Page 91 of Beautiful Revenge

“Fine. I might have kidnapped… Aria Romano.”

Her eyes almost bug out of her head. “Elio Romano’s daughter? Dante’s daughter?”

“She’s not related to Dante.”

She waves a dismissive hand. “You know what I mean. So… you kidnapped her. Let her go.”

“You see… I can’t.”

“Why not?” she asks flatly.

“Because I married her.”

That makes her go eerily still before she screams, “What?! You married someone and I wasn’t even there at the wedding? I missed your brother’s wedding too. You remember that. You boys are trying to hurt me, aren’t you?”

“Ma, I’m sorry. It all just… sort of happened. But now I’m conflicted. Aria wants me to make peace with Dante but I still want Dante to suffer and yet I also think it would be a good idea to make peace with him and… Fuck.” I burrow my head in my hands. “I don’t know what to do. I always know what to do and right now… I’m stuck. For once, I’m uncertain. Ma, what do I do?”

She sighs and takes a big sip of her tea before she levels me with a look. “I think we’re going to need something stronger than tea.”

Chapter Fifteen

Aria

Ikeep the gun pointed at the door.

If Sal decides to show his fugly face around here, I’m not going to hesitate to shoot him. He left scars on me that will never heal.

But with Finn… I’m starting to think that I don’t have to live in fear.

When I was kidnapped as a girl, I held onto that trauma for years after. Even therapy hadn’t helped. It’s partly why I put up my hard exterior. It was just easier to do that than face the reality that I was a scared little girl.

Then Finn kidnapped me and I never thought I would be able to escape that same fear that had hounded me for years. Butnow, he’s making me feel fearless, like I can do anything. It’s ironic. My kidnapper making me feel these things.

But it’s all there. I can’t deny it. I don’t fear Finn any longer. Not after he put his mouth between my legs and I did the same to him. I’m not worried he’ll hurt me physically.

Yet, I still can’t see my father again because of Finn. I managed to see Dante but I know that can’t happen again. Either Finn or Dante will go after the other one and one of them will die. I don’t know how to process that. I don’t know how to feel about that.

If Finn were to die, I’d be free to return home… only for my dad to marry me off to some old man I don’t want. With Finn, I could have an exciting life.

But also a lonely one. Already, I’m getting tired of being on the run, of not having my dad with me. Not having anyone else but Finn. I want more.

I want Finn and I want my family. How can they ever coexist?

Footsteps approach the front door. I undo the safety on the gun. Sal, I’m ready for you, you motherfucker.

The door cracks open.

“Aria, it’s Finn.”

Oh thank god. I lower the gun and put the safety back on. “I almost shot you.”

He opens the door. “I said I would tell you when I returned.”

“I know. But I thought you were going to do it before you opened the door.”

Finn steps inside with a woman. A middle-aged woman who looks a lot like Finn.

“This is my mom, Fiona.”

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