” he said, “let them come”

I watched as Silvio tossed the gun on the table, walked over, and then he climbed up the stairs.

I slumped on the couch, this was starting to turn into a nightmare.

What is this feeling I have when I'm close to Silvio, his gentle touch, the way he looks at me like he wants to devour me?

Knowing fully well that I'm pregnant with another man’s child.

I needed to get myself out of these clothes, I got up, and instantly I felt this intense pain wash through me, I screamed as the pain intensified.

 

“Silvio!” I screamed I felt something drop, I instantly felt light, and my heart started to race.

I looked down at my leg and watched blood trickle down until they soaked the white carpet.

Oh God, please! Not my baby!

The pain shot through my legs and I was instantly paralyzed, I fell to the couch, the blood oozing out and flowing into the white couch tainting its purity.

“Silvio!” I screamed again, I heard footsteps rushing down.

“Ariana!” he screamed as he ran to me.

“My baby! Something is wrong!”