Under his protection

Chapter 8

Aria

After the adrenaline of everything that happened today had worn off, I couldn’t help but think about how much has happened in the past couple of days.

It still didn’t feel real.

First, I was kidn*pped, then my failed escape attempt, and finally the attack on the compound, which led to Dante getting shot. A bullet meant for me.

Why would he take a bullet for me? I mean, he barely knows me, and in the few days we met, I haven’t exactly been the best house guest. So why?

None of it makes any sense.

There’s also the fact that I recognized one of the men that attacked the house. I was at first sure Dante had managed to drag me into the dangerous mafia world, but on second thought, it seems like the men were after me.

The only issue is, how do I explain to the terrifying but strikingly handsome mafia boss standing in front of me that I recognize the man from a recurring nightmare of my parents' accident a year ago?

“Aria…” Dante started slowly, like he was trying to get a child to let go of something.

“I need you to tell me where you know that man from.”

I turned back around and took another spoonful of ice cream. Honestly, this ice cream might be the only thing keeping me sane.

Dante, however, wasn’t having it. He turned me around and placed his hands on each side of the kitchen counter, trapping me in.

“We were attacked, and I was shot.”

I immediately raised my eyes to the spot where he was shot. It’s covered by his black shirt now, but a piece of gauze is still sticking out.

“If you have any information regarding those men that attacked us,” he continued, so I looked back down at my fingers on my thighs, not wanting to look him in the eyes.

“I need it now, Aria” Dante’s voice wasn’t loud but firm.

Gone was the laid-back guy who cleaned my wounds and made fun of me because I was taking ice cream so late. This was the feared mafia Don, and I knew if I didn’t give him the information he was asking for, I wouldn’t like the consequences.

“I get… nightmares.”

I looked up at him and noticed the clear confusion in his eyes, so I continued.

“Ever since my parents' accident a year ago, I keep having this nightmare, replaying the incident over and over again.”

I swallowed

“The doctors told me it was my mind playing tricks on me, and the police said it was a drunk driver who died on impact, but…”

I didn’t realize a tear had slipped out until I felt Dante’s hand move to my face to wipe it away. The conversation about my parents' death has always been a sore topic for me.

“…I still hear voices and remember faces, so it didn’t seem to add up. But I believed them since I didn’t recognize any of the voices or faces, until today.”

I had avoided his eyes, but after he didn’t speak for a while, I raised my eyes to meet his, expecting to find rage or frustration for not giving him useful information.

But I was wrong.

Dante looked at me entirely differently, in a way I couldn’t quite explain. But something about it made my chest tighten.

For a while neither of us spoke, until my eyes drifted to the wedding band on his finger.

It shouldn't bother me, but it did.

As if suddenly aware of his actions, Dante dropped his hands to his side, stood up straight, and gestured to the stacks of boxes I hadn’t noticed until now.

“There are books in the boxes over there, if you need something to read,” he started, while walking in the direction he came from.

When he got to the door, he paused, turned towards me one last time. His voice controlled but distant

“Good night, Aria.” Then he turned around and shut the door in my face for the second time that night.

I guess he wasn’t worried I would try to escape anymore. That was honestly the farthest thing from my mind now. All I wanted was to get some rest.

Even though I didn’t sleep as well as I wanted to,

I woke up to the most amazing breakfast smell. It reminded me so much of when Mum was around. She made a big deal about breakfast because she wanted all of us to sit and have conversations before the weight of the day settled.

I took a quick shower, and even though I was limited in clothes that actually fit, I managed to find some shorts, which I secured around my waist with a shoelace. It’s way longer than the one I found yesterday, so it’s at least sticking out of the equally oversized shirt I have on.

Stepping out of the room, I found four pairs of eyes staring at me.

The two men who kidn*pped me, one who had a bandage around his nose, probably from when I broke it. Looking at him now, I kind of feel bad, but not bad enough. There was also Adriano and Dante, who were already dressed in suits.

Dante had an apron on

Which made no sense, considering who he was.

“You took my ice cream,” Adriano said with a smirk.

“For the last time, Adriano, it wasn’t yours to take,” Dante quickly cut in before I could speak.

He proceeded to place stacks of pancakes on a plate in front of an empty stool and gestured for me to sit.

“Good morning,” I managed to say.

They all seemed so relaxed and comfortable around him. Honestly, my impression of what happened in the mafia was not this at all.

“Good morning. Trust you had a splendid night?” Adriano was the only one who bothered to reply.

Dante simply shrugged, and the others just smiled and continued digging into their breakfast.

“This is Victor and Carlos. I’m sure you remember them,” Dante finally spoke to me. “I have a meeting today, and I’m not sure when I will be back.”

He began taking off his apron and walking towards the door.

“They are here to protect you, so please do me a favor, listen to them, and try not to break any more noses.”

Adriano laughed loudly before walking out the door after Dante, this of course earned him a scowl from Victor.

I settled into my seat and started eating. It was obvious Carlos wasn’t the talkative type, so if I wanted to have someone to converse with, I needed to apologize to Victor.

“I’m sorry about the nose.”

He looked surprised I was speaking but quickly schooled his expression.

“In my defense, I thought you were trying to kill me.” I added

He smirked and finally spoke up.

“Fair.”

I smiled, relieved.

Then I looked around.

If I’m going to be staying here, I might as well make myself comfortable. A strange idea came to my mind, but first, I’d finish my breakfast.