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“I think something is wrong. I can't get ahold of Luca, and I'm so afraid something's happened to him… or Niko."
Elena's voice is immediately concerned. "Luca? What’s going on?”
“He came to New York to be with me. Niko showed up demanding to see him. It wasn’t a friendly exchange, and now I can’t get ahold of either of them.”
She’s quiet, and I wish I could see her face to know what she might be thinking. “I’ll try to reach Niko. Just stay put, okay? I'm sure everything is going to be fine."
I nod, even though she can't see me, and wait anxiously as she hangs up to make the call. The minutes feel like hours as I sit on the edge of the bed, my heart pounding in my chest. Please, let them both be okay.
Finally, my phone rings, and I scramble to answer it. "Elena?"
"Aria, Niko's on his way home," she says, her voice sounding relieved. "He's alright."
I let out a shaky breath, but the knot in my stomach doesn't loosen. "What about Luca?”
Elena's hesitation makes my heart stop. "Niko… didn't confirm anything about Luca. He just said Luca was 'dealt with'."
I feel the blood drain from my face as the implication of her words sinks in. "Oh, God," I whisper, my hand trembling as I bring it to my mouth. “Is he…?” I can’t bring myself to say the words.
"I don't know. Niko didn’t say that. He could have just sent Luca away, or—” She stops, and I hear one of the twins crying. “I’ll talk to him when he gets home. I’m sorry, I need to go. Niko is a difficult man, but… well, I can’t see him going that far. Just try to stay calm, okay? I'll let you know if I hear anything else."
The line goes dead, and I'm left sitting in the hotel room, my heart racing. Has Niko just taken the one thing that is important to me? I’ve lost my parents and a brother. My surviving brother sent me away. For so long, I had no one until Luca, and now Niko took that from me.
I am beyond angry. Fueled by rage and growing hate, I grab my purse and exit my room. It occurs to me that I have no protection that Niko was so adamant I needed. I don’t have it because he took it from me.
I order a car and give the driver the address to Niko’s penthouse. When I arrive, his men say hello to me, but I push past them.
“Is he here?”
“He just went up.” One of his men presses the button for the elevator for me. As the elevator rises, so too do my fury and resentment. The elevator stops, and I step out, banging on Niko’s door.
It swings open. “Aria?” Niko greets me with concern, his brow furrowed as he takes in my appearance. "You’re out without protection.”
“And whose fault is that?” I shove him in the chest hard. “What did you do?” I’m on the verge of weeping. Of screaming. Of going mad.
His eyes widen, taken aback by the intensity of my outburst. "Aria, what are you?—"
"Don't play dumb with me!" I snarl, the words spilling out in a torrent of emotion. "I loved him, Niko. I loved him more than anything, and you took him away from me!"
Niko opens his mouth, but I cut him off, the anger coursing through me like a raging river.
“How could you do this to me? How can you still hate me so much that you'd rip the one person I've ever truly loved out of my life?"
The penthouse falls silent, save for the sound of my ragged breathing. Niko stands there, stunned. Elena appears, her expression concerned, but she doesn’t say anything.
Guilt and conflict war in Niko’s expression. It confirms my fears. All I can think about is Luca, his warm embrace, his tender kisses, his unwavering devotion—all of it snatched away by my own brother's hand.
I clench my fists. At this moment, I want nothing more than to wrap my hands around Niko's neck and squeeze. I want him to feel the anguish that tears at my heart.
"Why, Niko?" I whisper, my voice laced with a broken desperation. "Why did you do this to me?"
Elena’s voice of reason cuts through. “You need to talk to her, Niko.”
I shake my head. “Why bother? It will be more of the same. You don’t know what you want, Aria. You’re too naïve, Aria. I’m the boss of you, Aria. What I don’t understand is why? What have I ever done to you to deserve this?”
Niko steps forward, his expression filled with remorse. "Aria, I… I'm so sorry. I never meant to?—"
"Save it, Niko," I interrupt, holding up a hand. “I’m done.” I turn to leave.
