Chapter 15

Lana's pov

I couldn't sleep.

I kept turning and tossing all until past 3 am, he hasn't arrived yet.

I kept checking the window for his car.

Images of Aria crying and yelling for help.

She must have been look like a scared puppy.

I fought the urge of going to her, except that I don't exactly know where the hell is her room.

The mansion is enormous for god's sake.

Who lives alone in such space !!

My thoughts crumbled  at some point until I couldn't resist my heavy eyelids from closing gradually, only until I felt my back arch, warm arms enveloped me, lifting me from the sofa, arms immediately wrapped around his neck for balance,I smelled him and sweet tender sensation invaded me.

I whispered in a sleepy voice,

- where've you been ?

- I am sorry,baby. I had things to do.

-you promised me.

-I never did in fact.

He placed me down gently to bed, covered me with the bed sheet, I held his hand as he was about to leave after he turned off the night stand lamp.

- Please, don't go.

He leaned in, kissed me forehead delicately,whispered in his gruff voice. 

- I will come back, give me two minutes.

He left for a while until I felt his aura in the room again, heard him take off his clothes, the sound of friction my senses are alerted to.

He slid into the cover l, put one arm behind his head, his back flat on bed, starring at the ceiling, his other arm looped around my waist as my head laid on his chest and his breathes slowed down as my fingertips kept going in circles as he fell asleep, so did I.

———————————————————

The next morning, I found the left side of the bed, empty. Cold.

I hurried down the shower, got dressed and rushed to Lorenzo's room, also empty.

I questionably kept wandering around the halls, stopping at every room, most of them are locked.

Only for me to find in the first floor my room in, a home-cinema, one guest room, a gym, and a small,cozy library which I decided to enter later.

I found my way to the second floor, this time, every single room is locked. I am not gonna sugar-coat it but, it felt like a prison.

I climbed down the stairs until the ground floor level, the house was weirdly quite.

A strange feeling crept down my body.

I didn't even find Freya in the kitchen, too.

I meandered from the kitchen to the living room, till Lorenzo's office, which is of course locked.

I called his name a couple of times.Nothing.

I called for Freya.Nothing.

Where're Lorenzo's men ?

Rashly, I heard a load, high-pitched scream hitting every corner of the mansion. My heart almost stopped as I heard a gun shot followed.

I rushed out of the mansion, for me to find Aria's body laid still on the grass, with blood flowing heavily from her chest. My eyes froze at the sight of my dad holding the gun towards her figure, my hand hit my chest as I screamed until my voice faded, tears running down my face, but I can't feel them.

All I can see is the hatred sparking from his eye once he turned his head to me, so as his gun.

My legs concreted to the ground, numb as ever.

I nearly counted my load heart beats.

I wanted to beg him, I wanted to stop him.

But everything went to black once I heard the pull of the trigger. I, once in my life time, watched the slow-motioned scene.

It felt like a movie. A sad-ending movie. Yet, all I thought of is my mum. Her face hidden behind the despise flamed from my dad's eye. I the corner of my left eye, Lorenzo was sprinting to my direction,  I didn't hear his load roars. All I could see is the bullet,with fumes around its slim pointed head, penetrating layers of air in a jolt of motion.

A crack of a yell escaped my throat as I tried moving my feet, but I still couldn't hear myself.

Until I managed to scream at he top of my lungs.

"NO" "NO" "NOOOO"

- heyy, heyy. Lana. Open your eyes.

- NOO-No, he killed her. HE KILLED HER.

I felt my entire body shake in pain with every nerve pulsating achingly, I kept hearing Lorenzo's voice in the distance. Calling me.

Darkness hit my eyes, I can see nothing of what I have seen a second ago.

- Lana. Wake up. I am here.

I hardly opened my eyes, my heart is terribly beating so fast. my hands were as cold as ice, sweat coated my entire cold body. A nightmare.

The one word I heard Lorenzo repeating excessively.

I felt his hot chest hitting my arctic mine.

His hands holding my head trying to calm my non-stopping screams.

I can now feel the tears flowing endlessly down my drained cheeks. My lungs hurt. Everywhere hurt.

I stopped at his long assuring gaze.

Holding both of his forearms as tight as possible.

He roughly hugged me until I could breathe again.

Thank God.

A nightmare.

I felt his hand patting down my hair fondly.

-It's okay, it's just a nightmare,baby. Breathe.

