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“I won’t go anywhere else until I have,” I say.
Mattia looks at me and he knows immediately that I’m not kidding. He simply rolls his eyes and instructs the driver to take us to the jail.
Chapter 16
Edoardo
Thequietnessofmycell is disrupted by a heated argument that can be heard throughout the entire jail. I recognize Dalton’s voice, among others. It is unlike him to cause such a scene, so it has my curiosity. What could have made everyone so upset?
There are so many voices involved, but Dalton’s is the loudest. The guards seem to be giving him a hard time. I can’t help but chuckle. They don’t know just how annoying he can be. I don’t know what he wants from them, but I am certain that they will give in any moment now.
I move closer to the bars to try and hear what they are talking about. Somewhere in the mix I can hear Mattia also getting involved. Last time that I spoke to Mattia, I instructed him to rescue Aria. So, why is he here instead of carrying out my orders?
It’s comforting to hear their voices, but a small part of me is concerned that they’ll push it too far and we all wind up in jail together. I guess if that happens, then at least I won’t be so lonely. I don’t know how I put up with this for twenty years. I haven’t missed it, and it’s been hard to relive it. I’m not even sure what time of day it is, and it’s driving me nuts.
The argument comes to an end and shortly after I hear footsteps approaching. They tread light and fast. It sounds like whoever it is, they’re running. Whatever this visit is about, it must be urgent. My heart comes to a complete stop when I see Aria appear in front of me.
“Aria,” I say, reaching through the bars.
She takes my hand and smiles. “Your men are the best,” she says kindly. “Are you alright?”
The parts of her arms that aren’t covered by her sleeves are bruised and scratched. I can see the marks where hands had grabbed her with enough force to leave marks. Her father has hurt her badly. She looks tired and uncared for, and it makes me furious.
I take a deep breath to try and calm myself down, but I know that it will take more than just a deep breath to do so.
“What did they do to you?” I ask.
“My father’s men are brutes,” she jokes. “They’re not as kind and gentle as your men can be.”
“How could he treat you like this?” My voice is shaking with anger. “You’re his daughter. Does that truly mean nothing to him?”
“Evidently not,” she says with a bitter chuckle.
She is the strongest woman I know to have gone through all of that and still be able to smile and laugh. I know that she is doing this for me. I know that she is broken. I see it hiding behind her expression. She wants me to remain calm, and I appreciate her for that.
She glances down at my hand in hers and I want to pull it away. But she tightens her grip and runs her fingers along the broken skin on my knuckles.
“Promise me you’ll take better care of yourself while you’re in there,” she murmurs.
“That’s a tough promise to make,” I say. “It’s a dangerous thing to be locked away with one’s own thoughts.”
She laughs loudly. “Trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way.”
She kisses the cuts on my hands gently. “Please,” she says softly. “Promise me you won’t hurt yourself again?”
“I’ll do my best,” I say. “I’m just really glad to see you here. For a moment I thought I might never see you again.”
She gives me a knowing look, and I know that I owe her an apology.
“I’m sorry,” I say sheepishly. “For not telling you the truth about where I was going. I knew you would stop me.”
“And for good reason,” she says sternly. “But it’s too late for all of that now. So, don’t apologize.”
“What happened to you?” I ask, staring deep into her beautiful eyes. They fade as she starts to tell me the story.
“After I had heard about what happened to you all those years ago … with my father and my mother …” she explains. “I left the island to find you. I wanted to talk to you about it.”
I open my mouth but she holds up her hand to stop me from speaking.
