Chapter 9: And The Truth Will Set You Free

~Xavier~

"Ari. What are you doing here?" Xavier asked in a shocked tone. "Really Xav, that's the question we going to start with?" She asked him anger starting to show. "You know what to do." Xavier told his men, for them to nod at him as Xavier walked over and grabbed Ariahs arm pulling her softly to his car. "WHAT do You think you're doing." She asked him yanking her arm back. "You really want to talk all this out on the street?" He asked her trying to repress his anger as well. "What makes you think I'm going to go anywhere with you right now? Talk you want to talk now? Are you just going go to lie to me. Oh I'm sorry I forgot to you it's not technically lying if your just with holding information, right?" She snapped at him. "There is so much you need to know and whether I gotta toss your sweet little ass over my shoulder and place you in that damn car myself you are going to come and we are going to work this out." Standing nose to nose with her both not breaking eye contact.

"I swear Ari, nothing will happen to you. I just need to tell you a lot of things, and if you still wan tot beat the crap out of me you can just please let me get you home first. It's not safe here and you already know that. There are worser things then me out here." "I'll go with you on one count." "Anything." "I get to go home, alone once you're done." "If that's what you wish." "Get someone to send my car home." She told him pushing him away to open her own door. Taking a deep breath in a defeated sigh this was going to be such a long night. Tossing his keys to one of his men behind him "You heard the Queen." He told him in a firm voice. Hopefully by the end of the night he won't be single and behind bars. Getting into the car the car ride was silent she wouldn't look at him once. Probably trying to remain calm so reason stays with her, and not give into her anger and shoot me out of annoyance.

Walking into the house he showed her into the living room as she took the farthest seat from him making him even madder but he knew he had to play along for now. "Do you want something to drink?" He asked her hoping to put it off for a few minutes trying to grab his barring's mentally at least. "Don't waste my time 'Reaper'." She used air quotes. "I'm going to start at the begging. Please just promise me you will hear me out. Listen to everything and I'll do my best to answer any questions you have when I'm done." "Just get on with it." Crossing her arms glaring at him. Leaning back to his side of the couch and looking at her sighing knowing just how side ways everything is probably about to go from here.

"I am Reaper. I run the biggest mafia in about three countries no one else does that in fact it's almost four by the end of the month. I took over after my father retired like his father before him and my other about two or three grandfathers before him. We are the oldest family around. We are good at we do no one knows what we look like unless you are in ahigh position or you have crossed us in some sort of way which you know what that means. We don't hurt innocent people. You know by your own work. We never dibble in human traffic or the rapes going on in town that's all Gunners men and low as gang members, or new low gangs trying to make a play with the people way out of their league. We do help the Feds on the down low people who have crossed us in the long run are people you're looking for. We even get politicians and anyone else your superiors deem as untouchables no one is out of my reach I have about the whole country in my back pocket even if you wanted to arrest me my love I would be out in less than an hour hell baby I even got the President in my damn pocket. I help keep the country safe. How you really think those terrorist and other threats really get found and caught?" Chuckling lightly to her rubbing his hands down his face shaking his head slightly.

"The family is in on it. Ellie and Leah though I keep completely out of all of it. They know nothing really they only secretaries in all the legit businesses. They help me run things when I'm not there. It's my fault no one has told you any of this because I wanted you to hear this only from me and I swear Friday I was going to tell you everything. Moretti is my only problem he steals from my shipments, he uses my clubs and other places he crosses the line and I take care of his men and shit in slow torturous ways. I kill people, never an innocent person just ones who know what they're getting into. I torture those who cross me in ways that give grown ass men nightmares and I don't even bat an eye. I spent so many years just going through the motions in this dark damn place I didn't think I would ever get out of. I have done horrible things to bad people, and I felt no remorse. Honestly for years I just never felt anything. I was numb. I couldn't handle anyone who wasn't the family even touching me like he even just barely grazing my arm it made me feel like I would burn, to this day no one is allowed to touch me. I was a grouchy miserable old bastard and it changed when I went to a club and saw the most beautiful short amazing colored eyed beauty sitting on the other side of this couch. You calm my inner beast baby." His eyes glossing over a little bit.

