Chapter 151 Finally Found

Chapter 151 Finally Found

GIOVANNI’S POV

The coordinates Arya had given me were burned into my mind.

It was a remote and isolated location in the mountains in South America… exactly where Marco would take someone he wanted to keep hidden.

I sat in the private plane, my leg bouncing with nervous energy, unable to sit still. My

mind kept replaying her voice on that phone call.
After nearly losing her. I was now less than an hour away from having her back.

"You need to calm down," Enzo said from across the cabin. "You're going to give yourself a heart attack before we even land."

"I can't." My hands clenched and unclenched reflexively. "What if she's hurt? What if Marco already found her?"

"You told her to stay somewhere safe," Enzo reminded me. "I’m sure she took that advice.” 

The thought of Arya hiding somewhere in fear of not getting to be caught made my chest ache. 

Was she even fine? How did she manage to escape Marco?

Behind us, ten of our best men with their weapons ready. We had kept the team small deliberately because this was a rescue. 

We get in, get Arya and the baby, get out. We could deal with the Riveras later.

"Remember what we discussed," Enzo said quietly. "She's been through hell. She might not be… ready for certain things. You need to be patient."

I jerked my head into a small head and murmured. "I know." 

But actually seeing her, and not pulling her into my arms immediately… that would be the hardest thing I'd ever done.

"And the baby," Enzo continued. "You're meeting your child for the first time. Don't expect an instant bond. Just… take it slow."

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.

The pilot's voice came over the intercom. "Ten minutes to landing, sir."

Ten minutes.

I pulled out my phone to check the map again, memorizing the last checkpoint Arya’s phone had displayed. 

Immediately we got the location, I told her to destroy the phone so someone else wouldn’t track her either. 

It wasn’t the best plan since we had no means of communicating but Arya had to stay safe. 

The plane touched down on a tiny private airstrip that was little more than a paved clearing in the forest. 

We were taking all the necessary means to avoid being noticed. Because if the Riveras knew we were here, they might move against Arya before we could reach her.

A car was waiting, as arranged. Nothing fancy, it was just a nondescript sedan that wouldn't draw attention.

Enzo drove while I navigated, my men following in a second vehicle.

"Left at the next turn," I said, my eyes on the GPS. "Then straight for three kilometers."

The roads were rough and barely maintained. We passed through small villages where lights were already out, everyone asleep. 

The only sounds were our engines and the crunch of gravel under our tires.

My phone rang and Robert’s name flashed brightly on my screen.,

I answered immediately and pressed the phone to my ear. "Is everything alright?"

"I should be asking you that." Robert's voice was stronger than the last time we spoke"Have you found her yet?"

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. "Almost. We're fifteen minutes out."

"Good. Bring her home safely, Giovanni.” He said and I could hear the emotion in his voice. “Both of them."

In the background, I heard Christabel's voice. "Tell him good luck! And tell him to hurry!"

Despite everything, I smiled. "I will. I promise."

"And Giovanni?” Robert added gently. “Whatever she needs, you give it to her. Understood?"

I chuckled under my breath. "Understood."

I ended the call just as Enzo pulled off the main road onto what could barely be called a path. 

There were trees closing in on either side, branches scraping the car's roof.

"According to the GPS, we're almost there," Enzo said.

My heart was hammering so hard I could hear it in my ears. "How close?"

"Half a kilometer."

I couldn't wait that long. "Stop the car."

Enzo shot me a look. “Gio-“

"Stop. I'm going on foot from here."

Enzo pulled over and I was out before the vehicle fully stopped. My men piled out of the second car, spreading out to secure the perimeter.

"There," Enzo pointed. "Through those trees. I can see a building."

I squinted and my heart skipped at the sight of the abandoned warehouse. It definitely looked like the only plausible place for Arya to hide. 

I started walking, then jogging, then running. 

Enzo shouted something behind me but I didn't stop. I burst through rusted metal doors and stood in front of the warehouse, breathing hard.

"ARYA!" My voice echoed off the metal walls. "Arya, it's me! It's Giovanni!"

There was no response. Inside was pitch dark and I fumbled with my phone for a moment before turning on the flashlight. 

There was nothing but old, stale boxes and long metal rods.

I cleared my throat and shouted closer. "I'm alone! Well, with Enzo and some guards, but they're staying back!" I moved closer into the building. "Please, baby, if you're in there…"

There was still no response and doubt started to creep in.

What if we had gotten the wrong coordinates? What if she was forced to lure me here? 

What if this was a trap? 

Enzo and the men walked back into the building, gathering around me with their own torchlights.

"There’s no sign of anyone," one of them reported. "The building appears empty."

No. No, she had to be here. The GPS coordinates matched this location.

"Arya!" I tried again, louder this time. "Please! I know you're scared. I know you don't trust me. But I'm here to take you home! You and the baby!"

There was still nothing and my chest was getting tight. Maybe she decided at the last minute that she didn’t want to see me and ran away. 

My hope was about to be completely depleted when I noticed movement 

A figure emerged from the shadows, small and hunched, holding something against her chest.

My breath caught at the sight of Arya hobbling towards the light.

She looked…. God, she looked terrible. 

Her face was gaunt and stained with dried blood, her cheekbones sharp where they were soft before. 

And she was swimming in an oversized men's shirt that hung to her knees, her legs bare and covered in bruises and scratches. 

Her hair was tangled and dirty and one ankle was wrapped in what looked like a torn piece of fabric, dark with old blood.

And in her arms, wrapped in a blanket was our baby.

"Fuck," Enzo breathed beside me. "What did they do to her?”

"I’ll kill them. All of them." My voice came out strangled.

Arya stood there, swaying slightly, her eyes huge and dark in her pale face. She stared at me like she couldn't quite believe I was real either.

I took a step forward but she flinched and that movement broke something in me.