And so I can ascertain that it was.

- P-please, please,Lorenzo, I need to see Aria.

- Okay,okay. Just calm down, get dressed and I will let you see her.

After ten minutes, we were standing right outside the mansion, the view was enough to calm me a bit down, Mattia opened the front door, but didn't close it, he descended down the three steps to the garden, he had a firm figure, his complete beard complemented his manly features,His short hair swayed by the wind as he walked confidently towards us, yet his shoulder blue splint was still shielding his wound.

I kept starring at the opened door till I felt tingles in my eyes, I found myself running like hell to Aria the second my eyes caught her fragile body walking slowly and her head slightly tilting down watching her steps. I hugged her body like a teddy bear, squeezing it as hard as possible while our cries combined together in pure mess.

I held both sides of her face

- oh my god, I thought I would never see you again.

-oh-Lana, I am so sorry.

-Are you okay ? Your face is so pale. Are you hurt ?

-I am okay

-No, no you're not.

-please-please st- stop. You're killing, I don't deserve this.

-uh-oh my god, thank god...Thank god.

I hugged her again, feeling he chest going up and down in distress.

-stop crying, I hate seeing you like this,Aria.

-I—I am so sorry, I can't apologi-

- It's okay,Ari. I'm okay, see I am okay.

I kissed her wet cheek, she seized me securely, as our cries began to cease gradually.

I turned my head, Lorenzo and Mattia, a couple of metered away, looking  at us like we were an emotional madness. Both their hands in their pockets, shrugging to each other.

-Come, let me introduce you.

-No

I turned to her surprised,

-What ?

- They hate me, lana.

-Come with me, trust me. They don't.

We slowly walked, her hand attached to my arm, I saw fumes and flames in Mattia's gaze to her, while on the contrary,Lorenzo never lifted his from me.

I tried breaking the ice while I spoke to them, but the ice seemed like a bulky mountain.

The conversation went shallow and spiritless, Aria stayed quite, while I signaled to Lorenzo with my eyes to end it,

- Well, while we're all here. I have an important announcement to make.

I looked at him questionably as he continued,

-I am not seeking any approving nor fighting over it, it's a made up decision. Remember that.

Silence.

- Lana and I will be married tomorrow.

My eyes couldn't honestly get any wider. Nor my nerves could get any more shocked.

- WHAT ?

- You heard me.

-Are you kidding me ?

- Do I look like I am kidding ?

-This is not happening. I am most certainly not marrying a man I met about a week ago—oh no no, let me rephrase that, KIDNAPPED ME a week ago.

-You're most certainly are,Lana. I am not asking you. I am telling you. Know the difference, baby.

-I will not marry you. That's out of the question.

-You're marring me, That's the end of this conversation.

Aria suddenly spoke,

- You can't force someone to marry you

-SHUT YOUR PRETTY  LITTLE MOUTH UP !

Mattia grabbed her arms harshly, a painful moan escaped Aria's mouth.

I tried grabbing her away from him, he didn't let go.

- leave her alone.

-SHE MUST KNOW HER PLACE.

- Mattia, enough.

Lorenzo's sharpe voice echoed.

Mattia looked at him furiously,

- We're going inside. Congratulations in advance,brother.

And just like that, Mattia dragged her inside the house.

I once again, looked at Lorenzo's cold stare and teasing smirk.

-you have to accept this,Lana. It's the only way to protect yourself from Luca and your fucking father.

Remember, you are technically a bride-to-be to Luca, he payed for you.

I felt blood rolling in my veins,

-He won't let this slide.

I couldn't find enough words to describe how frustrated I felt,

- I have made an appointment with Versace at 5:00 pm, Donatella will gladly help you choose your wedding dress with you, I don't really know what's does it mean, but her assistant told me it's the couture thing or something like that.

Anyway, I'll drive you there. Be ready at 4:30.

He left.

I still couldn't function any of this bullshit.

The visions of it almost killed me.

Sure, Lorenzo saved me, but it doesn't work this way.

I must love before I get married.

Arranged marriage shit is definitely not for me.

I can't imagine being a wife with a man I just met.

What the fuck is happening ??

How long am I gonna be forced into doing things I don't want ?

How long am I gonna realize that's he actually right ?

This irritates me.

He's right.

It's the only escape.

I can never be married to Luca.

I can tolerate Lorenzo.

I guess.