kidn*pped BY MY BROTHER'S BEST FRIEND

ARIA'S POV The veil felt heavy. It was as if it was warning me about something... something I didn't know about... something that wasn't meant to happen. "Smile, Aria," Mom whispered as she adjusted the lace on my dress. "Everyone's watching." I forced out a smile. I couldn't believe this day was finally here; I'm finally going to get married to the love of my life. This is the beginning of another chapter for me. Across the ballroom, my fiancé, Sebastian, was standing tall and proud, accepting congratulations and handshakes like he already owned me. I mean, he would in a few. White suit. Perfect smile. Had eyes that never softened, even more when they landed on me. And there was him, leaning against the far wall, almost hidden in the shadows: Dante Ward. My brother's best friend, the man who never looked at me without a warning in his eyes. His gaze always found me instantly. I felt a lump on my chest. His dark eyes are screaming something dangerous. He shouldn't be here. Dante hated weddings. Hated commitments. But there he was dressed up in a black suit watching me like a hulk. I looked away, not minding his indulging eyes. ---The music came on, I held my dad's hand and walked to the altar, then face to face with my fiancé, who was already getting emotional. The priest began with the rites, "Do you take Aria Vale to be your lovely wedded wife in sickness and in health?" "I do," said Sebastian. The priest turned to me, and the moment he was about to ask me, the lights went out, plunging the room into chaos and gasps. Someone grabbed my arm. I opened my mouth to scream, but a familiar voice brushed against my ear. "Don't fight me, Aria." My heart slammed. Dante. His hands wrapped around my waist, firm and unyielding as he pulled me against him. The scent of smoke surrounded me. "What are you doing?" I whispered in panic. "Saving you," he said. Before I could ask what he meant, everywhere tilted and everything went black. --- By the time, I woke up, I was no longer a bride. My hands behind my back, a tape on my lips. I was a prisoner. And the man standing in front of me was the one I had always been warned to stay away from. "You belong here," Dante said quietly. "And I won't let him touch you again." I was shocked; I couldn't believe what was going on. What did he mean by 'again'? In that moment I realised my life has been stolen- or saved? ----- There was silence. No traffic. No voices. I sat up too fast, my head throbbing. I was still in my wedding dress. The room was expensive; it had black curtains, steel accents and a king-sized bed beneath me. A security camera at the corner of the room blinking softly. I was being watched. I ignored the dizziness and rushed to the door; it's locked. Of course it was. "Dante!" My voice cracked as I pounded twice. "Open this door." I began to panic and tried pulling the handle again; it was useless. Then after a while I heard footsteps. The door opened, and he stepped inside, wearing a black shirt with rolled sleeves. His eyes swept me over quickly, checking for God knows what. "You're awake," he said. "Duh, what does it look like? You kidn*pped me," I snapped. "On my wedding day." "Yes," he said calmly. "You're not even trying to deny it." "No." "Why?" I demanded. "Why me?" "Your fiancé is dangerous, Aria." His jaw tightened. I laughed – a broken, disbelieving sound. "You think you are?" "I know I am." I took a step towards him, glaring at him. "You don't get to decide that." "I already did." "Oh really, so you intend to keep me here, locked up forever, because you're trying to keep me away from someone I was about to marry?" I chuckled. "You're crazy, Dante." "He was planning to move you out of the country within a week. Cut you off. Isolate you." Dante said quietly. His gaze had guilt, rage and fear. I stared at him. "And you expect me to believe you?" "No," he said. "I expect you to survive long enough to see the truth, Aria." And with that he left, locking the door behind him. I crashed down on the floor, crying my eyes out, wondering where I ever went wrong. This was all too much to take in. --- He barged in, giving me my phone back. That's when I knew this isn't about control. No kidnapper with something to hide handed over a weapon. "Try calling him," Dante said, leaning against the wall. "What?" I said, whipping off my tears. "Go on." My fingers trembled as I dialled. It rang once. Twice. "Aria?" My fiancé's voice was smooth, too smooth. "Where are you?" "I…I don't know," I whispered. "Something happened, babe." I couldn't hear anything anymore. There was silence, then irritation. "Get back here," he said sharply. "Right now!" He had no concern or panic. Just a command. Dante's jaw flexed. "I can't," I said. "I don't feel well." "We'll discuss this when you're home," he replied coldly. "And Aria?" "Yes?" "You don't leave again." The call ended.My hand dropped. A chill wrapped around my spine. Dante pushed off the wall. “That wasn’t love,” he said. “That was ownership.”I swallowed hard.“Then what is this?” I asked. “This is me choosing to be the villain so you don’t have to marry one.”