Filed to story: Bound by Honor (Aria & Luca) Drama Story
Gianna grimaced. “Oh no. I don’t like that look on your face.”
“What’s wrong?” Lily asked, putting down her cup of coffee.
I reached for an almond biscotto and poured myself some coffee, trying to gather my thoughts. As I was about to take a bite of the pastry, my stomach churned and I set it back down on my plate. I was too nervous to eat. I had a feeling I’d throw up if I tried to force down anything.
“Aria, spill it,” Gianna muttered. “You are up to something.”
“Fabi called me yesterday,” I whispered.
Lily jerked in her chair, eyes widening.
“He did?” Gianna asked in disbelief.
“Father is giving him a hard time. I think he’s beating Fabi worse than before.”
“That bastard. I thought being married to his child-bride would improve his mood.”
“It didn’t. It’s our fault that Fabi is left alone with our father. I have to try and bring him to New York with me.”
Gianna shook her head. “Don’t tell me you want to go to Chicago.”
“Aria,” Lily said imploringly. “It’s too dangerous. You are the Capo’s wife.”
“I know,” I said firmly. “But I also know that I will never forgive myself if I don’t check on Fabi and try to help him. He doesn’t deserve being left alone. I will fly to Chicago, and nothing you say will stop me.”
I paused. “Will you help me?”
Lily and Gianna exchanged a look.
“I helped you escape, Gianna, and I kept a secret for you, Lily. I think it’s not too much to ask for your help.”
“It’s not that we don’t want to help you, but we are worried,” Lily said quietly. “And we should go to Chicago together. I don’t think you should go alone. Fabi isn’t only your responsibility. He is our brother, too.”
“You know we can’t all disappear,” I said. “That will draw too much attention. It will be difficult enough to hide my disappearance and you know that.”
Gianna narrowed her eyes. “You already have a plan, don’t you?”
I nodded, and told them what I had in mind.
When I was done, Gianna shook her head. “That is either genius or insane, I can’t decide.”
“It’ll work, that’s all that matters.”
Lily worried her lower lip. “If you get caught, Luca will be furious.”
“And even if your plan works, how are you going to explain Fabi’s sudden appearance in New York?” Gianna asked.
“I will tell him Fabi ran away from Chicago and came here. Luca will take him in.”
Gianna got up and sank down in the chair beside me, taking my hands. “Aria. This isn’t a small thing you’re trying to do. The Famiglia is at war with the Outfit. Luca will lose his shit if he finds out you went to Chicago behind his back.”
“It’s not our war! Why are we supposed to stay away from our own brother only because Made Men decide they hate each other?”
Gianna snorted. “You realize that those are my words?”
“Gianna is right, though. Luca will be furious.”
“He won’t find out.” He could never find out. He’d be worried sick if he found out I went to enemy territory. chapter 15
ARIA
Luca was bound to the Famiglia in a way that I would never be. I was loyal to Luca, but he had to understand that loyalty wasn’t the same as unquestioning obedience. Luca, Romero and Matteo were still busy in New York, and in the afternoon the meeting of the Famiglia would go down. That would keep everyone busy.
I had four guards to avoid. Three of them were in different spots in the garden, only one of them in the mansion with us. I got up at three in the morning, got dressed, packed my bag and slipped out of my room. Gianna and Lily were waiting for me in the dark corridor. “Ready?” I whispered.
Gianna made a noncommittal noise.
“Yes,” Lily whispered. “I will pretend to have a nightmare and scream as loud as I can and when the guards come running, Gianna will barge in and act like a bitch and tell them to be silent because you aren’t feeling well.”
I knew we’d only get rid of two guards that way. One guard would remain near the water because that was the most vulnerable spot on the premises, since there were no gates to overcome. I could only hope that the others would be distracted enough for me to slip out. I had all the necessary safety codes because Luca trusted me.
I hugged my sisters before I moved through the house. One guard always sat in the open living area. I crouched down and waited for Lily’s scream. When it came, the first guard came running out of the living room and up the stairs as expected, and I used the moment to rush downstairs and slip into the east wing. Lily’s screams died away when I entered the code into the lock at our back door and slipped out. I put on my wool cap and ran down the lawn, near the bushes toward the gates. The guard was gone from his spot. The gates were high, topped with barbwire and humming with electricity. It was the least likely spot for intruders to attack so the guards abandoned it first. Smiling, I keyed the second code into the system. The gate blinked once, and I slipped out then reactivated the lock.