I was eighteen. Barely an adult. Still figuring out who I was outside of what my family had trained me to be. How was I supposed to raise a child when I could barely take care of myself?
And that was assuming I survived the next few days. Assuming Kai's plan worked. Assuming Salvatore didn't kill us all before we could escape.
Big assumptions.
The thought of my parents made my chest ache. They should have been here. Should have been the ones I turned to with news about a potential grandchild. Papa would have been simultaneously thrilled and ready to murder Kai for getting me pregnant out of wedlock.Mama would have cried happy tears and immediately started planning.
Instead, they were dead. Murdered. And I was alone trying to navigate impossible situations without their guidance.
I missed them so much it physically hurt. Missed Mama's gentle wisdom. Missed Papa's protective presence. Missed the security of knowing someone loved me unconditionally and would move heaven and earth to keep me safe.
Now the person who'd move heaven and earth for me was Kai. And he was out there somewhere, wounded and planning something that would probably get him killed.
The irony wasn't lost on me. I'd gone from being protected by my father to being protected by the man whose father wanted to own me.
Life was strange. And cruel. And occasionally so absurd I wanted to laugh except nothing was actually funny.
A soft knock on my door made me sit up. My heart immediately started racing.
Salvatore? Coming to gloat again? To remind me of my powerlessness?
"Aria? It's me." Lia's voice. Quiet but urgent.
I crossed to the door. Heard the lock click. The door opened and Lia slipped inside, face flushed with excitement and fear.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"Nothing's wrong. Something's right for once." She grabbed my hands, her own shaking slightly. "Marco made contact. They have a plan. Tonight. They're getting you out tonight."
Hope and terror warred in my chest. "How? Your father has guards everywhere."
"Marco's creating a diversion on the south side of the estate. An explosion. Nothing major, just enough to pull most of the guards away from this wing. When that happens, we run. I have keys from Mrs. Rossi." She pulled a set of keys from her pocket, metal glinting in the dim light. "We can make it to the back gardens. There's a weak spot in the wall near the rose bushes. We go over, there's a car waiting on the access road. Marco will driveus to safety."
My mind raced. It could work. Actually could work if the timing was perfect.
"When?"
"Midnight. The explosion happens at midnight exactly. We wait five minutes for maximum guard dispersal, then we move fast. No hesitation. No stopping. We get you over that wall and into the car before anyone realizes what's happening." Lia squeezed my hands. Her eyes were bright with determination but I could see the fear underneath. "This is our only shot, Aria. If we don't take it tonight, the wedding happens and we lose our chance."
"What about you? After I'm gone, your father will know you helped. He'll punish you."
"I don't care. You're getting out. That's what matters. Kai will come back for me once you're safe. Or I'll figure out my own escape. But I can't watch you get married to that monster. I won't."
The loyalty in her voice made my throat tight. She was risking everything for me. Her safety. Her future. Possibly her life.
"Lia, if this goes wrong..."
"It won't. We're going to be smart. Fast. And in a few hours, you'll be free." She pulled me into a fierce hug. "You and Kai will get your future. You'll have the baby if you're actually pregnant. You'll live somewhere far away from all this darkness. And someday when it's safe, you'll tell your kid about the time their aunt helped bust you out of prison."
I hugged her back. Tried to absorb her certainty. Her bravery.
"Thank you. For everything. For being my friend when I had no one. For fighting for me. For believing we can actually pull this off."
"That's what sisters do." She pulled back, wiped her eyes quickly. "Now get ready. Wear dark clothes. Comfortable shoes you can run in. And be ready to move fast when I come for you at midnight."
She left as quietly as she'd entered. Lock clicking back into place.
I stood there for a moment. Then moved into action.
