Chapter 92 Doomed
AYRA’S POV
The nightmare wouldn't stop replaying.
I kept seeing Matteo’s face and the way his body crumpled like a puppet with blood spreading across the marble in a crimson pool that seemed to grow and grow until it swallowed everything.
And Giovannieyes, they were dead and cold, staring at me like I was something to be scraped off his shoe.
“His blood is on your hands.” He snapped.
I woke with a gasp, my body jerking upright. For one blessed moment, I thought it had all been a horrible, twisted dream.
Then I saw the locked door and the photographs of Marco and me scattered across the floor where I collapsed last night.
All of it was real.
My entire body ached. I fell asleep on the floor and now every muscle screamed in protest as I tried to move.
My throat was raw from screaming and my eyes felt swollen and gritty from crying.
How long had I been in here? I had no idea.
The sound of a key turning in the lock made me scramble backward, my heart hammering. The door opened, and Claire stepped through carrying a tray.
"Claire!" I called in relief. "Oh God, Claire, please, you have to help me. I didn't do anything. I swear I didn't!"
"Eat." She set the tray down on the floor, and she wouldn't meet my eyes.
My throat tightened immediately. "Claire, please, just listen to me."
"I can't." Her voice cracked slightly. "I'm just here to bring you food."
I crawled toward her, my hand reaching out to grab hers. "Please. You know me. You know I wouldn't do anything like that.”
For a moment, just a moment, something flickered in her expression.
Her fingers tightened around mine, and I thought she might say something.
"Claire." Enzo's voice interrupted us and she stiffened immediately.
She pulled away from me immediately, standing up. "I was just leaving."
"Good." Enzo stepped aside to let her pass, his eyes never leaving me. "Go."
Claire hesitated at the door, looking back at me once. I saw pity in her expression but then she was gone, and I was alone with Enzo.
He closed the door behind him, leaning against it with his arms crossed. The man who joked with me and looked at me like family… that man was gone.
This Enzo was a stranger.
"Enzo, please." I tried to stand, but my legs were shaking. "Please, just let me explain."
He stepped back, eyeing me with contempt.
"Explain what?" His voice was hard. "Explain how you fed him information and helped orchestrate an attack that killed seventeen of our men?”
I pushed myself to stand again, even as my body cried out in agony.
"I didn't!" The words tore out of me. "I didn't tell him anything about Giovanni or the business, I swear!"
He scoffed. "Then explain the timing." He pushed off the door, stalking toward me.
"Explain how, an hour after you left, we were attacked and how they knew exactly where Giovanni's safe was”
"I don't know!" I was crying again, hot tears streaming down my face. "I don't know how they knew! Heck, I don’t even know what safe you’re talking about.”
He rolled his eyes and laughed. "You don’t know what we are talking about?" His laugh was bitter. "Isn’t that why you conveniently spent the night in his room.”
I blinked, my chest tightening. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
"The only explanation is that you betrayed us." He crouched down so we were at eye level, and the disgust in his expression made me want to disappear. "I trusted you, Arya. We all did.”
His breath hitched. "Giovanni let you into his heart. And this is how you repay us?"
"I didn't betray you." My voice was barely a whisper. "I would never do that."
"Save your lies for someone who cares." He stood abruptly. "I'm done listening."
"Wait!" I grabbed at his arm, desperate. "Where's Giovanni? I need to see him and make him understand.”
Enzo glared at me. "He's gone."
I blinked again. What?"
"He left this morning. Can't say I blame him… if the woman I loved had destroyed everything I built, I would want to disappear too."
"No." I was shaking my head, tears blurring my vision. "No, he can't… where did he go?"
"Like I'd tell you." Enzo pulled away from my grip.
My body was trembling now and I felt like crumpling to the floor again. "Enzo, please."
"Eat your food or don't. I don't really care anymore." He headed for the door, then paused. "Oh, and Arya? Don't bother screaming or begging. No one's coming."
The door slammed shut then the lock clicked, and I was alone again.
The next two weeks dragged on in agonizing slowness. I tried the door but it was always locked.
Claire came at the same time to give me my food, she never spoke to me and was fine immediately the tray touched the table.
I could do nothing but stare at the ceilings all day, dealing with the knowledge that Giovanni was no longer in this house.
I was currently pacing the room until my legs gave out then I stared at the photographs of Marco and me, trying to understand how this had all gone so wrong.
‘I'm sorry,’ he had said. ‘I wish I could do more.’
Had he known? Had he been planning this the whole time?
The not knowing was driving me insane. I was trapped in this room with no information or any way to reach Giovanni.
My eyes drifted to the window. It was tall, narrow, with bars on the outside but maybe…
I dragged a chair over and climbed up, examining the window frame.
I worked at it with my fingernails, then with the edge of a fork from the breakfast tray. After what felt like hours, I felt it open just a little.
With a final push, the window swung open and cold air rushed in.
I almost sobbed with relief. The drop was significant, maybe fifteen feet to the ground, but there was a drainpipe nearby. If I could reach it…
I didn't let myself think about the consequences. I just moved.
Getting through the window was harder than I expected. I scraped my arms, bruised my ribs, and nearly fell twice.
But finally, I was outside, clinging to the drainpipe, and inching my way down.
My foot slipped on the last section. I fell the remaining six feet, landing hard. Pain exploded through my ankle and I bit back a scream, pressing my hand over my mouth.
My ankle was definitely twisted, maybe worse. But I could still move.
I limped toward the main house, and every step was agony.
The closer I got, the more my heart raced until I heard a click. The feeling of cold metal pressed against the back of my head made me freeze.
"Going somewhere?" Enzo asked.
I turned slowly, my hands raised. "Please, I just need to understand what happened.”
"Maybe we gave you too much liberty," he said, his expression hard. "Clearly, we need to be more clear about your situation."
"Enzo, please, just listen to me."
He didn't listen. He shoved his gun into his holster, grabbed me, and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
"No! NO!" I screamed, pounding on his back, kicking with my good leg. "Put me down! LET ME GO!"
He didn't even flinch, instead carrying me back toward the house, my screams echoing across the grounds.
Through my tears, I saw the staff lined up outside; Maria with her hand over her mouth and Claire with tears streaming down her face.
"Please!" I begged them, reaching out. "Please, someone help me! I didn't do anything!"
No one moved or spoke.
Enzo carried me back inside, and threw me into the room with enough force that I skidded across the floor. My injured ankle screamed in pain.
"Bar the windows," he told someone in the hallway. "All of them and post guards downstairs. She doesn't leave this room for any reason."
"Enzo, please." I crawled toward the door, but he was already closing it.
"You did this to yourself, Arya." He said before slamming the doors.
Moments later, guards returned with wooden boards and hammers.
I watched, helpless, as they nailed the boards across the window.
Darkness crept in as they worked, board by board, until finally, only a thin sliver of light remained.
I sat in the growing dimness, my ankle throbbing and heart shattered.
Giovanni was gone. No one believed me. And I was trapped in this room with no way out and no way to prove my innocence.
I drew my knees to my chest, wrapped my arms around them, and let the sobs come.
I was doomed.