NO WAY HOME

Ariana's pov~

I sensed it was over, the moment Don Argento picked his phone out of his pocket, he dialled a number and I knew it was Silvio at the other end.

I looked around the room, only one escape route and Don Argento stood in front of it.

Death was imminent, and here I was naked with nothing but bed sheets covering my body.

My husband Mateo stood between me and Don Argento's line of sight.

"Son" he started, looking at us intently, "I found her, now listen to me, I want you to take the elevator to the ground floor" he added, he looked down and chuckled.

"No son, don't get out when it gets to the ground floor, the elevator doors will shut and it will bring you down to where I am" With that he put the phone back in his pocket.

"When will this senseless rivalry between you and Silvio end, Mateo?" he inquired.

Mateo grinned and grabbed his trouser pants beside me from the bed.

he turned to look at me and gestured for me to get dressed and I could tell from his facial expression that something unexpected was about to happen.

"You know better than to ask me that, you and I both know you started it, pitting your son against me over and over again" he smiled, picking up his bloodied shirt and covering up his bandaged chest.

Don argento didn't smile, but he did not respond either to him.

"This ends today Argento, Ariana is coming home with me, I don't care about whatever deal you and your son made with her father, this is proof beyond a reasonable doubt with you as my witness that I have consummated this marriage, so every annulment is void at this time" he announced gleefully.

I started to wonder if making love to me was all a ploy, some sort of power play by Mateo to claim me as his, without Silvio ever interfering.

Have I been seduced once again by the devil?

"You will die here today Mateo, all this would mean nothing, she may be soiled, but after a few months at Massimo's island she will be good as new" he concluded before walking toward the centre of the room where the table stood.

He noticed the dagger was missing, he scanned the room with his eyes before looking over at our bed.

He gave a small laugh and shook his head in disbelief.

"Mateo, you have always loved the thrill of death, that was why I showed you my world"

"You ruined my childhood, you are a pure bastard for all the atrocities you showed me, but I'm grateful because it made me the man I am today" he declared before a brief pause.

"She's not going anywhere, and you and I can both feel it, Don Argento," he started, buttoning up the last of his shirt.

"Today is not the day I die, so you can send your army with all the weapons in your arsenal, but I will leave here with my woman "

He turned back to help me off the bed, he guided me to his side where I cautiously remained.

"Whatever happened when I brought you down here all those years ago was personal, you have no right to be here" he growled.

Mateo laughed maniacally, "No right? I want to watch you explain to your pathetic son when he gets down here, how he has lived here for thirty-three years and he knows nothing about this room" Mateo retorted.

"Surely Don Argento, Silvio knows this side of you doesn't he?" Mateo added, standing firm.

Don Argento's face was starting to turn red in anger but he stood there silently.

I didn't know much about Silvio's father but from what I know, he wasn't a threat to my father.

Don Argento started his journey towards the door again and as he turned away I watched Mateo subtly turn and press his watch and it beeped red.

I relaxed, I knew something was about to go down and I was ready.

His hair was in dishevel thanks to all the lovemaking.

I remembered mine had also scattered when I heard the elevator ping outside the door.

In a few moments, I saw Silvio walk in, shock and confusion written all over his beautifully chiselled face.

"What is this place?" he asked, looking around the huge room before turning to glare at his father who remained calm.

A small army entered after him, surrounding us with their weapons pointing at Mateo and me.

Sophia and Gloria came in next, and then I saw my father angrily push them aside and come in.

"Mateo! You! You should be dead!" he thundered angrily, he rested on his cane as he screamed his lungs out.

"I'm sure you would love that Father, but I'm glad you are here to witness this, now there are no more doubts about this marriage not being authentic" Mateo replied.

I was quiet. I looked away from my father's glaring eyes.

I didn't dare to look at Silvio, even though I could feel his gaze, I could already conjure up in my mind's eye how his face must look in this moment.

I had to remind myself that I had been kidnapped by him and my husband had come to save me.

"Ariana...." he started, his voice low but they vibrated with fury.

"I killed you" I heard Silvio mention, his tone, now synonymous with total hatred.

"You didn't try hard enough, There's no need for all that Silvio, her father should have told you he had already married her off to me secretly, let us pass, I don't have any issues with you and I don't intend to start one now" my husband announced.

He was quiet, and I know for a fact, Silvio's silence was dangerous.

I could hear Sophia chuckle, and then she sneered at me.

"I know you were a skank, with the way my brother showed you so much care, with how he treated you, you turn around and stab him in the back?"  she asked.

"I can't believe this, I came here to wish the happy couple my best but it seems I've been misinformed" I heard Gloria laugh.

"Silvio, surely you must have known she belonged to him, you left your daughter and me in Florence for someone else's whore? She's not...." 

Before she could finish her statement, she had been slapped hard across the cheek by Silvio, and she fell to the ground.

Tears streamed down her face and she cursed at Silvio.

"Serves you right! I don't even know what you are doing here, this is a family affair and you are not a part of it!" Sophia declared before moving past her to stand beside her brother.

"You should have remained dead!" Silvio growled in anger, he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a gun from its holster.

Instantly fear overtook me, I started to shiver where I stood, and I held onto the back of Mateo's shirt.

He turned and smiled at me,

"Do you trust me baby doll?" he asked in a low whisper.

I wasn't sure I should, but so far it had worked out.

I gave him a low nod and he turned back to Silvio.

"You blew a hole in my chest last time Silvio, im not called "the shadow" for nothing, you should have finished me off you bastard" Mateo stated.

Silvio walked to where we stood and placed the gun directly on Mateo's temple, my husband didn't flinch, he stood there and matched his gaze for gaze.

"You tried to get rid of my son, I did not forget that" Mateo mentioned, Silvio quickly glanced at me with a little hesitation before looking back at Mateo.

"I don't know what you are talking about" he lied.

"No need to lie, she already knows, you have admitted it, you tried to kill my son before he could have the chance to be born, I will end you, Silvio,"  my husband said.

Silvio clenched his jaw, his eyes red with anger.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you, but not in front of my wife." he gave a wicked grin.

"Ariana" Silvio called, "come here" he finished.

I didnt move, I looked away from him. I had already pledged to trust Mateo, I can't go back on my word now after the moment we just had.

"In case you didn't get the memo, she was never yours my good man, you should sit down with her father and maybe discuss marriage plans with her other sister Luna, she's right upstairs" Mateo mentioned.

"Wait? How did you know that?" Sophia inquired moving closer to us and standing beside her brother again.

Sophia gasped in shock as she finally figured it out.

"The clown! He was the fucking clown!"

Mateo laughed as Silvio's eyes widened in shock.

"Good, I'm glad you are now catching on, welcome to the second half of the show" Mateo admitted with a mocking laugh.

He looked over at my father.

"Why don't you tell Silvio here how you tried to make a secret deal with me to raze his entire shipment coming in next Tuesday from Malta"