Chapter 144 A wicked chance
Chapter 144 A wicked chance
ARYA’S POV
Marco was in the living room, throwing items into a duffel bag. "About time. The car's out front. Let's go."
"Marco." I whispered
"Not another word. Move."
I walked toward the door, my mind racing. Once we were in the car, my opportunity would be gone. I needed to…
A phone rang, cutting off my thoughts. It was the landline, mounted on the kitchen wall. My heart jumped, could it be…
I looked behind me, Marco had not noticed yet. This could be my chance.
Running quickly, I rushed towards the phone and grabbed the receiver. "Hello?"
No one said anything for a moment and my heart almost dropped in disappointment. But then I heard,
"Arya?"
The voice made my knees buckle but I steadied myself and gripped the phone tighter.
"Giovanni?" I could barely breathe. "Oh my God, Giovanni. Is that you?"
I could hear him speak in rapid Italian, shooting orders. My heart tightened even further and a smile nearly crossed my lips.
He still sounded the same, although his voice has a raspiness to it now. I shut my eyes, allowing myself to imagine how he would look now.
“Arya?” He called, sounding almost desperate. “Can you hear me?”
My eyes flew open and I was surprised to see tears blurring my vision. “Yes. I can hear you.
“Where are you? Are you okay?” He was almost yelling, I shot a wary look behind me but Marco was still nowhere to be found. “What about the baby?”
The baby? How did he know about the baby?
He called my name again, snapping me out of my train of thoughts and I swallowed tightly.
"I'm… we're-" My throat tightened and I choked out as tears streamed down my face "We're alive. We're okay. But Marco-"
He sighed. "I know about Marco. I know everything. Just tell me where you are."
"I don't know the exact address.” I licked my lips nervously, my heart drumming faster now. “It's an apartment building but there’s a hospital close by and it’s-"
A hand ripped the phone from my grasp and I turned around. Marco stood there, his face purple with rage.
"You bitch," he snarled, then his fist connected with my face.
I fell, Dante still clutched to my chest. A blazing hot pain exploded through my jaw, my vision going black at the edges.
"Get up!" Marco grabbed my arm, hauling me to my feet. "We're leaving. NOW."
He started dragging me toward the door. I could hear Giovanni's voice, shouting from the phone that now dangled on its cord.
This was it. My last chance.
With my free hand, I reached behind my back and pulled out the gun.
"Let me go." My voice shook but the gun was steady, pointed at Marco's chest. "Let me go or I swear to God, I’ll shoot you!”
Marco froze. Then, slowly, he released my arm and stepped back, his hands raised.
But he was smiling.
"You don't have the guts," he said softly. "You've never hurt anyone in your life. You're not going to start now."
"Try me." My finger moved to the trigger.
His eyes narrowed then he scoffed. "Besides, that gun doesn't even have bullets. I’m sure you stole it from me but I keep it empty, just for the psychological effect."
"Don’t try me, Marco.” I warned, my finger moving to the trigger. “Stay back.”
He took a step forward. "You can’t shoot me, Arya and you know it. But go ahead and pull the trigger. See what happens when…”
He was still talking when I pressed the trigger. The explosion was deafening. The recoil sent me stumbling backward.
The bullet buried itself in the wall a foot from Marco's head.
He stared at the hole, then at me, his expression shifting from smug to shocked to furious.
"You crazy bitch!" He snarled, saliva flying out of his mouth.
I didn’t care anymore. I would shoot him in the fucking head if it came to it.
"Stay back!" I raised the gun again, my hands shaking so badly I could barely hold it. "I have one more bullet. Don't make me use it."
"Arya." His voice changed, became soft and coaxing. "Arya, baby, listen to me. You don't want to do this. Just put the gun down. We can talk about this.
"Shut up!" I was crying now, tears and snot running down my face. "Shut up with your lies. I'm not stupid. I'm not going anywhere with you."
Marco’s eyes darted between me and the raised gun. "You have nowhere else to go. Your family doesn't want you.” He stepped closer, his voice still soothing. Giovanni is just using you to get to your father. I'm the only one who actually loves you-"
He lunged for me and I pulled the trigger. This time I didn't miss him.
Marco screamed, grabbing his hand where the bullet had torn through. Blood spurted between his fingers.
"You shot me! You fucking shot me!" He screamed, I could see the hole where the bullet had run through.
I didn't wait to see more. I bolted for the door.
My feet kept slipping on the polished floor but I didn’t slow down. Dante was crying again, jolted awake by the gunshots, but I couldn't stop to comfort him.
Thankfully, Marco's car was parked right outside. The door was open and there were several boxes in the backseat.
“Please, let the keys be there.” I prayed as I headed for the door and cried out. “Thank you!
The keys were still in the ignition. I slammed the open back door and reached for the front door.
Thank God. Thank God.
I yanked open the door, threw myself into the driver's seat, and locked the doors.
My hands fumbled with Dante's car seat. I insisted Marco install one weeks ago, and I managed to strap him in with shaking fingers.
"It's okay, baby. We're okay.” I petted his head before turning to the wheels. “We're going to be okay."
The engine roared to life. I threw it into drive and floored it.
The car lurched forward, tires squealing. I had only driven a handful of times in my life, and never under these circumstances, but adrenaline and terror made my movements sharp.
I flew out of the tiled pavement and into the street.