Chapter 26 - Vivian

The afterglow of the intense sex we had lingered even after Ari hauled me into the bathroom with him to carefully wash me down before doing the same to himself.

It was easy to forget he still had to go to work, but with all the undivided attention he was giving me, I knew I'd be able to survive without it at least until he came back home.

The feeling of his hands gliding up and down my body while he gently provided ample aftercare still lingered throughout the day while I lounged around the house and did my best to keep busy.

Between naps and reading, I contemplated asking the driver to take me to the ranch, but I eventually let go of that idea when the ambition left me completely.

I felt incredibly loved even while Ari was away, but as much as I tried to cling to that bliss, I still couldn't ignore the worry that crept back into my mind.

Ari didn't want me to concern myself over what my brothers were up to, and I didn't want to either, but it was impossible to stop it the moment that seed was planted in my head.

I spent the rest of the day trying to push the anxiety away, hardly letting myself stew in those thoughts. But as Ari came home and let me know we were going out for dinner that night, deciding he couldn't wait until the weekend, I wasn't left much time to think about it.

To my relief, he was the distraction I needed as I got ready, heart full every time I laid eyes on him.

There was no mistaking that mutual love in our eyes every time we exchanged a glance, or each time his palm ghosted against my lower back as he leaned in to grab something and guided me out to the vehicle once we were ready to go.

I was so wrapped up in the romance of it all that I felt like I was walking on air, overjoyed by the prospect of our date.

As he said, everything was planned for us. We reached our table by six—a small booth tucked in a secluded corner so that we could be as handsy as we wanted, ignoring the fact that we were in public.

With the beautiful music playing in the background, the dim lighting that set the scene for us, and the alcohol-free champagne in our glasses, everything felt so perfect.

"Have you thought of any names yet?" Ari asked me as he cut through his steak and lifted a brow in interest.

"I've come across some interesting names in the books I've been reading recently, but I'm not completely sold on any of them yet," I replied, silently considering the top contenders.

"There's still lots of time to think of more," he murmured, giving me an encouraging smile. "I'm sure we'll stumble upon the perfect names soon."

"It's tough knowing they should sound good together. Maybe the shorter the better since we'll have two to keep track of?" I suggested, amused by the thought of getting the names confused or swapped while trying to get their attention.

Ari chuckled at that and nodded his agreement. "That's good thinking. We'll have to keep that in mind."

Even if we had fully established our intentions of being committed and raising the twins together, it still felt strange to be discussing the future so openly. Before, there was too much tension and resentment between us to have even remotely similar conversations.

But it was nice, and everything about the dinner was perfect.

While he didn't flaunt his wealth in a flashy, arrogant way, Ari knew how to flex it in the right way to make me feel like royalty. Between his plans and every thoughtful action like opening doors and pulling chairs out for me, I couldn't ignore his constant efforts.

As we ate and laughed together, I was more than happy to be there with him and appreciative of his idea to have one-on-one time out of the house.

The meal was incredible, and I couldn't have asked for a better time with the man I loved.

"Will you excuse me for a moment? I'll be right back," I said, feeling the need to visit the washroom before continuing.

Ari nodded as he reached for one of the menus. "Of course. I'll see about getting some dessert over here."

With a smile, I leaned over and pressed a grateful kiss against his cheek before shuffling out of the booth, catching the tender expression on his face. It made my heart squeeze to even think about it.

Making my way out of the main dining area, I followed the subtle bathroom sign and went down the indicated hall. I let go of a satisfied breath, finding myself smiling still.

Just before I could reach for the door handle, a rush of air behind me made my brows furrow.

Something clamped over my mouth as a pair of arms wrapped around me tightly, forcing the air right out of my lungs.

I had no choice but to breathe in, desperately searching for another gulp of air as panic spread through my system.

I tried to scream against the cloth covering my mouth and nose, thrashing and kicking as best as I could, but without proper oxygen coming in, I was immediately weakened and didn't stand a chance against the assailant. The cloth muffled my sounds, and nobody could hear me.

Even if it was useless, I fought anyway, hoping to give myself a chance at getting away—at running to Ari for help.

But that safety seemed so far away as my vision went bleary, and my pulse roared in my ears. I wanted to keep going, but that faint chemical smell was overpowering, and I could feel it burning within my senses.

As everything around me seemed to shift and lose all stability, I could feel myself slipping in and out like I hadn't slept in days, my eyelids refusing to stay open.

"Easy," the assailant muttered, gripping what was left of my consciousness with a cold hand.

That ever-fading awareness left behind only one thought for me to mull over as the hallway began to fade away, and I gave in to that seemingly endless darkness.

It sounds like Dante.

***

Pain roared in my head as pieces returned to me, building the scene before me brick by brick. As my eyes opened, those fragments became clearer, even as I blinked through that discomfort.

