TAKING THE DEVIL'S AID

Ariana’s pov~

“She doesn't need to be here, we can go somewhere else and discuss this” I heard my husband say.

I was confused and scared, what the hell is going on?

Is Mateo hiding something from me?

I was bound and gagged and I couldn't move, fear wouldn't let me move.

I looked over to Serena and we shared the same puzzled look.

Massimo already knew who I was and he expected Mateo would come for me.

“No, I want her here, so you both can decide how to give me what I want” Massimo stated before walking over to me.

He gently pulled out the gag from my throat and heavy coughing followed almost immediately.

“You should know Ariana, everything was part of his plan,” Massimo started before pointing at Mateo.

“Massimo….” I heard him mutter, his fist clenched tightly.

“Your Brother made a deal with Interpol officer Paul Asissi to take your father out, but that's not where it gets sweeter” Massimo announced.

“W..what?” I asked softly, my head pounding from the torture I passed through as the women gagged and bound me before presenting me to Massimo.

“He found out your father is dying, cancer has got the bastard, but he has been prolonging his life with your younger brother’s stem cells”

Serena gasped in horror as she jerked her bound-up hands.

I was speechless, Tomas… my dear sweet brother..

That would mean…

“Mateo here found about it and devised a great plan, he knew Tomas wouldn't make it another year.  he knew your father couldn't change his Next of kin from his name to Tomas’s so your father thought it best Silvio handled his territories at his passing. But that can only work out if you were married to him, the settlement was just an excuse for your father’s real intention, you are just a pawn, my girl, as are all women” Massimo finished before touching my bleeding lips softly.

“Massimo….” Mateo growled impatiently “Your deal is with me not her”

Massimo laughed before turning to Mateo.

“Your dear brother found out about all this and he couldn't let this opportunity pass him by, so he made his plans” Massimo smiled before pointing at my belly.

Mateo looked very furious, and I fell into deeper confusion.

Wait what does this mean? 

Did he get me pregnant on purpose?

“Mateo, did you get me pregnant on purpose?” I inquired in a low tone, I tried to understand what Massimo just revealed.

“No, it's not anything like that Ariana, Massimo…”

“Now that that's out of the way and everyone is cleared up, I'd like to inform you I called Don Argento a few hours ago, he and his son are on their way to my island right now, in 20 minutes they would get here” Massimo stated.

Serena glared at Massimo with tears in her eyes as she tried to pull out of her bind.

“Now here is the deal, you both agree to cut me 60% of The Rinaldi territories  after he is dead, and I can buy you some time to leave here before they arrive OR you wait for Silvio to get here and I can just get my bounty, it's a win-win for me”

Massimo finished before sitting down on his sofa.

“Fuck!” Mateo growled in anger as he glared at Massimo who clapped his hands in excitement.

“Make your choice, I want both your word or none of you are getting out of here,” he said.

I looked at Mateo, but he avoided my gaze.

“Fine” I replied without waiting for Mateo.

I needed to get myself and Serena out of here as fast as I could and as far away from Mateo as possible.

“What say you, Mateo?” Massimo inquired.

“Fine,” I heard him say.

“Good, we have a deal then” Massimo declared.

He gestured to his guards to lower their guns.

“You are going to take the Shark’s edge, that's the only way you are leaving this island,” he said.

“What? No! That will slow us down! I have a pregnant wife and her injured sister, Massimo you don't expect ....”

“Don't tell me what and what not to expect, Mateo” he interrupted immediately, cutting him off.

“This is my fucking island and I will not look incompetent in securing one rotten bastard and two whores, it's shark edge or nothing!” added.

Mateo went quiet, I didn't know what the shark edge was but with Mateo’s reaction, it must be dangerous.

“We will take it,” I said, and Serena nodded in agreement.

“Ariana.. It's dangerous” Mateo informed, but still avoided my gaze.

I could smell the guilt all over him and it sickened me to think he could do this to me.

“I can't let you walk out the front door Mateo,  I can't look weak in front of the other brothers, you understand right?” he mentioned.

“The missus agrees with me,” he smiled before looking down at his wristwatch.

“10 minutes before they get here, you should get a move on, if they get here the deal is off and I'll have to hand you over Mateo,” Massimo said.

I saw Mateo give him a weak nod before running to me, he gestured to the guards holding Serena to let her go and they did.

“Is what he said true? Is Papa doing that to my brother, is he killing Tomas?’ I asked, unbelieving the words coming out of Massimo’s mouth.

How could my father do that to his son?

I took Mateo’s silence to be true, anger and hatred boiled inside me, everything I once felt for my father died inside me.

“I want him dead as fast as possible Mateo, and after that, I don't want to ever see you again,” I said, looking him straight in his eyes.

“Ariana…” I heard his call, but I had walked away toward Seena to help her on her feet.

We waited for Mateo to lead the way before following behind.

“You have 2 months after that, I'll get the entire territory” Massimo mentioned behind us, we turned to look at him as he grinned excitedly.

“If you try to cross me Massimo, forget about the deal, I will hunt you for the snake you are,” Mateo said.

“Sir the Argentos are approaching” we heard the guard say.

“Your threats don't mean shit to me, tick tock Mateo, they are already here, walk out of here a free man, or stay a proud but dead one” Massimo smiled.

The last thing I saw before disappearing behind one of the doors was a man coming in, his arm was bandaged.

It was Silvio…. Here to haunt me.