Page 96 of The Freedom in Captivity

“I don’t want to see him.” Aurora pouts.

“Easy,” Nico shrugs a shoulder, “stay away from the mansion then. In fact, you both should.” He shifts his attention to Rosen. “Don’t want him getting too pissed off and trying to take you out. Then I’ll have Aurora’s cranky ass to deal with.”

Aurora huffs and tosses out a weak punch to her brother’s arm, while Rafael barks out a round of laughter. The rest of the family’s expressions range from concern to slight amusement at the siblings’ showdown.

I’m not amused at all. I’m…jealous. Most of my life, Dad’s made this family out to be the villains, when it was him all along. Deep down, I was aware, even before the abuse began. No family meeting between my parents, Yasmine, and me ever went like this. Fuck, there was no family meeting—period.

Even amidst the danger, the plotting, these people share such a deep connection with one another, they find the time to show it in the little ways. The humour, the looks.

Flynn’s eyes burn into my face, telling me he’s watching me, but I don’t look at him. I can’t. Somehow, he’d know what’s in my head because that’s how he operates. Able to read me, understand my misery before I’ve put words to it.

Rolling my lips together, I inhale a deep breath, and with my exhale, I put my walls back up and I shut my emotions off and return to observing the Corsettis.

“I do not approve of this plan, Nico,” Lorenzo states, glowering at his son. “I expected better from you. We’ve already spoken about what’ll happen after De Falco’s takedown, but now I’m wondering—”

“Do you have a better idea?” Nico cuts his father off with his sharp tone. “If you forget, Father, you said yourself that this would bemyresponsibility. I won’t fuck this up.”

“Call him off, like Aurora said.”

“I’ll still have to break the news to him eventually and deal with the fallout. Which will have to be soon. Besides, isn’t there a long-distant relative we can use? Swap Aurora for someone else.”

Lorenzo snaps his finger and he wanders away, switching from doubtful to thoughtful as he wanders toward the windows behind us, Caterina closely on his trail. Clearly, he’s taken Nico’s suggestion seriously and I half expect him to start sketching out a family tree.

What amazes me most about this meeting, I think, scanning the room, is how they’reallinvited. Dad wouldn’t dare breathe about anything criminal where Mom could overhear, but Nico and his father aren’t keeping this as a male-only meeting. Hell, even their enemy’s here.

Nico’s phone vibrates then, cutting through the silent room. He lifts it, reading the notification, his eyes widening with every word. He glances up, seemingly at nothing, then his phone again, and then up again, turning with his question. His gaze locks on—me? No, not me. My left.

“You don’t mean that.”

Not even Della saw Ariella take her phone out, probably too busy watching her husband and sister-in-law battle it out, but with Nico’s attention solely on the redhead, Della follows his gaze, leaning closer to read whatever Ariella typed into her phone.

In a blink, she snatches the device out of her sister’s hand, placing it much too close to her face to read out the message again herself. “No! Fuck no, Ariella.” She tosses the phone onto Nico’s desk, like the small technology burned her. “You are fucking insane if you think I’ll allow you to offer yourself up like that.”

Offer herself up—whoa.Silent Ariella has some guts. Based on the wordless battle the sisters place themselves in, and Della’s recent comments, I put it together.

Ariella offered to wed Erico Rossi.

Nico heads away from his sister to step beside his wife. “Della’s right, Ariella. You don’t need to do this. Admirable, nonetheless, but it’s my job to fix this. Aurora’s broken engagement isn’t your concern, so don’t think it is.”

Before Ariella has the chance to reply, Della’s yanking on her wrist and dragging her across the room and out of the office, presumably to fight in peace. If Ariella’s the same as she was before my father had her locked away, she’ll only speak to Della.

When the door slams shut and all is silent again, Rafael’s question cuts through. “Did she just offer to wed Rossi?”

Nico glances at the message again. “That’s precisely what she did.”

Rafael whistles low, nodding appreciatively, and even I agree with his statement. “Badass.”

Caterina walks away from Lorenzo and heads for the door, only to be stopped by Nico’s hand slicing through the air. “Don’t, Mother. I know you’re trying to help, but since she only talks to Della, going out there will end their conversation.”

Despite Nico’s warning to their mother, Aurora breaks away from Rosen. “I should see her. She wouldn’t be offering if it wasn’t for the decisions I’ve made.”

“When they’ve finished,” Nico agrees. “Either way, Rossi is coming here. We’ll deal with the engagement details another time. First,” his attention slides to me for the first time in a while, “we go to B.C.”

Flynn

This is the exact reason I dislike people. They bring along drama and emotions I loathe facing. The complications of family and love, versus the simplicity of pain and torture. Of everything having a place in the simple hierarchy.

My gaze drifts to Rozelyn for the millionth time since we entered this room. Yes, love is too complicated. Looking at her is the reminder of what happened less than an hour ago, and the way ignoring Nico’s orders makes me want to throw up. Love is too much to deal with.

---