But while I worked through that grogginess, the aching slowly subsided, making way for the discomfort and fear that followed.

It was dark all around me, save the lit-up dash in the front, and the street lights that passed overhead. Music played quietly in an almost haunting way as I became more aware of my surroundings.

I shuffled in the back seat to sit up, only to find my hands were bound by thick ropes. Dizziness hit me hard, forcing me to blink through the discomfort until it cleared.

But when I opened my eyes again, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I felt like I was dreaming—or, more accurately, having a nightmare.

My brothers were in the front seat, Elio driving, talking to each other.

More confused than when I first woke up, I couldn't understand what was happening, or how I got there. It had been months since the last time I saw them, and there they were, like nothing had changed.

The memories hit me at once: the restaurant, kissing Ari on the cheek before I left for the washroom, and never reaching it. Fighting to get away.

It was them.

With my hands bound and in the back seat of the moving vehicle, I felt more like a prisoner than a liberated captive.

"What's going on?" I asked, testing my voice despite how dry my throat felt. I was surprised they were able to hear the squeak I managed to get out when they both glanced at me.

Even if they captured me and hauled me away, I was hoping they'd show me some compassion. Something in me hoped it was some sort of misunderstanding, and that they assumed they were just saving me.

I wanted to believe they just wanted the best for me. That they cared about me.

But they never did that much growing up, and I had the feeling they would never change.

Their careless looks at me only affirmed that much.

Dante sighed. "I was hoping that would keep you out for another hour or so. Shitty product, I guess…"

"What?" I murmured, not understanding why that would be his first concern. "Dante, what's happening? Where are you taking me?"

Leaning his arm casually against the center console, he didn't even look at me as he spoke. "We finally got you away from that Levov dog. We've spent weeks trying to get through their defenses and trying to trace their steps long enough to piece together a suitable time to strike. Those bastards are good, I'll give them that. But not good enough."

"Aristarkh let his guard down, though. He didn't realize we caught on to his restaurant of choice, or that we managed to gain access to their booking system. So much for always being prepared," Elio added, focusing on the lefthand turn he took.

Guilt immediately trickled into my heart then, squeezing at the memory of suggesting we eat there again. If I had just let Ari think of one himself, there was a big chance I wouldn't be in that position.

"Why do I have the feeling you didn't do this for me?" I asked, recalling their usual disinterest in me.

Months had gone by, yet they only waited until now to take action. They could've tried anything then to save me if that had been their intention, but I knew better.

"Because we didn't," Dante snapped. "Unfortunately, you were the only real leverage our family ever had to make real progress. Dad always had money, but he used it frivolously rather than investing in the business or creating solid alliances in the city. Because of that, we had to get you back. Aristarkh thought he won, but now he has to face the consequences."

Blinking through my bleary vision as I silently panicked, I tried to keep my voice level. "What about the marriage license? Nobody will trade their allegiance for me when I'm already married."

Dante continued to look forward as he ran a hand over his face. "It doesn't matter. However we can, we're going to axe it. The marriage will be nullified, and it won't be a problem. You'll be back at home with us so we can keep an eye on you, and we'll get you married to someone more suitable for our needs."

A cold chill ran down my spine at that, hating the thought of not being married to Ari. I didn't know if my brothers' plan had any legs to stand on, but it was enough to make my pulse race.

The thought of being stuck in that house again, forced to sit idly by while my family pulled the strings behind the scenes to hand me over to someone else, made me feel sick. I didn't want to be trapped in that cage again.

I once thought Ari's house was another kind of prison, but with time, it proved to be the opposite. He showed me the life and future we could have together, and now that it was being threatened, I couldn't help but want it back more than anything.

To make matters worse, I was carrying his babies, and my brothers didn't know that. If they were to sell me off to another kingpin and he found out about the twins, I had no doubt I'd be in even bigger trouble.

I had to get away from them. I had to.

"I thought you didn't have any involvement in the business," I mumbled, struggling to keep myself together given the circumstances.

"A lot of things have changed ever since that night, Vivian. Dad isn't running things anymore," Elio said, gripping the wheel with a gloved hand. "We're making strides far bigger than he ever did."

"The Levovs tainted our name, but that won't matter once we take their place in the city," Dante said, focused on the road ahead.

Even if Elio was the oldest, it seemed Dante was the brains of the operation. He always had been the cruel one.

I should've felt some sort of relief, given how Ari had forced me into marriage and swept me into his life, but I didn't. Before, I would've gladly stepped back into my old place, left to wait and take that abuse. I thought Ari was as bad as they came, but I was wrong.

I knew then that my brothers were exactly that, and they had no intention of giving me a good life.

I didn't want to be separated from Ari. We were starting a family, and he made me the happiest I had ever been.

But of course, my brothers didn't care about what I wanted.

They wanted to trade me for their gain—nothing more.