Chapter 95 Last Chance
AYRA’S POV
I stopped in front of the bathroom door, trying to work up the courage to open it.
“Just do it, Arya.” I whispered to myself.
A soft knock at the door made me jump. I quickly shoved the test into my pocket, my heart racing.
"Arya?" Jasmine called but her voice was muffled through the wood. "It's me. Can we talk?"
I moved to the door, pressing my palm against it. "Jasmine?"
"Please. I just... I need to apologize for everything."
The lock clicked and the door opened. Jasmine stood there, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
“I had to convince the guards to give me a moment.” She said with a shaky laugh and I tried to smile back but my lips felt too stiff.
She stepped closer and took my hand. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "For what Enzo said and for not fighting harder.”
"Stop." I cut her off, my own tears threatening to spill. "You have nothing to apologize for. You're the only one who's been kind to me."
She shook her head firmly. "That's not enough though, is it?" Her voice was trembling now. "I should have done more.”
"You can't make them believe something they don't want to believe." I said. "But thank you for trying.”
We stood there for a moment, just holding hands, and I felt some of the crushing loneliness ease just a little.
"Come on," Jasmine said, wiping her eyes. "Let me at least help you-"
The fire alarm erupted, and we both froze.
"What’s going on?" I whispered although I had a faint idea already.
"Miss Jasmine, get back!" One of the guards burst out from the corridor. his hand on his weapon. "You need to go now!"
"What's happening?" Jasmine demanded.
But the guard was already pushing her aside, reaching for me. "You. Get away from the door!”
Heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway and Enzo marched towards me, looking murderous.
"What did you do?" He grabbed my arm, his fingers digging in painfully. "What the fuck did you do?"
"Nothing!" I gasped. "I didn't do anything, I've been in here!"
"Bullshit." He shoved me backward into the room. I stumbled, barely catching myself. "Jasmine, we need to go.”
She scowled at me. "Enzo, stop treating her like that!”
"NOW!"
Jasmine shot me one last anguished look before Enzo pulled her away. The door slammed shut and the lock clicked.
But I could hear the shouting now, followed by the sound of gunfire.
No. No!
I pressed myself against the wall, my hands over my ears, but I couldn't block it out.
It was just like that night when they had attacked and Giovanni had stood in the foyer covered in blood and…
Matteo's face flashed in my mind and I felt sick.
I lurched toward the bathroom, bile rising in my throat, when I heard the lock clicking.
I spun around, my heart in my throat, to see a figure in a ski mask step into the room.
A scream built in my chest but it was cut off abruptly when the figure pulled off the mask to reveal Marco.
"Come on," he said urgently, reaching for me. "We need to go."
I staggered backward. "What are you… you actually came here.”
"No time for questions. We have maybe two minutes before they realize this is a diversion." He grabbed my arm. "Move, Arya."
"No." I yanked away from him. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
"What?" He looked genuinely shocked. "Arya, I'm trying to save you."
"Save me?" A hysterical laugh bubbled up. "You did this! You used me, you betrayed Giovanni and got people killed-"
He sighed. "I did what I had to do, Arya."
"What you had to do?" I stomped forward, pushing my finger against his chest. "What you had to… Marco, they think I'm a traitor because of you!”
My voice quivered aa I spoke. "Matteo is dead because of you."
"I didn't mean for that to happen." He whispered.
"But it did!" I was shaking now, but I didn’t care. "And now you show up here, cause another attack, and expect me to just... what? Run away with you?"
"Yes!" He stepped closer, his hands out like he was approaching a skittish animal. "I want you away from here."
My eyes narrowed. “Let me ask you this,” I dropped my finger from his chest. “Did my father send you to do this?”
He looked away, his eyes focused on the floor and my heart started to this faster
"Answer me!" I screamed. "Did my father send you, Marco? Or have you betrayed him as well?”
Marco's jaw clenched. "You don’t understand.”
“Then make me,” I hissed. “Make me understand.”
He looked at me then, his hands fisting at his sides. "We should discuss this later. Somewhere safe."I'm not going with you," I said firmly.
"Don't be stupid-“
"Don't." I pointed at him, my hand shaking. "Don't you dare call me stupid. Tell me what's going on. Tell me why Giovanni's men have photographs of us together right before they were attacked."
He reached for me but I dodged his grip. "I told you, we don't have time, Arya!"
"Make time!" I was crying now, angry tears streaming down my face. "You owe me that much!"
"I owe you?" His voice hardened. "I've been risking my life to protect you."
"By destroying the people close to me?"
"Close to you? What are you talking about?” He yelled, throwing his arms up in the air. “Giovanni doesn't care about you, he cares about leverage against your father!"
My heart stuttered.
"That's not true." But even as I said it, doubt crept in. Was it true? Had Giovanni only ever seen me as a pawn?
No. The way he looked at me and touched me. That wasn't fake.
Was it?
"Arya, please." Marco whispered. "Come with me and I’ll explain everything. But we have to go now."
I stared at him and I realized I didn't know him at all.
"No," I whispered.
His expression hardened. He moved forward, grabbing my arm roughly. "Do you want to stay in this room, locked up like an animal? Because I'm not coming back for you, Arya. This is your one chance."
I tried to pull away, but his grip was iron. "Let go of me!”
"You're being a fool!”
My hand flew up and connected with his cheek, the slap echoing through the room.
We both froze, breathing hard.
"I don't know who you are," I said, my voice trembling. "I don't know what you've done or why. But I'm not going with you. Not until you tell me the truth.”
Marco stared at me, his cheek reddening where I hit him. Then he snarled something in Italian.
He released me abruptly, and I stumbled back.
"Everything I do-" He stopped, his jaw working. When he spoke again, his voice was strained. "Everything I've done has been to protect you.”
"Then tell me the truth," I pleaded. "Who are you working for? Where is your loyalty?”
He didn’t respond, instead he pulled the ski mask back on. "You've made your choice.”
“You want to stay with the people who hate you, who think you're a traitor?” He snapped. “Fine. But don't expect me to save you again."
He stormed towards the door and paused, looking back at me one last time.
"Please," he said, and his voice cracked on the word. "Please come with me. Just... trust me. One more time."
I wanted to. God, part of me wanted to so badly.
But I thought of the secrets surrounding him and how I didn't know who to trust anymore. For some reason, this prison seemed infinitely better than what Marco was offering.
"No," I whispered.
His shoulders sagged. "Then you've lost your chance."
He left, closing the door softly behind him.
I stood there, frozen, listening to his footsteps retreat. Then my legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor.
Had I just made the biggest mistake of my life? Should I have gone with him?
But leaving felt like abandoning any chance of proving my innocence to Giovanni.
I curled up on the floor, the pregnancy tests still hidden in my pocket, and cried until I had nothing left.