The ride into the city was a quick one, compared to the dreadful length it took to get from my brother's estate on the border of this city to Sergio's hillside mansion. But none of that matters, not when I set my sights on the bookstore I've been meaning to stop by for over a year.

"How do you know about this place?" Vinny asks as he puts the car in park. He turns to me, eying the small bookshop behind me. "Sergio's turf is cut off to your brother and his friends.

"Someone I met a while back works here." It's the only information I give. He doesn't need to know the rest. Not when it's something neither of them needs to worry about.

Yet, he raises an eyebrow at me and sighs. His hand drops from the gear shift. "Just go. I'll be here if you need me."

A smile grows on my lips and I turn from him, pulling the door open.

"I won't be too long," I say, hopping out of the huge jeep he decided to bring me in.

"Better not," he gruffs out but a smirk plays on his lips.

I walk over to the book stop and enter through the already open door. The smell of old pages greets me. Someone behind the desk moves, but a pile of books covers their face.

"I'll be right with you," the person calls out. But it's not just anyone. No. I know that voice well.

"Maya," I call to her. She freezes and turns her head toward me. Her eyes widen. She moves closer to the counter and drops the stack of books on too.

"Holy shit. Aria!" She rushes out from behind the counter. Her blond ponytail sways from left to right behind her as she comes at me with a full forced hug. "It's so freaking good to see you. Wait." She pulls away and stares at me. "How are you here? This isn't Salvatori territory."

"It's a long story," I say.

Maya rolls her blue eyes. "I got time."

"What about your customers?"

She scoffs and walks past me. She moves to the door, looking from left to right and then in front of her... at Vinny's jeep before she closes the door and flips the open sign. "We're closing early today. Now spill."

Her gentle hands grab mine and she pulls me over to the nearest table by the window. We both take a seat, across from one another. She places her elbow on the table, resting her fin on her hand. "That jeep out there... you know who it belongs to right?"

I nod my head. "That's actually my ride."

Maya rears back into her chair, tilting her head. "Ok, no I need to hear what's going on. When did you end up here? How?"

I go over the details briefly from the moment I stepped in front of Sergio's gun to my brother's demands. However, I did leave out the other bit of information. She doesn't seem too surprised though, and I wonder if she knows more than what she let my brother believe when he tried to pry information out of her and her father.

"A hostage who's allowed to leave. Now that's very interesting. And what about that?" She asks pointing to my neck.

Heat flares to my cheeks. "A-a lesson or torture."

"I bet your brother was pissed when he saw that."

I hum. "He reminded me of my duty."

Maya shakes her head, looking out the window. "All of them are idiots. Spilling blood over territories, power, and money. It's ridiculous. We're all just little pawns they use. They don't care what happens to people like us... like me."

"You'll be safe Maya. I'll make sure of it." I reach out and take her hands.

She gives me a small smile like she doesn't believe me. "I have something to give you."

Maya stands from the table and walks over to the counter. She leans over, rummaging for something. When she finally has it, she slides to her feet and comes back to me.

"My number's already in here," she says handing me a phone. "But this way, we can communicate instead of you know, having to wait to see if the other is still alive and well."

"I'll make sure to keep it safe."

"And hidden. Who knows what the beast will do? He might let you leave his prison but if he wants full control of you, which most men like him do, he'll destroy it and anything else."

I nod, not arguing with her. I think I know Sergio well enough, even if I haven't known him for long. He's much nicer than what everyone sees him to be. He has to be.

In a cruel world, like the one we live in, an indestructible mask is the only way to survive.

❤︎❤︎❤︎

total ONC word count: 15,728

thank you so much for reading along! ❤︎