We ended up at Massimo's mansion instead. He assured me my brother was safe with a video call. But none of it mattered much to me. I had other things on my mind. And with Massimo gone for a few days, I had time to figure out what I would do. The only problem is the question still lingering in my head:

How in the world would I, Aria Salvatori, take down a man such as Massimo De Luca?

I'm not strong or skilled with a weapon. I am, however, smart, kind, and curious. Anger may fill my veins, giving me the motivation I need. But love... that's even more powerful and although Sergio might have been pretending, I wasn't. I fell and I can accept that. I'm in love with Sergio and I keep that in mind as I peer through Massimo's office.

He sits at his desk working on papers for once instead of out as usual. It's different, seeing his office compared to Sergio's. His is much darker. There are no bookcases around or a bottle of liquor by his side.

I step in, making my presence known. There are no pictures around his office. "Most people live with their family, why don't you?"

"Why are you here, Aria?"

I walk in further, taking a seat across from him. "A wife has duties and although I'm not your wife yet, I came to ask if you were hungry or needed anything."

"You're here for information." He keeps his eyes on the paperwork. "What do you really want from me?"

"You already avoided both of my questions. The first was what I came for. Information on you. I should find out exactly who I'm marrying, right?"

"Why waste your time?" He asks. Massimo doesn't look at me, but he does put down his papers. "All you need to know is that you and everything you have is mine."

"Wouldn't it be much more believable if we knew one another? If my brother actually witnessed some sort of bond fake or not between us?"

He smiles. "If he suspects, maybe he will end up just like the Accardi's."

"What do you mean?" I ask, taking in his dark smile.

"Where's the recorder, Aria?" He chuckles, beckoning me with his finger.

I do ask he asks, push myself out of the seat, and walk around his desk. "I don't have one."

"Then why keep asking questions that will get you nowhere?" He pats me down. His eyes darken as his hands roam over my curves.

"I asked about your family and if you were hungry. You were the one who brought up mine, which led to another question."

"I will never answer any questions for you." He shoves me back and I catch myself before I can fall. "Get out of my sight before you regret trying to get to know me."

At least I know one thing: he's paranoid. "I'll bring you some food for whenever you're ready to eat."

He grabs my wrist and tugs me toward him. "Come back to my office again and I will make sure you regret it. Stay in your room, like a good wife."

In this life, there's only one way you'll survive my principessa. And that's by being brave, bold, and ballsy.

I clench my fists and lift my gaze to him.

"We both must have been taught differently. A good wife takes care of her husband."

"We're not married, Aria." He stands and drags me to the door, shoving me out. The lock clicks and I sigh.

It's going to take a lot to get to him, but I have to. For my own sake.

You can kill him. He did toy with your precious emotions.

I knock on his office door as the thought settles into my brain. "I want to kill him."

This seems to get Massimo's attention because the lock clicks again and the door opens. "Kill who?"

"Sergio. I want to kill him. I thought maybe asking you personal questions would help me ease into telling you that."

Massimo searches my face. I'm not sure what he sees. I'm not even sure what I'm giving him, but he rubs his chin.

"Betrayed by the woman—" Massimo stops himself and nods, opening the door wider. "Then you can stay. Sergio won't wait. He's been hanging on this vendetta for a year now."

"Because you killed his family."

"I did what I had to do, Aria. The weak don't survive this life. The only way to live is to be on top. To be the most powerful and feared of the bunch. I secured that with the Accardi's death. Sergio is just a nuisance I want gone." He moves back toward his desk, never turning his back to me. "Now sit, while we wait for the fun to begin."

❤︎❤︎❤︎

total ONC word count: 28,873

thank you so much for reading along! ❤︎