Married To The Devil That Bought Me

CHAPTER4

Aria woke up choking on dust, her lungs burned, her head throbbed violently. For a few seconds, she didn’t know where she was, only that everything hurt.Then it came back, Gunfire, Explosions, Lucien. Her eyes shot open,the corridor was half collapsed, concrete slabs lay broken like shattered bones. Smoke crawled through the air. Lucien, she whispered, voice hoarse. Silence answered her. Her hands trembled as she pushed herself up. Lucien,No response.Panic surged instantly. No, no, no this can’t be happening, She staggered forward through debris, coughing violently. Her shoes slipped on dust and shattered glass. Lucien! she shouted again, louder this time. Only echoes, Her heart pounded painfully, He was gone. She saw it, She remembered it, The explosion, The collapse, The moment he told her to run.Her throat tightened. You i***t, she whispered shakily. You can’t just, just disappear like that, Her vision blurred. But then, a sound. A faint groan, Her head snapped up,“Lucien? Another sound, Closer, She followed it immediately, stumbling through broken walls and twisted metal. Then she saw it. A section of collapsed corridor. A massive slab pinned something underneath, Her breath caught, No, She rushed forward, dropping to her knees.“Lucien!” She began pulling debris with shaking hands, Pain shot through her palms,She didn’t stop. Come on, come on, she muttered desperately. Don’t you dare be dead because of me. A weak cough came from beneath the rubble, relief and fear collided in her chest. He’s alive. She pushed harder, and then she saw it, a hand,bloodied ,moving,Her breath hitched. “Lucien!” she cried again,the slab shifted slightly Then a slow, controlled voice, I told you to run. Aria froze,then laughed shakily through tears. You’re insane, she snapped. Do you have any idea how close you were to being crushed?Silence,then another push from beneath.the slab lifted slightly more. Aria immediately helped, straining with everything she had. Together, slowly, it moved and then,Lucien emerged. Dust covered,Blood at his temple,One arm clearly injured, but alive, very much alive.Aria collapsed backward in relief. You, you’re ridiculous, she whispered, tears finally spilling. I thought you were dead. Lucien stood slowly, rolling his shoulders like nothing had happened. You think a collapsing building is enough to kill me? Aria glared through tears.That’s not funny, It wasn’t a joke, She opened her mouth to argue But another explosion outside interrupted her. The ground shook again.Aria flinched. What is still happening? Lucien looked toward the direction of the blast. His expression darkened,"They're still inside.Aria froze. Still? You mean there are MORE of them? Lucien didn’t answer. He grabbed her wrist again, move. She pulled back immediately. No, I’m not following you anymore until you explain what is going on, Lucien turned sharply. Do you want explanations? he said coldly. Now is not the time. Aria shook her head, tears mixing with dust on her face. I nearly died, I deserve to know what is happening to me. A loud crash echoed nearby.Lucien stepped closer, Dangerously close. You are not the target, he said again. Aria snapped. Then why is my life falling apart the moment you appear?Silence, that hit differently. Even Lucien paused for half a second. Then,a distant shout echoed through the ruins.Find her, Aria stiffened. Lucien’s eyes sharpened instantly. They’re closer than expected. Aria stepped back. Wait, they’re still looking for me? Lucien grabbed her wrist firmly. Yes and you STILL won’t tell me why? Before he could respond, Gunfire erupted down the corridor,bullets struck metal, The sound was deafening. Aria screamed and ducked instantly. Lucien pulled her behind a broken wall. Stay low,he ordered, "I don't know how to do this kind of ‘stay low’ situation!” She snapped when another bullet hit the wall inches from her head, She froze instantly. Lucien moved, Fast, Too fast.He stepped out and returned fire. Aria watched in shock as he moved through smoke and chaos like it obeyed him, Not human, Controlled, Precise, Deadly. Three men fell within seconds but more were coming. Too many. Aria’s breath trembled. This is not normal, she whispered again. This is not normal at all, Lucien returned to her side, Can you run? he asked. Aria blinked. What? Answer me, yes but where?Lucien looked down the corridor, then back at her. Trust me. Aria laughed bitterly,I don’t trust you, Then die here, Silence,That shut her up immediately. Another explosion rocked the building.The ceiling cracked again, Lucien grabbed her wrist, Now. They ran, Through collapsing hallways, Through smoke, Through chaos. Aria struggled to keep up. Where are we going? she shouted, "Out, That’s not an answer, Bullets whizzed past them. Aria screamed as Lucien pulled her sharply around a corner, They burst into a lower level, A hidden garage, Luxury cars lined up,Escape vehicles. Aria’s breath hitched,you have all this under your house? Lucien didn’t respond, Instead, he pushed her toward a black car, get in. Aria hesitated. Not until you explain, a loud explosion cut her off again. The entire ceiling above them trembled. Lucien’s jaw tightened. Last warning, Aria’s chest rose and fell rapidly. She looked back at the burning mansion above, then at him. Then at the chaos approaching and finally, she got into the car. Lucien followed immediately., The engine roared to life. They sped out through an underground tunnel just as another explosion tore through the estate behind them. Aria stared out the window in shock, Flames reflected in her eyes. What, what just happened.she whispered. Lucien drove silently, Blood still on his face, Expression unreadable after a long silence, Aria turned to him. Who are they? she asked softly, Lucien didn’t look at her. People who want you erased.Aria swallowed hard. Why me? A pause, Longer this time.Then, Lucien finally said it. You were never supposed to exist outside their control. Aria froze. What does that mean? Lucien’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel But before he could answer, his phone rang. One word flashed on the screen.

UNKNOWN.

Lucien stared at it for a long moment, Then answered. Silence on the other end, Then a voice, Calm, Familiar and terrifying. We found her. Aria’s blood turned cold. Lucien’s expression darkened instantly and then, He said one sentence that shattered her entire world. Don’t touch my wife.”