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My heart thuds in my chest, and I raise a hand to my forehead, pushing back my hair as if I can physically push away the turmoil that’s threatening to overwhelm me. Angelica pulls me into a tight embrace, and I settle into her body, relieved that I don’t have to face this alone right now.
“We’ll find a way to stop this. We just have to,” she repeats.
We hold each other for several minutes, while I let out all the tears—the frustration, the anger, the fear—I’ve been holding in for weeks. As we sit in silence, I vow to tell Angelica the truth soon. But for now, I’ll bury the secret deep within me.
A few hours later—Angelica having just only left—I decide to venture outside my room.
I push myself off the bed, wincing slightly at the bright light streaming through the window. I clutch onto my head, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment to relieve the pain.
Before stepping out, I pull on a sweater and socks. Comfort is the goal for today.
As I make my way downstairs, I run into Magda in the hallway, her arms full of laundry. I rush over to help. She looks at me with that knowing gaze of hers.
“Yassou, liákada mou, pós eísai?” Her voice is gentle but probing.
I manage a weak smile at her nickname: sunshine. “I’m okay,” I reply, but I know she can see right through me.
She raises an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. “You can’t hide your true feelings for long, Aria. I know you well enough.”
I sigh, shoulders slumping. “I don’t see any other way but to keep quiet and see how things play out. You know I can’t argue with Baba.”
Magda places a comforting hand on my arm. “You’re strong, Aria. Remember that. You have a voice. Never dim it.”
Her words give me a small measure of comfort, and I nod. Though that’s easier said than done.
I continue downstairs. When I step into the kitchen, I spot Dimitri. He’s wearing a sharp suit, looking every bit the serious mafia man—except for the oversized headphones clamped over his ears. He’s engrossed in something on his phone while biting on a sandwich. The juxtaposition makes me chuckle softly.
He sees me and pulls one headphone off his ear. “What’s up?”
“You look ridiculous, you know that, right? All suited up with those huge things on,” I say, approaching the fridge.
He smirks and looks back down at his phone. “A man needs his distractions. Keeps me sane.”
I shake my head, unable to hide my amusement.
He then notices my appearance. “Oh, shit. You look terrible.”
I grab a bottle of water and a muffin. “Gee, thanks.” I’d rather not tell him that I was crying, so I quickly change the subject. “What are you even doing dressed like that?”
Dimitri grins mischievously. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine, keep your secrets.” I take a bite of the baked goods and another sip of water. “How’s it going with Baba now that you’re working with him?”
Dimitri shrugs, his expression shifting from amused to resigned. “I don’t like it, but I’m trying to embrace it for the time being.” He pauses, taking off his headphones and setting them aside. “I’ve come to realize he won’t let it go. He’s so focused on his work now, it’s everything that matters to him, it seems, and I have no interest in arguing with him anymore.”
I nod thoughtfully, taking another bite of my muffin. “Do you find it weird that he’s so secretive now? He wasn’t like this before.”
Dimitri leans back against the counter, crossing his arms. “Yeah, it’s strange. It’s like he’s hiding something.”
I sigh. “I wonder what happened to make him change so much.”
Dimitri’s eyes narrow as he thinks. “Whatever it is, he’s not going to share it easily. We’ll have to keep our eyes and ears open if we want to find out.”
I nod in agreement. “We’ll figure it out.”
He smiles at me, a softness in his eyes. “Now, please get something more to eat. You look like you could use it.”
“Fuck you,” I say with a laugh, appreciating the normalcy of the moment. Something that I’ve been lacking as of late. Despite the chaos around us, at least we have each other.
