16. Aria

Consciousness breaks through the fog. With it comes overwhelming hopelessness. I don't know how long I've been here. I was moved from the dingy place, and while this place isn't the Ritz, it's cleaner and doesn't smell bad. Not that it matters. Whenever I wake up, someone is back to drug me again, and everything, including my environment, slips away. For that reason, I lie quietly with my eyes closed. As sensation returns to me, I reconsider going back to sleep. I'm hungry and thirsty. My wrists are raw and burning.

The door opens, and I can't help instinctively flinching and tensing as my captor approaches. He pulls a chair next to the bed.

"Wake up!" He pokes at me.

"If you don't want me to sleep, stop drugging me." It occurs to me, once the words are out of my mouth, that I shouldn't be so snarky. This man could kill me at any time. The fact that he hasn't suggests he still thinks I have some value.

"Want to be treated like a princess? I can do that. But you have to do something for me."

I only stare at him.

"Your brother is Don Niko Leone, right?"

I still don't respond.

"You help me form an alliance with him to get rid of Conte and establish myself in New York?—"

I laugh even though I know it's not smart. I blame the drugs for lack of control of my responses.

His eyes flare with heat. "You find that funny?"

"Do you know my brother? He won't let you establish yourself in New York."

His jaw tightens. "He was letting Conte?—"

"That's a partnership."

"Fine. Partnership."

My brain is starting to clear. "What do you have to offer?"

He's the one laughing this time. "You."

I have no doubt that my brother loves me and will do what he needs to protect me, but he won't go into business with someone who is holding his sister hostage.

"So, your plan is to use me to get my brother to kill Luca and become a partner with you?"

He nods.

"And once I'm released, you think my brother will still want to do business with you?"

"I've saved you from Conte. He'll be grateful."

I rattle my handcuffed arm. "This isn't saving."

"I haven't forced myself on you or let my men touch you. I saved you from that. And you wanted away from Conte, right? I saved you from that."

I decide that if I want to get free, my best bet is to go along. My brother will eventually kill him, but by then I'll be free. Well, probably not free. Once I return to New York, Niko will likely lock me away. Or marry me off to one of his capos. My life won't be much different than it is now except, of course, the restraints won't dig into my wrists.

But if I go along, will Niko really help kill Luca? I imagine he will to save me. I can't be a part of that. Luca didn't turn out to be the man I thought he was, but that doesn't mean he should die. He gave me a choice, and I was the one who impulsively ran off when he said he'd send me home if I wanted. I'm here because of me, not Luca.

"Have you contacted my brother?"

"That's where you come in. You do your part, and everything will be okay. If not…" His eyes rake over my body. "Well, you're a beautiful woman…"

"My brother is Il Soldato della Morte. You don't want to make an enemy of him, Don…?" I figure he has to be a Don.

"Sabini, and your brother don"t scare me."

Then you're an idiot.

He holds up his phone. "You're to contact him. Let him know you're okay. Tell him to do business with me. If you say anything that turns him against me, I'll kill you."

I swallow and nod.

"Give me his number."

I rattle off Niko's number and can't decide whether I want him to answer or not. He may not pick up the phone since he won't know the number.

"Who is this?" Niko's voice comes through the phone.

"Don Leone, I'm Don Sabini. I have good news for you. I've saved your sister from Don Conte."

There is a pause, and I know my brother is assessing, thinking, planning. He's angry at Luca, but Niko also knows Luca.

"Let me speak to her."

Don Sabini holds out the phone to me as he mouths, "Be careful."

My mind is a whirl trying to come up with a coded way to let him know the situation. Niko is expecting me to be on a plane heading to New York. He must be suspicious about why I've missed it.

"Aria?"

"I'm sorry I missed the flight."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. This place is like when we were kids. Remember how Lorenzo used to play Don?" I bring up a childhood game my brother Lorenzo and Niko would play with me. It's been awhile since Niko and I have talked about our brother, who died along with our mother at the hands of rival Families.

Sabini's eyes narrow at me.

"Treated me like a princess," I finish. Of course, that isn't how it was. I'd be put in a closet, and Lorenzo and Niko would pretend to be looking for me to save me from an enemy Family. In hindsight, it's an odd game for children, but considering the violence in our lives, it makes perfect sense.