"You made my heart start beating. Hell it only took one look in your eyes and I was hooked. By the end of that night that first kiss I wasn't numb anymore. It actually felt like I was living and the more we got to know each other the more time you gave me you gave me a reason to actual start feeling alive. You are my everything. I love you Ariah. I knew you were a badge after our first real date. I found out, and after talking it over with the family my dad and everything. I knew I couldn't stay away from you and I wasn't ready to get into a chance to lose you yet. You were the only person who treated me like a normal person and I loved that so much I was so scared to lose you. I was going to tell you about the whole billionaire thing over dinner but then I got a call to go handle business and had to take you home, then the next day you found out in the worse way possible. I never meant to hurt you in any way shape or form. I swear I would rather die myself then cause you any harm or hurt but it seems like I've done that a lot."

"That is the only regret I have is hurting you. For you feeling that I betrayed or lied to you in any way that is the only thing I' truly guilty of that I am remorseful. As much as it kills me and as much as I really don't want to do this next part I have to because I love you more then anything, there is nothing I wouldn't do for you even though I my life style has already taken much more from you then you know. Ari your dad and Chief Russo they. They were hell they are my dad's best friends. They not only knew about the mafia they were even on it. You're dad built everything for us and even used his business as a cover for some of ours. See we always try to keep our women far from our work, you always admired Tony's badge and the whole cop thing so all three made sure to keep you on that track because that is what made you happy. That's all we wanted for you and to this day still do. You are still so loved by the whole family. Mostly me." Ariah was now silently crying understanding now how everyone in her life had held back so much important things from her.

"Moretti's family and mine have been enemies for years you have no idea how twisted he really is. Let me tell you Gunner and I are way worser then our fathers ever thought about being. His father hated y family with a passion he found out where they were one afternoon and got some of his boy sand decided to drive out to a possible construction site where he knew my father would be thanks to a mole which got dealt with. Things happen so quickly and Tony, Caleb and my dad were standing there getting ready to leave when they ripped around a corner guns blazing. Your dad threw my dad down and took ten bullets for his best friend. My father shot Moretti between the eyes, and Tony took over custody of you while you were away at the academy. I mean you were already eighteen there wasn't a lot legally any could do to you. I am so sorry baby; your father was one of the most loyal people I ever met. I really liked him. I can't believe I never met you until the club as close as you are to my parents and as close I was to yours, but I guess fate happens when it's supposed to happen."

"We all wanted to tell you so much sooner but we weren't ready to lose you yet any of us. I understand how mad you must be. I understand how hurt you must feel but Ariah we all love you more than anything and we will do anything to make this right. I will, I will do anything to make this up to you. You knew from the start I am just crap at this romantic stuff but I swear I have been trying to do right for you by you." He was on his knees Infront of her as he held her hands on his chest. "I will do anything I can do to make this right. Just tell me what do to make this right." Looking at him looking just as broken as he felt. "Did Moretti know I was cop, Liam, Killian. Was this all some sick ploy to put another badge in your guys back pocket?" "Moretti and his men know everything. He wasn't aware of your dad until you got released though. He knew who your dad was but didn't put two and two together until that night. I believe he feels just as bad as we do about how things have gone down. Only he wasn't trying to be your friend, he wasn't using you to get you in his pocket either he wanted you romantically and was trying to get you to spend time with him so he could steal you away from me. At least that's what all the sources including him have informed everybody else. You see you won over more hearts then just this side of the mafia and Gunners, and the straight cops. You just got the soul of an angel. You saved more than just me love."

"So my father was in the mafia. My adopted father was in the mafia and still ahs relations with them. Everybody has lied to me and kept this form me because they wanted to protect me from the truth since it would hurt me. So once again no one gave me the benefit of the doubt and did not trust in me to handle this information. Since because you were unaware of how I would handle the truth you just kept it away from me." "Well it wasn't quite like that." "No it was. That is exactly what you said Medina. Everyone was too scared to lose me so they just withheld important information from me including MY own personal family." Anger flowing through her in ways she was trying to keep it in reins. "I didn't mean it that way babe. I just wanted to protect you. It's a need deep in my soul. I have to protect you Ari, you're the world to me. I just wanted you to feel normal for a little while longer I know how hard you worked to get to where you are emotionally and mentally. It took you a long time to recover from so many let downs. I wasn't ready to be added onto that list, I guess. Yes I was selfish in making sure no one told you. I swear I just wanted to protect you and just be in our little world for a little while longer. What can I do to make this right?" He was still begging on his knees with his eyes a little watery.

