Chapter 96 Rags and Ritches 37

Chapter 96 Rags and Ritches 37
Aria

I was trapped. 

Trapped in a box like a rat in a trap. Four walls, one metal door locked from the inside. No window, no air.

Trapped.

I was trapped in other ways as well. I couldn’t catch my breath. And the feeling of being suffocated was trapping me in my body as well.

And I couldn’t fucking breathe.

“It’s going to be ok, trust me.” Dante’s weakening voice echoed around me, forcing my head up. I was half expecting to find him waiting at the door. All healed and being his usual cocky self but when I looked around there was nothing in my cinder block cage but me. 

Alone with my thoughts and trapped.

His last words to me had been to try and give me comfort. Even though I had been the one who had shot him.

I had tried to kill him before, hell murder was always my go to setting. If I felt trapped, I slaughtered my way out of it. Not that I could do that now.

I had shot my husband. Just the last among a long line of men that I had taken out of the world. If the police found out about them then I would never see the light of day again.

Even now they were probably building a case about me. 

Sitting on the edge of the plastic mattress which was no thicker than a gym mat, I dropped my face into my hands and just tried to concentrate on my breathing for a second.

I had no clue if Dante was dead or not. He had been losing a lot of blood. A gut shot wouldn’t kill you right away, it was a slow death. The kind of death that I had always thought Dante deserved. But now I wasn’t so sure.

Maybe becoming a mother had softened me. Or maybe and I suspected this was the real reason. Becoming a mother had matured me. I never saw the world in black and white anymore.

The thought of Theo made a sob rip its way out of my throat.

If Dante died and by some miracle I got out of this without hard prison time then I would have to look at my son and know that I took his father away from him forever. Even if he didn’t ask about his father now. There would come a day where he did.

Of course, that was the best case scenario. I was going to prison. Whether it was for Dante’s death or another. I was never going to be free again.

I was going to be locked up in a cage forever  and that was the thing I most feared.

A sob that was half scream ripped its way out of my throat. Falling to the side I pulled my knees into my chest and wrapped around them.  The screaming sobs that were tearing themselves out of my throat were wild and desperate. I sounded like a wild animal. 

No.

I sounded like I used to. When papa was alive and I did something wrong and he locked me in-

My vision blurred, grey and black swirling around the edges and eating up my sight. And that was just another way for me to be trapped.

“Get the fuck out of the way.”

I was almost completely blind now, trapped in my body but I thought I recognised that voice.

Dimly I heard the cell door open but it sounded like it was coming from far away. Down a long dark tunnel. I wasn’t even sure it was really imagining it. I was too far gone.

I was no longer Aria, who was master of her own destiny. Who didn’t take any shit. I was back to being a scared little girl at the mercy of powerful men.

Powerless and afraid.

The air in front of my face moved, and I was pretty sure someone crouched down in front of me. I just couldn’t see them.

“Aria?” Warm dry hands smoothed down my cheeks.

Nothing came out of my lips but more screams.

“What the fuck have you done to her?” The angry male voice demanded.

“Nothing.” I didn’t recognise that voice. “She just started screaming. We haven’t even questioned her yet.”

“And you won’t be. The charges are bogus.”

There was a shuffle of booted feet but even though I knew things were happening around me. I couldn’t see them. 

Someone scoffed. “We all know she’s a -“

There was the sound of a scuffle and a girlish yelp from a males lips. “I said the charges are bogus. And don’t ever think I’ll forget your treatment of her. I have a long memory.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” The strangers voice was bitter.

There was a laugh. A completely mocking laugh. “Oh you know who I am.”

“Judge?” I whispered. Because that’s who I was hearing. The Judge.

“Hey kid.” Again strong fingers stroked down my cheek and a flicker of light entered my eyes. “How you doing? Can you see me?”

I shook my head.

“But you can hear me. You’re just having a panic attack. Listen to my voice. You’re going to be just fine. Trust me.”

It was so similar to what Dante had said that my eyes snapped open and I could suddenly see again. I gazed up at his still handsome face. It had been years since I had seen him and I expected to see grey in his hair like Dante’s. But Christian’s hair was as thick and dark as ever.

“You dyed your hair.”

His eyes narrowed and then throwing back his head he boomed out a laugh. “As brutal as ever. Can you walk kid, we need to get out of here or do you need a few more minutes.”

Oh I wanted to get out of here more than anything but I wasn’t sure my legs would work yet. I knew The judge would carry me, but was I fuck letting that happen.

“A few minutes.” I whispered, my voice shook. “What are you doing here judge?”

“You’re brother called.”

My eyebrows slammed down. “And you just happened to be in the city.”

“I live in the city.” His eyes sparkled. “I never left. Me and Taylor keep a house here. Someone had to keep an eye on you”

I did a double take. I’d kept tabs on him but I had never realised he was so close. “You knew where I was?”

He looked at me like I was stupid. “Someone needed to, and Gio staying in the city would have been more suspicious. I’ve always had a base here.”

“Have you?” I didn’t know that. I didn’t really know much about any of the men in my life. “Did you know about-“ I bit my lip.

“About Theo?” He nodded. “Yeah, I knew. And he’s fine by the way. They are both with Taylor. Did I tell you she’s expecting?”

My head shot up. “You’re going to be a dad?”

He nodded and suddenly he looked nervous. Something he never did. “Twins.”

“You’ll be a great dad.” I reached out to touch his shoulder.

“I don’t know about that. Seeing as I am what I am.”

He would be a good dad. Just like he was a good husband.

“Dante?” I asked and my voice cracked.

The nervous happiness on The Judge's face slipped away. Reaching out he took me by the elbow and helped me up. “Let’s go Aria. We need to talk.”