Aurora's
POV
Nothing
prepared me for the surprise he had in store for me. When I was ranting the
night before, I didn't think he would take me seriously—or that he even
believed me in the first place. But apparently, he did. Because they were here.
My
best friend, Isabella. And my boyfriend, Luca.
Isabella's
eyes lit up when she saw me, a wide smile spreading across her face. For a
moment, I forgot all about the men armed with guns hiding in plain sight. I
rushed toward her and pulled her into a warm embrace. She smelled like pleasant
flowers, and her arms wrapped tightly around me. I blinked back the tears and
buried my face in her neck. I didn't want her to see me bawling my eyes out. It
would alarm her—and those men were still lurking around, waiting on Angelo's
command.
"Bella,"
my voice came out as an inaudible gasp as I gripped her tightly.
"Rora,
you had us worried sick." She pulled away and peered at me.
I
blinked back tears and mustered a smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you
worry."
She
stared at me with a look of concern. "Are you okay, Rora?"
I
nodded. "Yes… yes, I am…"
"Okay,
Isabella, would you give us a moment? You know, me and my girlfriend…"
A
lump formed in my throat as I turned to him. He had beautiful green eyes and
brunette hair. His lips slowly curled into a smile when our eyes met.
I
could feel Angelo's piercing stare on my back. I glanced behind me. He had
risen to his feet, his hands behind his back, watching us with the same blank
expression on his face.
"Oh,
beat it! Luca, she's my best friend. I can guarantee you didn't miss her as
much as I did…" Isabella teased.
I
couldn't help but smile in that moment. I would often watch them banter.
"If
you loved her that much, you could've dated her," Luca said, slowly closing the
distance between us.
Isabella
folded her arms across her chest and shrugged. "I'm considering it."
Luca
snickered.
"Hey,
babe," he whispered, cupping my cheeks.
I
shut my eyes and let out a sigh.
"I
was worried—"
"No,
he wasn't," Isabella murmured.
He
glared at her. Then, when he looked back at me, his features softened. "You
didn't take your calls last night…" He cupped my face again and leaned in to
kiss me.
His
words from earlier kept ringing in my ears: I want you to act normal. I want
you to smile. I want you to look them in the eye and say you came here with me.
That you're happy. That we're… in love.
I
pulled away at the last minute.
Luca
frowned, looking past me. "Who is he?"
All
eyes turned to him.
He
was staring back at us with his hands tucked in his pockets, leaning against a
table.
He's
the man who has a gun to your head right now. The man who killed my father and
took me as a slave.
I
wanted to say those words out loud, but I knew it would be a huge mistake.
Before I could finish the sentence, Angelo would've given the order, and we'd
be dead. If there was anything I knew about that man, it was that he made good
on his promises—and he never hesitated.
I
couldn't meet Luca's eyes anymore; they were accusatory. He had pulled away
like he couldn't touch me anymore. I glanced at Isabella. Her brows were knit
with worry, her honey-colored eyes searching my face for answers. I let her see
it. This was the game plan. Luca was oblivious—he'd never figure it out unless
I spelled it out. But Isabella? She always knew. She could tell something was
off just by looking at me.
I
turned to look at Angelo, but his eyes were already on me, glaring down. Then
he glanced across the street—to the building where the sniper was stationed.
I
rushed to his side instantly, my heart pounding in my chest. I smiled—a wide
smile that didn't reach my eyes.
"His
name is Angelo…" I looked at him. I didn't even know his surname. I knew
nothing about the man, and yet I was supposed to convince my best friend of
fifteen years and my boyfriend of two years that I was in love with him—and
their lives depended on it.
Angelo
slipped his hand around my waist and pulled me close. I sucked in a breath. He
peered at me as if seeing me for the first time. His eyes strayed to my lips
and lingered for a moment. Then his lips curled into a smirk.
"Angelo
Armani." He turned his attention to them. "And we are together."
There
was silence. It took a moment for the words to sink in.
Luca's
frown deepened. "What the fuck is he talking about, babe?"
Isabella
was still rooted to the spot, staring right at me.
I
had a smile on my face, but I hoped she could see the cry for help in my eyes.
"Luca,
you need to calm down…"
"Don't
tell me to fucking calm down, Aurora! You go radio silent on us all night, we
were worried sick—only to get a text saying we're meeting up here—and then you
show up with this snob in a fucking suit? What is that all about?"
"I…"
My voice cracked.
His
arm around me tightened, and he leaned closer, whispering, "Pow…" Then he
looked at me lovingly. "That's all it takes…"
My
eyes widened in fear. My heart beat faster in my chest.
Luca
charged toward us. "Get away from her!"
Angelo
pushed me to the side, shielding me. "Don't you dare touch her." His voice was
calm, but there was no mistaking the anger beneath it.
Luca's
eyes were huge. "What the fuck, Aurora?? We were good yesterday!" He turned to
Isabella. "Are you seriously just going to stand there and say nothing? Your
friend has lost her goddamn mind!"
That
seemed to break her trance. She walked up to me. "Aurora, what's happening?"
"I
met Angelo months ago. On that work trip—you know the one…"
"We
were dating, Aurora!" Luca yelled.
I
ignored him and continued. "We've been talking ever since. I didn't know how to
tell you… either of you. Luca, I li—love him." I stole a glance at Angelo.
He
had an amused expression on his face.
"I
love him, and I want to be with him…"
Isabella
shook her head. "You can't be serious, Aurora…"
"I
am. I moved in with him yesterday. I'd been putting it off for too long because
I didn't know how to bring it up…"
Luca
shook his head in disbelief.
"But
after yesterday—after speaking with my father…" My voice broke and tears welled
in my eyes. I averted my gaze, taking a moment to steady my breathing. "I moved
in with him."
"What
the fuck? Aurora!"
"Luca,
please forgive me…" I pleaded. I hated breaking his heart like this.
"Aurora,
this doesn't even make any sense. I was with you all day—you didn't pack a bag.
You tell me everything. Why would you hide the existence of an entire man?
Aurora, that's—" Isabella began, "Girl, I know we talked a lot about finding
love and it sweeping us off our feet and going off to be with Prince Charming
or whatever as children but this…" she gave Angelo a once-over, "This is real
life, not a fairytale…"
"You
were cheating on me the whole time! The whole time we were dating, you were
hooking up with another man—this is crazy, man, this is crazy!" Luca stormed
off.
Isabella
gave us one long look, then glanced at Luca before running after him.
I
let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. She knew. I'd been afraid
she'd confront him—I saw the struggle in her eyes. But she decided against it
at the last minute.
They
were safe, at least. I had played my part well.
He
leaned in close from behind and whispered in my ear, "Let's hope your
performance was convincing enough to save their lives."
Chills
ran down my spine.