Chapter 153 End Everything

Chapter 153 End Everything
ARYA’S POV

The Vitale estate loomed ahead and the sight of it made my chest squeezed with ache. 

I grew up here, but sitting in Giovanni's car wearing someone else's shoes and a dead man's shirt, I barely recognized it.

"We're here," Giovanni said softly from the driver's seat.

I looked down at Dante, sleeping peacefully in my arms, and tried to steady my breathing. 

"I know this is overwhelming," Giovanni continued. "But your family just want to see you. You don't have to stay long if you don't want to."

He reached out, probably to touch my hand in comfort, but I flinched before I could stop myself.

He pulled back immediately. "Sorry. I'm sorry."

"It's not-" I couldn't tell him that every male touch felt like Marco's hands on me. "I just need time."

"Take all the time you need." He opened his door. "I'll walk you in and make sure you're settled, then I'll go. Unless you want me to leave now."

"No." I snapped before I could help it. "I mean… stay. Just until I'm inside."

I didn't know why I wanted him there. After everything, Giovanni should have been the last person I trusted. 

But he came for me after everything. 

The front door opened before we reached it.

My father stood there, and I barely recognized him. He had lost a lot of weight and now a cane was supporting his frame. 

"Arya." My name broke on his lips.

Then he was moving toward me despite his obvious pain, and my mother was there too, and Christabel, and suddenly I was surrounded by my family.

Dad reached me first. He pulled me into his arms and I felt his whole body shake with sobs.

"My baby girl," he choked out. "My precious girl. You’re here… you’re actually here.” 

"I'm okay, Papa." My own tears started falling. "I'm okay."

Mom’s hands were checking me over. "Let me see you. Oh, sweetheart, you're so thin. And your face… what did he do to your face?"

"Mama, I'm fine.”

"The baby!" Christabel appeared beside us, her eyes huge as she stared at Dante. "Is that… can I see him?"

I shifted so she could see Dante's sleeping face, and she gasped.

"He's so small! And he has dark hair just like—-" She stopped herself, glancing at Giovanni who stood a few paces back.

"His name is Dante," I said quietly.

"Dante," Mama repeated, touching his tiny hand. "Oh, Arya. He's perfect."

They ushered me inside, all talking at once, asking questions I couldn't answer yet. I looked back over my shoulder and saw Giovanni still standing there.

Our eyes met for just a moment but I looked away first.


My childhood room was exactly as I left it. It felt like a museum exhibit of a girl who didn't exist anymore.

"The doctor will be here in an hour to check on you," my mom said, bustling around the room. "And we have the nursery all set up for Dante. I chose everything myself and I hope you don't mind, but we wanted to be ready when we got you back."

She was talking too fast and I couldn’t even make sense of anything she said.

"Mom." I touched her arm. "Can I… can I just rest for a bit?"

Her eyes widened “. "Of course! Of course, you must be exhausted." She turned to me, her hands fluttering uncertainly. "Do you want me to stay? Or should I… would you like privacy?"

I looked down at Dante, still sleeping in my arms. I have been holding him for hours, terrified that if I put him down he would disappear.

"Let me take him," she said gently. "Just for a little while. So you can rest properly."

I shook my head. 

"Sweetheart, you need sleep. And you can't do that while holding him." She held out her arms. "I'll put him in the bassinet right here in your room. You'll be able to see him the whole time."

Every instinct screamed at me to refuse. But I was so tired. 

"Okay," I whispered.

She took Dante, cooing at him as she placed him in the bassinet they set up beside the bed. "There we go. You just sleep, baby. Your mama needs to rest."

She turned back to me. "Now you. Into bed."

I climbed under the covers, and the softness of real sheets almost made me cry. 

When was the last time I slept in an actual bed and felt relief?

"Sleep," Mama said, kissing my forehead. "I'll wake you when the doctor arrives."

She left, closing the door softly behind her.

I stared at the ceiling, my body heavy as lead and sleep pulled at me. 

When I woke up Marco's hands were around my throat and his voice was in my ear. "You're mine. You'll always be mine."

My eyes widened in horror, and a scream was trapped inside as I stared at him.

"You killed me," Marco's corpse said, his throat torn open but his mouth still moving. "You're a murderer."

"NO!”

I was screaming and thrashing against hands that held me down.

"No! Let me go! Don't touch me!"

"Arya! Arya, stop! You're safe!"

Dad’s voice cut through the nightmare. His face swam into focus above me and I realized I was in my bed.
My childhood bed in my childhood room.

"Dad?" My voice was hoarse from screaming.

"I'm here, baby girl." He was sitting on the edge of my bed. "You were having a nightmare. You're safe now."

But I couldn't stop the sobs that tore out of me.

"Please don't leave," I begged, grabbing his shirt. "Please. I can't… I need someone to stay."

"Shh, I'm not going anywhere." He pulled me against his chest. "I'm right here. I'll stay as long as you need me to."

He kissed the top of my head. "I promise, Arya. I will never let anyone hurt you again.”

I let myself believe it, just for a moment, and finally fell into a dreamless sleep.

The sound of loud male voices and thundering boots woke me.

Panic seized me. Were they here? Had the Riveras found me?

I stumbled out of bed, my ankle screaming in protest, and made my way to the door.

The hallway was full of armed men checking weapons and talking in low voices.

My heart hammered and I ran downstairs, nearly falling twice, until I found my mom in the sitting room.

She was holding Dante, rocking him gently, looking remarkably calm considering the small army gathering in our house.

"Mama? What's happening? Why are all these men here?"

"It's alright, sweetheart." She stood, still holding Dante. "Giovanni is launching an attack on the Rivera strongholds tonight. Your father is providing backup forces."

The words took a moment to sink in. "An attack? Tonight?"

"Using the information you provided." Sje said. "They're going to destroy the Rivera family once and for all."

I nodded slowly. "Is he… is Giovanni here?"

"He left an hour ago but Enzo is going with him. So are the Delgado’s, and most of our men."

My stomach twisted “. "What if something goes wrong?" 

Mama shifted Dante to one arm and pulled me close with the other. "They will. Giovanni will return.”

Dante made a small noise, and Mama looked down at him. "Someone's waking up. Are you hungry, little one?"

She handed him to me, and I held my son close, breathing in his sweet baby scent.

Somewhere across the city, Giovanni was going to avenge what Marco had done.

I just had to hope they all came back alive.