Chapter 148 A Desperate Plea

Chapter 148 A Desperate Plea

ARYA’S POV

I was having flashes of everything that had happened. The gunshot, the screams, the smell of burning tires.

And Dante… my innocent baby boy who had somehow gotten wrapped in all of this.

With a loud gasp, I jolted awake but instantly regretted it because a stabbing pain rushed through my entire body.

“God!” I groaned, shutting my eyes but it was too late already.

The damage was done.

There was a sharp, throbbing pain in my temple where Marco had hit me. And an aching pain in my ankle where the bullet had torn through.

And underneath it all, was a  bone-deep terror that made everything else fade to background noise.

I tried to move and couldn't.

My eyes flew open again, panic rising to my throat as I realized my hands were bound behind my back. My ankles were tied together with rough rope that bit into my skin.

And I was on a plane. I eyed the plush leather seats, the bright harsh lights and the smell of something floral in the air.

The memory of Marco standing over me with that terrible smile.

It all came rushing back in a nauseating wave.

"No," I whispered, struggling against the bonds. "No, no, no."

The ropes held fast. I was on a seat, reclined back, and completely immobilized.

Dante. Where was Dante?

I twisted, trying to see the rest of the cabin. There were luxury seats, windows showing clouds but no bassinet and my baby was nowhere to be found.

"DANTE!" His name tore out of me in a scream. "Where is he? DANTE!"

A door at the front of the cabin opened and Marco stepped through, and my blood ran cold.

He had changed clothes,?the blood-stained shirt replaced with a crisp white one. His wounded hand was professionally bandaged, no longer dripping blood but wrapped in clean gauze.

He looked calm and refreshed, like he hadn't just tried to kill me a few hours ago.

"Good, you're awake." He moved closer, and I shrank back as far as my bonds would allow. "We need to discuss some ground rules."

"Where is my son?" I screamed. "What did you do with Dante? If you hurt him, I swear to God-"

Marco growled and rolled his eyes. "He's fine. Sleeping in the back with a nanny I hired." Marco sat down across from me, crossing his legs casually. "Unlike his mother, he knows how to behave."

My heart was pounding fast. "Let me see him. Please. I need to see him."

"No." He snapped and the word was final.

I licked my lips nervously, tears pricking my eyes. "Please, Marco. Please. He needs me. He's just a baby!"

"He'll be fine without you for a while." Marco's expression hardened. "You need to learn a lesson, Arya. About what happens when you disobey me."

"Fuck you!" I lunged forward, forgetting I was tied down. The ropes caught me, jerking me back painfully. "You're insane! You're a monster! I hate you!"

"Careful." His voice dropped to something dangerous. "You're already in enough trouble. Don't make it worse."

"Worse? WORSE?" Hysterical laughter bubbled up. "You kidnapped me! You shot me! And stole my son! What could possibly be worse?"

Marco stood and crossed to me in two strides. His hand shot out, gripping my face hard enough to leave bruises.

"This could be worse," he said softly, holding up his bandaged hand. "You shot me, Arya. You put a fucking bullet through my hand. Do you have any idea how much that hurt?"

I scowled at him, my lips curling into a smirk. "Good! I hope it hurt! I hope it gets infected and you lose the whole arm!"

His grip tightened, making me whimper. "You're going to regret that attitude. By the time we land, you're going to understand exactly what you've done wrong.”

He leaned forward and whispered. “And you're not getting your son back until you've learned to be obedient."

My body was racking with tears now. I wasn’t sure I had ever hated someone as much as I did at that moment.

So I tried to beg again. “Please. Please don't do this. He needs me. I'm his mother."

"Then you should have thought about that before you shot me and tried to run." Marco released my face and stood, straightening his shirt.

"My patience is exhausted, Arya. Completely exhausted. I've been kind.” He shot me a glare. “I've been understanding. I've given you chance after chance to accept this situation."

He leaned down, his face inches from mine. "No more chances. When we land, you're going to do exactly what I say. And if you're very, very good, maybe I'll let you see Dante again."

Then his lips were on mine, claiming me in a very brutal kiss. I jerked my head away, gagging. The taste of him made me want to vomit.

Marco chuckled. "You'll learn to enjoy it eventually."

A knock at the door interrupted whatever he was planning to say next. A young, blonde, flight attendant stepped in with a smile on her face.

"Mr. Rivera?” She called in a sultry voice. “We'll be landing in approximately two hours. Can I get you anything?"

He shook his head. "No, thank you."

Marco straightened, his demeanor shifting back to charming. "Just make sure the car is waiting when we land."

"Of course, sir."

He left with her, the door closing behind them.

The moment they were gone, I started struggling again, yanking at the ropes until my wrists were raw and bleeding.

The door opened again but it was just the flight attendant this time.

"Please," I gasped. "Please, you have to help me. I'm Arya Vitale. My family… they're looking for me. If you just make a call, you’ll be handsomely rewarded."

"I know who you are," the attendant said calmly, refilling a water glass on the side table.

My chest flared with hope. "Then you know-"

"I know you're under the Riveras' protection now. Mr. Santis has made that very clear." She met my eyes, and I saw no sympathy there. m. "No one can save you, Miss Vitale. You belong to the Riveras now."

How could she… how could she say something like that without any emotion.

“I suggest you adjust quickly to your new life now.” Her hard blue eyes met mine and she smiled. “And learn how to please Mr. Rivera. He’s not all that terrible.”

She left, closing the door softly behind her and her words echoed in my head.

I was going insane. I had to be because this couldn't be real.

"Giovanni," I sobbed into the empty cabin. "Please find me."