Ricardo.

His gaze laps over my body, already making his own assessment. The dress I quickly threw on to come to see him. His gaze stops at a small section of my neck. His eyes narrow into slits as he shakes his head.

"I should have prepared you for situations like this," he grumbles. His fingers wrap around my elbow, gripping tight as he pulls me closer to him.

My face contorts at the sudden pain jolting through my arm. Ricardo was never like this... something must be wrong.

He pushes me away. His grip loosens and I stumble to the floor. "You belong to Massimo, Aria. Not the fucking enemy."

"He's not all that bad," I try to defend as I look up at him.

"Oh... is that so?" Ricardo tilts his head, trying to read me. "Maybe this can work in our favor. You get close to Accardi, use him. Then Massimo returns from his trip, he'll take you back and destroy the Accardi name."

He walks over to me with a smile and bends down. "You will do this, Aria. We are of the same blood and Accardi is the enemy. He might have you fooled now, but his true colors will show and he won't hesitate to throw you away once he's finished with you."

Ricardo says nothing more. He pats my head and passes by me, leaving the room.

My hand's ball into fits. I don't want to be a part of this or use anyone for anything. I chose to go with Sergio and save a life and now he expected me to use it for his advantage. I push myself up from the floor, smoothing down my dress. I swallow the bitterness festering in my stomach and head out the door.

"Unpleasant conversation I'm assuming?" Sergio asks the moment I step out. He kicks himself off the wall across from me and his arms cross over his chest.

Unable to meet his gaze I nod.  "Earlier was a mistake. I should have mentioned that as part of a deal, my father and brother made with someone, he is supposed to have all of my firsts. And you've taken some."

"Arranged marriage?" He laughs. Though his gaze burns over my skin. "They signed a legal contract stating exactly that, I assume."

"I'm meant to be his. In every way possible. Yet my brother insists on me using-" I shake my head. "It doesn't matter. He won't know I'm refusing." I finally look up, meeting his brown eyes. "I appreciate you making me feel normal for once even if it was only for a moment."

"Aria." He sighs and takes a step in my direction. "You don't have to marry someone you don't want to, let alone have to give yourself forcefully to someone..."

"Our lives are different, Sergio. You said it yourself. You're dangerous...I'm the one who gets cornered in a pool."

He shrugs. "Or you could always bite back. Your choice."

"That sounds a lot like betraying my family."

"No, that sounds like becoming your own person."

What does that even mean? I glance down at my hands. Becoming my own person... outside of my own family. "Is that what you did?"

"In this lifestyle. We're bonded by blood, duty, and honor. My family, my blood relatives, were betrayed. I'm just here biting back for them."

"You just want me dead then huh?" A smile tugs at the corner of my lips and I press my finger to his chest. "Have me kill myself so you don't have to do it yourself."

I point my fingers to my eyes and then over to him repeatedly. "I see your games."

He manages to smile and shakes his head. "At this point, I don't know you enough to know what I want for you. I am only telling you your rights as a human being."

"Maybe you should start getting to know people better," I tell him. "It won't kill you."

"Only one person has ever said that to me."

My smile instantly drops. "Oh. Where are they now?"

"She's dead."

"Did you—"

"It doesn't matter."

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, Sergio. You don't have to get to know me." I pat his hand. His gaze meets mine. It's soft and there's a silent thank you in them. "But I do have one last question. Is there a way I can go out?"

He does a one-over of my body. "Is Vinny not doing a good job of getting clothes for you?"

I shake my head. "No. These are lovely. I would just like to... be able to leave the mansion. I'll come back. Vinny can keep his eyes on me."

Sergio lets out an audible sigh. "Fine. You're allowed to come and go as you wish."

My arms wrap around him and I give him a quick squeeze.

"Thank you, Sergio."

❤︎❤︎❤︎

total ONC word count: 14,908

thank you so much for reading along! ❤︎