Chapter 84
Aria’s POV
The morning was quiet, almost peaceful, and the soft sunlight filtered through the curtains as I sat at the dining table with Dante, Matted, and Enzo. The air smelled faintly of coffee and eggs, and there was a warmth in their presence that made me feel… safe. It wasn’t often that I felt like this–like I belonged somewhere. But with them, it was different. They were gentle, their touches soft, making sure I was okay after everything that happened last night. Dante had a way of looking at me that made me feel like he could see through me, and I didn’t mind. Matteo’s smile was so easy, and Enzo… well, Enzo’s intensity was something else entirely.
We ate together, and the silence between us was comfortable. I wasn’t used to it, but it felt right. My mind wandered for a second, thinking about how strange it was to be here. This place, with these men, was becoming more of a home to me than I ever expected. I had grown used to the chaos of my life before–being overlooked, ignored, but now… I had this. I had them.
Suddenly, Enzo’s phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. I watched him for a moment as he answered the call, his face turning serious in an instant. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by something colder, something distant. He said little, just a few sharp words. His eyes flickered briefly to Dante and Matteo, but they didn’t ask any questions. I could tell they all understood whatever was being discussed.
“Business,” Enzo said shortly after hanging up. He stood, looking at me with a soft but firm expression. “We have to leave for a bit. It’s nothing to worry about.”
Matteo leaned over and brushed his lips against my cheek. His kiss was tender, and for a moment, I felt that strange warmth flood through me again.
Dante’s eyes lingered on me before he said, “We’ll be back soon. Take care of yourself, alright?”
I nodded, though something in me felt uneasy, even though I knew exactly what they did. Their world was dangerous, I understood that. I’d known from the start, but I never questioned it. Not really. They were my men now, and I trusted them.
They left the room, their footsteps echoing through the house, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I stared at the empty space they left behind, feeling oddly small and vulnerable. There was a hole in the room, like something important was missing. But I wasn’t about to sit around moping. I stood up, needing something to do. So, I decided to go outside and spend some time with the animals on the ranch. It was a familiar routine, one that helped clear my mind and gave me a sense of calm.
The barn smelled like hay and leather, and the animals greeted me with their usual enthusiasm. I spent the next hour feeding the horses and mucking out the stalls, the steady rhythm of the work soothing my restless thoughts. But despite the peace, something was still gnawing at me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated.
Then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I paused, wiping my hands on my jeans before pulling it out. The screen lit up with my mother’s name, and my heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t heard from her in a while, and the suddenness of her call felt… strange. I hesitated for a second, but then I answered, bringing the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I said, my voice quiet but steady.
“Aria, darling,” my mother’s voice came through, overly sweet, almost syrupy in tone. It was a voice I knew all too well. “How are you? I’ve been thinking about you.”
I frowned. I hadn’t heard from her in months, and suddenly she was calling out of the blue? My gut told me something was off.
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. “Everything’s going well here.”
“Oh, good. That’s good to hear,” she continued, her voice going softer. “Listen, I was thinking… it’s been too long since we had a family dinner. Why don’t you invite Cassandra and Victor over tonight? It’ll be nice to catch up.”
The request caught me off guard. My stomach twisted in knots. Cassandra and Victor? Why now? My mother had always favored Cassandra- her golden daughter–over me. She’d never cared much about what I was doing, always finding ways to criticize or ignore me, while showering all her attention on Cassandra. It didn’t make sense that she’d suddenly want to have dinner with me… unless there was something else.
