Chapter 5: The Attack
1185 Words
The next morning began like every other.
At least, that's what Aria thought.
Sunlight streamed through her bedroom curtains.
Birds chirped outside.
The world appeared normal.
Yet deep inside, she felt uneasy.
As if something bad was about to happen.
She stared at her phone.
The last message from Luca remained unread.
Goodnight, future wife.
Her face immediately heated.
"Idiot."
She tossed the phone onto her bed.
The problem wasn't Luca's arrogance.
The problem was that she kept thinking about him.
And that annoyed her more than anything.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Miss Aria?"
It was the butler.
"Come in."
The elderly man stepped inside.
"Your father would like to see you."
Aria nodded.
"I'll be down in a minute."
After quickly changing clothes, she headed downstairs.
Her father was already waiting in the dining room.
For the first time in days, he seemed slightly calmer.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
She sat down.
The house staff served breakfast.
Neither of them touched the food.
Finally, her father spoke.
"I received a call."
Her stomach tightened.
"From Luca?"
"No."
That surprised her.
"Then who?"
"A former business partner."
He hesitated.
"He may be able to help us."
Hope flickered inside her chest.
"Really?"
"Maybe."
It wasn't much.
But it was something.
For the first time since this nightmare began, she felt a tiny spark of optimism.
Maybe there was another way.
Maybe she wouldn't have to marry Luca after all.
The thought should have made her happy.
Instead, it left an unexpected emptiness.
Aria immediately pushed that feeling aside.
Later that afternoon, she decided to leave the mansion.
She needed fresh air.
Time to think.
Time away from contracts, debts, and dangerous mafia heirs.
A small shopping district near the city center seemed perfect.
The streets were crowded.
People laughed.
Stores buzzed with activity.
Life continued as normal.
Aria envied that.
She entered a bookstore and spent nearly an hour browsing.
Then she stopped at a nearby café.
For a little while, everything felt peaceful.
Normal.
Until she noticed the man.
He stood across the street.
Watching her.
At first, she ignored him.
Then she saw him again ten minutes later.
Still watching.
Her pulse quickened.
When she left the café, he followed.
Not closely.
Just enough.
A chill ran down her spine.
Maybe she was imagining things.
Maybe paranoia was finally getting to her.
She crossed the street.
The man crossed too.
Aria's heartbeat accelerated.
No.
This wasn't her imagination.
He was definitely following her.
She quickened her pace.
So did he.
Fear settled heavily in her chest.
Instinct screamed at her to run.
She turned sharply into a crowded alley lined with shops.
When she glanced back—
The man was gone.
Relief flooded through her.
Maybe she'd lost him.
Maybe—
A hand suddenly grabbed her arm.
Aria gasped.
Another man stepped out from behind a delivery truck.
Then another.
And another.
Four men surrounded her.
Every escape route blocked.
Her blood turned ice cold.
"Who are you?"
Nobody answered.
One of the men reached into his jacket.
Fear exploded through her.
She ran.
People shouted as she pushed through the crowd.
Her heart pounded violently.
Footsteps thundered behind her.
They were chasing her.
"Oh God..."
She nearly collided with a woman carrying shopping bags.
"Sorry!"
She kept running.
Left.
Right.
Through another street.
The men remained behind her.
Getting closer.
A hand brushed her shoulder.
Aria screamed.
Suddenly—
Tires screeched.
A black SUV appeared from nowhere.
The vehicle stopped directly in front of her.
The passenger door flew open.
A familiar voice barked an order.
"Get in."
Aria froze.
Luca.
For half a second, she considered refusing.
Then she saw the men closing in.
Decision made.
She jumped inside.
The door slammed shut.
The SUV accelerated instantly.
Within seconds, the attackers disappeared behind them.
Aria struggled to catch her breath.
Her entire body trembled.
Luca sat beside her.
Calm.
Composed.
As if this happened every day.
"What the hell was that?"
His jaw tightened.
"I told you."
"Told me what?"
"You're in danger."
Her breathing slowed slightly.
The fear quickly transformed into anger.
"You knew this would happen?"
His silence answered her.
Aria stared at him.
Disbelief filled her eyes.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"And you didn't tell me?"
Luca's expression darkened.
"I was trying to."
She laughed bitterly.
"By forcing me into marriage?"
"Yes."
The answer stunned her.
He sounded completely serious.
"I don't understand you."
"You're not supposed to."
That only made her angrier.
"Stop talking in riddles."
The SUV continued through the city.
Luca remained silent.
Aria crossed her arms.
"Take me home."
"No."
"What?"
"No."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Excuse me?"
"You aren't going home."
Her eyes widened.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I do."
"No, you don't."
"Actually, I do."
Aria wanted to throw something at him.
Preferably through a window.
"You are unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Almost a smile.
That somehow annoyed her even more.
Minutes passed.
Finally, she noticed they weren't heading toward her family's mansion.
The skyline changed.
The roads became quieter.
More private.
More exclusive.
Then enormous gates appeared ahead.
The gates opened automatically.
Her eyes widened.
A massive estate stood beyond them.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Intimidating.
Like its owner.
The SUV rolled to a stop.
Aria stared out the window.
"No."
Luca unfastened his seatbelt.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
She pointed at the mansion.
"Tell me this isn't where we're going."
"It is."
"I'm not staying here."
"You are."
"Luca."
"Aria."
She glared at him.
He stared back.
Neither looked away.
The driver wisely remained silent.
Finally, Luca spoke.
His voice was lower now.
More serious.
"The men who attacked you weren't random criminals."
The humor vanished from her face.
"What do you mean?"
"They were looking for you."
Fear returned immediately.
"Why?"
Luca's gaze hardened.
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
For the first time since meeting him, she saw genuine concern in his eyes.
Not control.
Not arrogance.
Concern.
And somehow that frightened her more.
Because it meant the danger was real.
Very real.
Luca exited the vehicle.
Then opened her door.
His hand extended toward her.
Aria looked at it.
Then at him.
Then back at the hand.
Every instinct told her not to trust him.
But another voice whispered something else.
He had just saved her life.
Slowly, she accepted his hand.
The moment their fingers touched, a strange sensation shot through her.
Warm.
Electric.
Unexpected.
Luca seemed to feel it too.
Because his expression changed.
Only for a second.
Then it was gone.
He released her hand and looked toward the mansion.
"Welcome home."
Aria's heart skipped.
Home?
Before she could question him, another black vehicle sped through the gates behind them.
The SUV stopped abruptly.
Several armed guards jumped out.
One of them rushed toward Luca.
"Boss."
Luca immediately knew something was wrong.
"What happened?"
The guard's face was pale.
"The Romano mansion."
Aria's stomach dropped.
"What about it?"
The guard swallowed hard.
Then delivered the words that shattered her world.
"It's been attacked".
- Writer
