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Chapter Two
Aria had no idea what time it was when she was shaken awake.
“Aria, come on, baby. We have to get you out of here,” Mateo said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, we’re getting you out of here. The shit is about ready to hit the fan, so we need to get you and Angelica to safety.”
She was still groggy and didn’t understand everything he said, but she followed his directions because she trusted him implicitly.
He pulled the sheets back and lifted her out of bed. “Let’s pack a quick bag.”
She stared up at him and pushed the hair from her face. “Um, wait, I already have one. I update it every so often, but I’ve had it for years. Just on the off chance we could escape.”
“Good girl.” He grabbed it from the back of her closet. “Let’s get you into some clothes.”
She shed her nightgown, not the least bit shy because Mateo and Trent had seen her naked on many occasions when they had to bathe her after Lorenzo beat her or was too violent with her during sex.
Aria always detested them seeing her like that, but she wouldn’t have been able to do it herself most of the time. What she hated the most was the fury the men always showed that she’d have to calm to prevent them from killing Lorenzo.
She pulled on some old jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. It was something she’d never been seen in but had always wanted to be able to wear.
“Fuck, baby. I think you can’t get any sexier, and you pull this shit.”
She giggled.
“I want to know how you got these clothes, but later,” he said and grabbed her hand. “We need to leave.”
“Does Trent have Angelica?” she asked.
“Yes. They’re probably already in the car.”
They went down the back passage and out to two large waiting SUVs. He lifted her into one, and she cried out when she saw her daughter. She pulled her into her arms. “Oh, baby girl. How are you?”
The young woman hugged her tightly. “I’m good. How about you, Mama?”
“I’m fine, sweetheart.”
“I worry about you all the time,” Angelica said.
Aria straightened and cupped her daughter’s cheek. “There’s no reason to, honey.” If she knew her daughters had been aware of her abuse, that would break her heart. She didn’t want them warped, to think it was okay to be treated like she was. She wanted them to acquire all the happiness they could get.
“Mama, we know how you’re treated.”
She flinched. Oh, God, no. “Who told you?”
“No one. We’ve heard people talk about it over the years, and we would hear you cry when we passed your room. There’s always a guard with us, or we would have broken in and killed the bastard.”
“Oh, Angelica, no.”
“We hate him, Mama.”
Aria pulled her tightly against her and kissed the top of her head. She couldn’t think of anything to say as she made eye contact with Trent and Mateo, who sat in the front seat. Mateo turned around from the front passenger seat, and Trent looked at them in the rearview mirror. She knew they hurt for her, and she hated the pain she saw in their eyes.
It was the middle of the night, so very few cars were about. Her head swiveled right and left, trying to take in everything. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been able to leave her house. She caught the keen interest in her baby’s eyes and wanted to kill her husband even more.
The light flickered into the car when they passed under a streetlamp as they drove through the streets. They crossed the town and pulled into the basement of an expensive hotel. Then Aria and Angelica were instantly surrounded by a dozen men and herded into the employee elevator.