"How can I trust you? You have done horrible things; I understand you probably helped and did some good but do you honestly think that just cancels each other out? All the laws you broke, besides my trust in you. Do you really think that you being sorry, or in your opinion trying to protect me. Did you for one second think how this would all affect me? How being associated with you will affect my job everything I busted my ass for. How everyone I ever trusted keeping such secrets of my own life from me will affect me? YOU"RE DAMN RIGHT IT WAS FUCKING SELFISH? Was anything really real? Was this all some just sick damn joke?" "NO! You know damn well everything was real. You can't look me in the eye and tell me you didn't feel any of the same things any of us have felt with you weren't real you know deep down that's a fucking lie. Ariah look what held form you was bad but you can't let that one action over take everything that's every come between or with us that was real. You know it. Just because I handled one issue in very bad way it doesn't mean or change or lessen anything else between us Ari." Xavier told her getting up one hand running on his lower jaw, one hand in a fist on his hips getting mad.

"Shouldn't it though? If you were in my spot wouldn't you question everything? The fact that my position could help you in more ways than one. You wouldn't think about that at all? The fact that my family was so fiercely loyal to yours wouldn't make you question if you think I am indebted to you, to follow the same suit? You wouldn't think of that. You wouldn't think to wonder what else are you holding back or lying to me about when you can clearly take the biggest ones and lie so well all this time for you think you would be able to trust me so easily after that? What if you somehow think I cross you guys doing my job are you going to are you going to hurt and torture me as well? What did you expect my position to be in your family?" She asked questions just rushing out of her.

"I would never hurt you. I would literally flay or skin alive anyone who would dare put their hands on you. YOU"RE MINE! MINE ARI! The whole underground already knows who you are what your place is you're the only one who doesn't know. They all know you are their queen. You were going to take your place by side as the queen, my plan was to make the woman I love my wife and rule the town together and yes I was going to keep you out of everything I possibly can just like we do with the rest of our better halves. I love you Ariah that is your position in this family you were made for me. You were made to be my wife, a sister, a daughter in law, a friend, a leader to all of us in the family. That is your place baby. Only yours no one else can fill it but you, this is what you were meant to be, this here with us is where you belong Ariah there is no doubt in my mind, nothing is going to change that. You can be mad all you want right now and you can take as much time to be hurt and furious as you need but in the end you going to see I'm right." He stated lifting her chin for her to look straight in his eyes to make she understands what he's saying to her.

"What if I don't." "What if you don't what?" "What if I don't see it? What if after processing all this through my exhausted little head I don't see all that vision you think you do." "I know that you will. I know how much we all mean to you. I know how you love us Ari. How much you love me. Even if you don't. If you find yourself not being able to get past all this for any reason and you end up needing out then… then that's it. You can walk away freely from me, from us, from all of this. It would break a hell of a lot more hearts then just mine, but you would be able to be away from all of this. No looking over your shoulder or anything just like we never existed to you. I just don't see that for us. I know how strong we are Ariah; we are so much stronger than this." Putting a piece of stray behind her ear. "You were right about one thing I do need time to think all of this through. Everything. I'm going to go and I think it's best if you don't contact me until I come or contact you first."

"Ari. Please." He whispered in a choked out voice. "I need this Xavier. I think you do. I think some space apart will really put everything in perspective for both of us. To think about what we really want and how to fix everything that's been done. Maybe what the next steps should be. We just really need to both think a lot of things through." "How long." "I don't know. Until it's enough I guess I'll get ahold of you." She said as she was getting all her things and walking quickly to the door. "Least let George get you home. It's already dark out." He pulled her wrist gently. "No. Xavier not tonight and I'm good. I'll be fine." Shutting the door behind her Xavier looking at it tears rolling down his face. He new how bad they were both hurting and he knew it was all his fault. Turning around to see Enzo, Chloe, Leah, Ellie, Axel, Ryder, Hunter, and Tony. Now walking in his living room. "You come to shoot me again?" Xavier asked. "Think you just got shot enough right now kid." Tony told him with his hands in his pockets looking at him with a long look only for Xavier to nod back and sit down while the silent tears kept slowly rolling down his face. "You going to leave to?" Hunter asked Chloe. "No, I couldn't even if I tried, and soon you'll see that Ari cant either. She'll come around. I know my girl." Chloe said with a soft smile sinking even further into Enzo's side.

