ARIA'S POVAfter pacing back and forth in my room for what felt like hours, I finally made my decision.I couldn’t do this alone. Going to see that rogue by myself was nothing short of suicide.My hands trembled as I ran them through my hair, trying to calm my racing thoughts.I had to tell Adam. He would know what to do—he always did.I took a deep breath and made my way downstairs, trying to mask the anxiety that was building up inside me.When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw Adam sitting on the sofa, looking utterly exhausted. His eyes were heavy, his body slouched in a way that told me he hadn’t slept at all.I knew he had been working nonstop, calling for help, reaching out to every connection he had, trying to track down the rogue. And it was all for my sake.The guilt hit me like a wave. He was doing all of this to protect me, and yet here I was, about to burden him again.I paused, and as I watched him my heart ached. I really didn’t want to add to his burden, I shou
ARIA'S POVThe streets were empty—eerily quiet for this time of the night. Not a single soul was in sight. The street lights dimmed and flickered as if they were on their last breath.The further I drove, the more empty it became, the darkness swallowing the road ahead of me like a black hole. The silence in the car felt deafening, broken only by the soft hum of the engine.It reminded me of a haunted graveyard, the kind you see in horror movies, where nothing good ever happens.I swear I could literally hear my instincts screaming at me to turn around, to head back home where it was safe, but I shook the feeling off. I couldn’t let fear paralyze me now.Suddenly, the car jolted, hitting something hard on the road. I gasped, my heart leaping into my throat as I slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a stop, the sound cutting through the night air like a scream.I gripped the steering wheel, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps as I stared out into the darkness. For a moment,
DANTE'S POVFinn and Aria’s sudden departure weighed heavily on my mind. The moment they drove off together, something in me shifted, unsettled.I couldn’t shake the look I had seen in Finn’s eyes—intense, burning, filled with desire. It wasn’t just protective concern; it was something deeper, something that made my gut twist in ways I didn’t want to acknowledge.Desire for Aria.I tightened my grip on my wine glass just thinking about it.Heck! I should have stopped Finn from leaving with Aria, should have said something. But what could I do? As her ex-husband, I had no right. As Finn’s brother… I didn’t know how to handle it.It was a mess, a twisted knot that no amount of reasoning could untangle.Let it go, Dante. It’s not your place anymore. I kept telling myself that, but it didn’t help. The thought of Finn looking at Aria like that… of them being together… it gnawed at me, made me feel like my chest was going to cave in.And then, there was Linda.“Dante, are you even listening
DANTE'S POVThe flames surrounded the car quickly, licking up the sides like they were hungry for more. I stood frozen, staring at the scene in front of me, my mind spinning.The night air was thick with the sharp stench of burning rubber and metal, and there was something about the way the flames curled around the wreckage that sent a chill crawling down my spine.I wanted to go over, to see what had happened, but the darkness around the crash felt thick, heavy with danger.It was too quiet, too still, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t supposed to be here. Everything about this scene screamed to stay away.My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and I thought about driving off, leaving this mess behind.A car explosion in an empty area like this? It was suspicious, to say the least. No one would blame me for getting out while I still could. It was none of my business.But then it hit me—PAIN. It was sharp and sudden.A searing bolt of pain shot through my chest, like m
DANTE'S POVThe thought echoed in my mind, louder than the crackling flames.I looked again, squinting through the thick smoke, and that was when I saw the sparkle—the familiar sparkle from the diamond bracelet I had given her. It kept on catching the light from the flames, flashing like a warning, and my breath caught in my throat.It had to be Aria. It was really her.“Aria!” I shouted, my voice rough, but there was no answer. My pulse spiked as panic clawed its way up my chest. I couldn’t waste any more time.Without even thinking for more than a second, I rushed into the flames, my body moving on instinct.The intense heat was suffocating, the smoke thick enough to choke me, but I didn’t care. My mind was a blur, my only thought to get to her. To save her.The fire had not reached the front of the car yet, and I thanked the goddess for whatever safety features had kept the flames at bay. The driver’s seat was still intact, though the rest of the car was a twisted mess of metal and
ARIA'S POVWhen I woke up, it felt like my entire body was wrapped in a fog. I blinked slowly, trying to focus, but everything around me was a blur.The sterile smell of antiseptic and the faint beeping of machines were the first things that registered. And then, the pain hit.A dull, throbbing ache spread throughout my body, and I realized I couldn’t move. My limbs felt heavy, weighed down by something tight.As I glanced down, I saw that I was wrapped in bandages—so many bandages. My body looked like it had been mummified.Where am I?I tried to speak, but the moment I opened my mouth, a sharp, intense pain tore through my throat. I swallowed, wincing as the dryness scratched at my voice box. No sound came out. I felt helpless and confused.My heart pounded as I took in my surroundings—the room was empty, and I was alone.How did I even get here?I racked my brain, trying to remember, but everything was hazy. Bits and pieces of the night flashed before my eyes—the accident, the expl
ARIA'S POVMy father’s question hung heavy in the room. “Aria,” he repeated, his voice firm but filled with concern, “how did this happen? Who dared to do this to you?”I tried to form words, tried to explain, but my throat wouldn't let me, it felt like it was on fire, raw and swollen from the smoke and the injuries. I just couldn’t speak.I shifted slightly in the bed, desperate to give him some kind of answer… anything at all, but the pain in my chest and ribs stopped me cold.He asked his question again, his voice cutting through the fog in my brain. I flinched, startled by the intensity of his tone.I understood that he was just scared, but I couldn’t ignore the guilt that was starting to consume me. I really wanted to explain, to tell him everything, but I was trapped in my own silence.Before I could even try to make a sound, there was a knock on the door, and it swung open almost immediately.Adam barged in, not bothering to acknowledge our parents. His eyes locked on me, his e
ARIA'S POVSuddenly, a phone began to ring. It was my father's, so he quickly excused himself and walked out of the room.The thoughts and questions in my mind were overwhelming, so I didn't even pay him much attention.My mind kept going back to the moment I lost consciousness, the instant the car slammed into me.I was very much aware that the rogue had wanted me dead. He should have immediately fled the scene and left me to burn alive in that car. That was what should have happened, but it didn’t.I was still here, with only burns and some fractured bones—alive.Someone had pulled me from the wreck. Someone had saved me, risking their own life.I turned to look at my mother, her face still stained with tears. She was watching me closely, her hand holding mine tightly. I squeezed her hand, feeling the desperation in my chest.I needed to know who saved me. But the moment I tried to speak, the familiar pain in my throat flared up, my voice refusing to cooperate. No sound came out, ju