"Where are you?" He must know that Sabini is listening as he doesn't give any indication that he understands my message.

"Don Sabini has me."

He takes the phone. "She's in good care."

"I appreciate your saving my sister. I'm on my way to Italy as we speak. Where can I pick her up?"

"I'll give you those details when you arrive. I ask too for a meeting. I've heard much about you, Don Leone. I think we could mutually help each other."

"Is that so?"

"We have a common enemy. Luca Conte."

"Don Sabini, I'm happy to discuss business with you once my sister is safely headed back to New York."

"I'm sure you can understand my position. I'd prefer to talk with you first."

"I'm sure you're not suggesting that you're holding my sister hostage to coerce me into meeting with you?"

Sabini's lip sneers up. "Of course not. When you land, I'll let you know where we can meet. Your sister will be there. You'll see that she's safe."

"You'll hear from me in a few hours."

The line goes dead. Sabini sits back, lost in thought as if he's assessing the call.

"You got what you wanted," I say, hoping it will assure him.

He rises. "For your sake, I hope so." He goes to leave.

"Can't you take off these restraints? I don't look like a woman who's been rescued." I'm sure my hair is a mess, my clothes are disheveled, and my makeup is probably smeared.

"Not until I hear back from your brother."

His phone beeps. "Pronto," he answers. He listens, and almost immediately, his eyes swing to me, filled with anger. He speaks quickly into the phone in Italian and then shoves it into his pocket. He goes to a table and picks up a syringe. My heart sinks.

"I'd kill you now except I need that deal with your brother."

"What's going on?" I shirk away as he prowls over to me. It's a hopeless move.

He doesn't say anything as he presses the needle into my skin. Almost immediately, I feel the effects. My vision blurs. My mind turns to fog. As I drift away, I hear a loud crash. I think there is yelling and gunfire. Or maybe it's a dream. I don't want to sleep, so I fight it.

I lift my head, watching as Sabini hurries to the door. He flings it open and immediately, his head jerks back. But the pull of the drug is too much, and I succumb to the lure of sleep.

"Aria!" It sounds like Luca. Could it be? The voice yells in Italian, and soon, my hands are free. I try to open my eyes, but it's impossible. Arms wrap around me, holding me, and while I should be trying to run away, I sink into them. They feel like safety.

He's barking out orders in Italian as he lifts me and carries me out of the room. "You're safe, Mio Angelo."

Mio Angelo. My angel. It must be Luca.

Everything is askew, a blur. Like I'm in a funhouse. Then I'm sitting in Luca's lap. Movement suggests we're in a car.

"What did he give you?" he asks.

I try to shake my head that I don't know, but my head is heavy.

His hands cup my cheeks. I look into his eyes, so desperate, so afraid. "Don't leave me, Aria." I don't want to, but darkness descends over me, anyway.

Visions come and go. I'm in New York, and a man arrives looking for Lucy. He's handsome, and he looks at me with an intensity that takes my breath away. Luca. He's the son of Lucy's deceased husband. He's different from other Dons. He has a quiet reserve. He's loyal to his father's wishes, which include helping Lucy in a new life. I find that sweet. Most Dons are fueled by power or revenge, my brother included.

But then I'm in Italy, and I'm confused. Luca is different. Or is he? Maybe it's just that the rules have changed. He's in his element. He's the leader. He's claimed his prize. I simply expected something different. I expected romance and didn't think about life in general. Like a business he had to run and the type of man one had to be as a Mafia Don.

I hear yelling again. I recoil, wishing I could wake but unable to. I must be getting more drugs as I feel a prick in my arm. Something is attached there.

Later, I hear apologies and pleading to get well. Sometimes, I feel a kiss on my temple.

It takes time, but finally, I emerge from the darkness. I'm still groggy, but I'm back in the real world, out of the dream state.

Roberta says something in Italian, and moments later, a commotion sounds in my room.

"You fucking stay away from her." Niko's voice fills the room.

"I will not." Luca's voice is defiant, daring Niko to stop him.

My head is heavy as I turn it to look at the two men I love. Two men who clearly want to kill each other.