~No One's P.O.V.~

"I'm telling you man she's ok man." "So you seen her she's at the office." "Well no she's been out all week, she's called in Jace says she's been working from home and meeting up following up on cases and stuff. It's not uncommon to not work in the office you know we are detectives for the most part and have to actually research and get leg work done to actually solve cases and crimes." Hunter told him laughing through the phone. "We both know she hasn't been home. She hasn't been at Russo's, or Chloe's. She hasn't been home this is the fifth day and I haven't heard anything from or of her no one can find her she is straight off the damn grid. Where the hell is she?" "You need to just calm your ass down man you said you would give her time did you honestly think she would be hitting you up the very next damn day. Look it's Friday and it's afternoon why don't you actually take her lead and get some damn work done, and finish thinking of how you are going to make up being an ass to her." Hunter hung up the phone laughing at him.

"Told you man, you need to do something else with your time." Axel said shaking his head going through some papers and their laptops as they were all working from Xavier's house. "Yeah man why don't you actually get some damn work done. Besides you going to need to be ahead of your work if you going to be making time to make up for everything. Leah and Ellie have been crying for this whole week. We supposed to be getting married in like two weeks. Ryder in three weeks, and we can't get our brides out of the carton of ice-creams, and boxes of tissues they are barely talking. So we need to fix this in the smartest way possible. So you driving yourself nuts trying to find her, instead of just letting her have the time she needs to adjust." Axel said looking at his friend running his hands on his face. It was killing them to watch Reaper go nuts he hasn't slept in days he's been in the warehouse taking his frustration out on the people who have crossed them either by running out on payments or misplacing product. "Did we at least get Moretti's warehouse's and other properties destroyed?" Xavier asked them looking around.

"Yes we have, and Moretti is still underground and we can't track him. He also has still been sending things to Ariah. Apparently he's plans are still the same based on the cards he's been leaving behind. So that tells us she has not in contact with him either. So there's a plus." Ryder said with his childlike smile and two thumbs up. Everyone staring at him for a moment shaking there heads. "Here you guys go." "Thanks baby." Enzo said kissing Chloe in gratitude, as she put down he tray of brownies. You could hear the mumbled thanks. "Chloe you swear she hasn't got ahold of you." Xavier asked with his hands grabbing hold of what little hair he had.

"For the millionth time you bug-a-boo NO!" "You really don't know her happy place spot? Thought you two told each other everything." Enzo mocked her in a high pitch girly voice. Smacking him in his chest. "Well normally do but you know she is entitled to keep one thing to herself. Like mine was not telling her about you guys when I found out." She told them sarcastically. "Well do you have any clue on where that could be?" Ryder asked her. "The only thing I know about her happy place is it's a place that she feels is full of love, that no one else would probably understand. DO you know any places like that?" She mocked looking around. Axel staring at his screen with a smile smirk no one saw. "I got to run. I'll holla at your depressed ass later. At least try to keep it in check man like seriously stay out of the warehouse tonight and wash your ass." He warned Xavier.

~Ariah~

Leaning against the head long head stone. Sitting backwards. Head tilted up and eyes closed. "How did you find me?" Not opening her eyes or looking around. "Well unlike everyone else my brain is so awesome so I may have remembered you saying something about how Ryder was a big ass pussy because he was scared of cemetery's and you asked him how can he be scared of such a place when it's just misunderstood because when it's a place full of loved ones and family it's filled with love. It really wasn't that hard now that I think about it." Axel said laughing sitting down next to her. "Are you going to tell him?" "HELL NO. I like that we have our own little secret. I can drive him nuts with it. This just going to be our thing. You know you're my sister from another mister." Axel said laughing. "I know your probably still made and hurt by all of us. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry myself in person. No matter what our reason is or was it wasn't good enough and we know that we get that. We're hurt too. Trust me when I tell you it's going to take us a longer to forgive ourselves than for you to forgive us." Axel said shaking his looking straight at a squirrel with a nut running up a tree. Ariah watched it too.

"I believe that especially the girls hell even Hunter, and Ryder." Ari laughed out. "It's nice to have a secret with you." Ari smiled. "Why does he do this to me this is the second time he's done this to me. Does he really trust me Axel or is it just meaningless words." "That man trusts you with his life, hell even more than us. He's just a man who's so far gone and so deep in love with you and since you are the first relationship he doesn't understand what he's really doing hell woman no man does we just wake up do our best get in trouble y'all correct us and scream at us and then we just try to better. Our thing though is we have deep need to protect you guys, we have fears of losing you and for a man in love that is the worse thing in the world for us. You have no idea the lengths a good man will go to, to keep y'all happy, safe, content. A strong man is only strong for reasons, but we all got weakness. We all have a breaking point. There is nothing scarier even for a man like Reaper than losing your Ari, then having you hurt, not knowing if your safe. Let me tell you he's been a damn wreck not being able to hear of or from you is the best type of torture anyone has done to that man." Axel said laughing pushing her a little with his shoulder.

