Chapter 94 Dinner with them
ARYA’S POV
At seven PM, the lock clicked open and one of the guards stepped in.
"Come with me," he said gruffly.
I looked up from where I was sitting on the floor, the unopened pregnancy tests hidden under my mattress.
"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice thin with anxiety.
He didn’t even look at me. "Just come."
"But where-“
"I said come." He snapped, making me flinch.
I stood on shaking legs, my twisted ankle still tender from my escape attempt. "Okay, I’ll follow you.
His response was a huff and I swallowed. Fear coiled in my stomach as I followed him out of the room and down the hallway.
Were they moving me somewhere worse? Had they decided to get rid of me entirely?
"Excuse me," I tried again as we descended the stairs. "If you would just tell me what's happening.”
"Shut up," the other guard snapped from behind me. "You'll find out when we get there."
I went quiet, my hands trembling as they led me through the house. When we reached the living room, I froze.
Enzo was there, sitting in one of the leather armchairs with a glass of whiskey. He didn't even look up when I entered.
Then Jasmine appeared from the dining room, and before I could process what was happening, she was pulling me into a crushing hug.
"Oh my God, Arya," she breathed against my hair. "I heard what happened, but I can't believe it!”.
"Jasmine." Enzo warned. "Don't."
She pulled back, her hands still gripping my arms. Her eyes were red-rimmed, like she had been crying.
"I begged him," she said quickly, her words tumbling over each other. "I begged Enzo to let you have dinner with us. At least for tonight. You can't just stay locked up in that room forever.”
"Jasmine," Enzo warned again.
"And he agreed," Jasmine finished, shooting her boyfriend a defiant look. "So you're eating with us. Like a human being."
I stared at her, then at Enzo, then back at her. "I don't understand."
"It's just dinner," Enzo said flatly, still not looking at me. "Don't read into it."
Maria appeared from the kitchen, carrying serving dishes. When she saw me, something flickered in her eyes but it was gone too quickly before I could read into it.
I set the food on the dining table without a word.
Jasmine guided me to a seat, her hand warm on my back. I sank into it, feeling like I might shatter at any moment.
The meal was awkward and tense.
Jasmine kept trying to make conversation, asking about my day, if I needed anything, and how I was feeling. I gave short answers, hyper-aware of Enzo's silence and the guards stationed at the door.
And the clock. I kept checking the clock.
Ten PM was creeping closer, and Marco's words kept echoing in my head.
What was he planning? Would he really try to break in? Would people get hurt because of me again?
"Arya?" Jasmine's voice pulled me back. "Are you okay? You look pale."
I snapped up from my food and forced a smile on my face.
"I'm fine," I lied, pushing food around my plate. "Just... tired."
She smiled back but it didn’t look like she trusted my words because she kept watching me closely after that so I ate more.
Surprisingly, the food did help. I realized I had barely eaten anything substantial in days, and having a real meal made me feel slightly more human.
When Maria came to clear the plates, she pressed something into my hand as she passed. It was a small velvet cake wrapped in a napkin.
Our eyes met for just a second, and she winked, mouthing the words.
“For strength, Miss.”
It almost made me cry.
"Time's up," one of the guards announced from the doorway. "We need to take her back."
"Already?" Jasmine stood abruptly. "It's only been an hour.”
He looked at Enzo before responding. “Those were the orders," he said firmly.
"Enzo, please." Jasmine turned to him, her voice pleading. "Just a little longer. What harm could it do?"
"No." Enzo finally looked at me, and the coldness in his voice made my breath hitch. "She goes back. Now."
"This is ridiculous!" Jasmine's voice rose. "She's not a prisoner!"
"She is exactly that." Enzo stood, his jaw tight. "And I'm following Giovanni's orders. The same Giovanni who she betrayed.”
I pressed my lips together, ignoring the ache in my chest at his words.
"Enzo!” Jasmine chided. “You don’t even have proof that she did-“
"It's okay," I said quietly, standing up. The dessert Maria had given me felt heavy in my hand. "I'll go back to my room. Thank you for dinner, Jasmine."
She frowned and her lips were pursed tightly. “But Arya-“
"Please don't fight because of me," I begged, looking between them. "Please. I'm not worth it."
The guards were already moving toward me. I let them take my arms and allowed them to lead me toward the stairs.
But I could still hear Jasmine's voice, thick with tears.
"This is going to destroy her. Can't you see that?” She yelled.
He was quiet for a long moment, then he said.
"I don't care." Enzo's voice was emotionless. "She destroyed Giovanni. Whatever happens to her now is her own fault."
Their voices faded as the guards marched me up the stairs, but the words stayed with me, echoing in my head.
‘I don't care. Whatever happens to her now is her own fault.’
Back in my room, the door locked behind me, I sank to the floor and pulled my legs up to my chest, inhaling sharply
Enzo didn't care if I was destroyed. Giovanni was gone, hiding from me. Even Jasmine's belief in me wasn't enough to change anything.
I was alone… and in less than three hours, Marco was going to try something that would probably get more people killed.
I pulled out the pregnancy tests from under my mattress, staring at the boxes in the dim light from the boarded window.
I needed to know before Marco came so with shaking hands, I opened the first box and headed to the small bathroom attached to my prison.
Whatever the result was, it would change everything.
And I had a terrible feeling that no matter what the results showed, I was already too broken to be saved.
💣 Suspense Builder
Okay but can we TALK about the timing???
Locked up.
Possibly pregnant.
Giovanni gone.
Marco planning something.
Do you really think all of that is a coincidence? 👀