"Is he really messed up?" "Is Arnold Schwarzenegger hard to spell?" "Ariah you need to go back to him. We both know you're going to anyway." "How do you know that?" "Ariah if you was going to try to turn us in if you was going to high tail and leave you would be so far gone by now, but you're not. You're hiding here talking to your parents asking probably for the strength not to kill the man you know you love once you see him for hurting you the way he did. I think your searching for inner strength to go back because you know you can't give Xavier up. I think that you are trying to make our way of life make a justifiable sense so you don't feel guilty about being a part of it. There is no way to go about that. It will be hard to get your work life and your personal life separate but it is doable. Our women do it every day. This is all possible. Ariah it's ok to be selfish for your own wants and needs in life. Its ok to want someone who could very easily be a villain but who will be a hero just for you." "Thank you Ax. Maybe I was just trying to justify the things I really want. I still can't find Moretti, and all his properties well all his illegal properties are demolished, with doubt that is your guys doing. I guess I need to get Hunter back on board to help me find him Jace won't be to thrilled."

"Why does it matter what Jace thinks?" "Jace thinks Noah and Hunter were puppets and he was right the whole time. He is my friend and he is really going to think less of me now. Since I'm basically been bedding down the criminal. He was so proud of me not being a puppet, not being able to be seduced or bought by the mafias. He'll hate me now." "I think Jace will be fine and he'll get over it. Maybe we need to be a little a weary of Jace. He seems to know an awful lot about puppets. I bet he's a straight up guy who does everything right too. Those are the people to be weary of Ari. Seriously I would feel a lot better if you let me look into him just in case." "You guys are going to do what ever you want anyway just don't get caught." She shook her head to him.

"What are you going to do now Ari?" "I think I am going to make a phone call, and then maybe get my ass home to shower and see if maybe I didn't miss my chance." "I would feel a lot better if you used my phone and let me drive you back home. Like you said Moretti is still running around still sending things to your office and your home. Please just call Xavier before we leave and let me take you home. Hey where have you been staying?" "My place has a cellar and you guys are not as smart as you think you are I've been sleeping in the basement since no one can see in and I just disconnect the location on my things. You guys aren't as smart as you think you are." She told him holding her hand out for his phone. Sliding into her hand. "I'll give you a minute." Taking a deep breath she wondered if she was really ready to this, was she really to tell him her decision. Wonder how everything is going to change once she tells him everything running through her mind. Sucking it up she finally pushed the call button.

"What do you want now Blade?" The phone was silent for a moment she could hear everything in his voice and it made her heart feel pain. "Ax you going to say something or just keep wasting my time?" "Actually I was just about to ask you if you think you had enough time?" "Ariah… baby is that really you?" "Yeah I'm done thinking things over. I'm ready to talk calmly rationally if you are ready?" "I've been since you walked on me Ariah." He said trying to hide the bitterness. He just wanted her back in his arms it was driving him crazy. He was at his office which was only fifteen minutes from her place with high traffic. "I'm getting ready to go home right now but I'm free all weekend if you want to swing by my place and talk?" "Absolutely. I'll be seeing you before you know it. I missed you Ariah." "I missed you too Xavier." She hung up quickly. "Take me home please. Blade." "As you wish my Queen." "Don't. Don't call me that. I'm not anything." "Yet." Pushing him playfully walking to the car.

Walking into her house she went straight to her shower after locking her whole house up. After taking a deep shower, and a lot of thinking she got dressed and cleaned up around her bathroom and her room. Grabbing her phone and running her hand through her hair walking down the hall into her living room she stops seeing him just standing there. Catching her off guard her breath caught in her throat. Both looking at each other she couldn't get her eyes off the man standing in front of her. "Its been awhile Ari?" He told her walking up to her stopping once he seen her take a step back. "Take a seat Ari, we got a lot to talk about." Not saying a word just looking at him taking a seat. Grabbing her phone from her turning it on silent and putting away. Taking his phone doing the same next to hers on the table. "It's been to long Ari." "It has. How did you get in here?" "Well when there's a will there's a way. I waited long enough and now I am here to collect on what's mine. SO we going to sit here and get some things straight." Looking into his eyes she could almost feel some anger and irritation roll off of him. She couldn't help but think, I think I might be in trouble.