Stockholm Syndrome

27. Terrified

           THIRD PERSON'S POV:

"Hey, hey, hey... Ari, you're safe sweetheart...you're fine....get up baby..", Alexander cooed as Aria cried in her sleep. He grasped her in his arms making her struggle harder.

"ARIAA...WHAT HAPPENED DAD???", Ryan asked barging into the room.

"She isn't waking up.", His father said still struggling to wake his daughter up who looked so vulnerable at that moment.

"Aria...b--aby...your papa is here...shh sweetie....thank God, you're up.", He sighed hugging her tightly as she sobbed clutching his shirt in her fists. Seeing her hands turning white, Alexander slowly loosened her hold making her whimper and bury herself deeper into his chest.

"Shh baby...you're safe....I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you...very sorry.", He cooed rocking her in his arms. Ryan bent down and pressed a kiss at the back of her head.

"You're safe little sis.", He said patting her head. After a few minutes, her breathing finally slowed down and she slowly peeked at her father making him give her a reassuring smile.

"Are you hungry?", He asked pecking her head making her shake her head in no. He sighed and nodded towards Ryan who went to bring food. She has to eat before taking her medicine.

"Dad....", She whispered brokenly making him hold her tighter.

"I'm sorry...", He whispered back .

"Why are you saying sorry?", She asked.

"I couldn't protect you.", He said as tears swirled in his eyes.

"It's not your fault dad. Don't say sorry.", She said kissing his cheek.

"Princess, your father is of great power. I've hidden many things from you to protect you but see where this all led to. I failed you.", He said as tears ran down his face and onto Aria's head.

"What d--o you mean dad? You are a --"

"I'm the boss of Russian Mafia.", He said looking into her eyes. She shook her head as reality hit her.

"N-o, NO, NO NO...YOU CAN'T BE ANOTHER HADES...NOOOO", She screamed pushing him away.

"Aria ....no, y-oure getting me wrong.", He tried to explain but she was lost in her head already. She shook her head sobbing and ran out of the room with Alexander hot on her trail.

"ARIA..STOP..LISTEN TO ME...", He shouted running behind her.

Her footsteps came to a stop as she hit a man's stone like chest. Her hands shook as she tried to get away from the unknown man.

"Thank God you're okay.", Her father sighed from behind her making her scream and struggle more.

"Aria, you're going to make yourself sick sweetie...calm down.", Her father tried making her cry louder.

"Ma--"

Alexander was about to tell Maxim to give Aria to him when he started talking to her daughter.

"What's wrong little one?"

"Le--ave me.", She sobbed hitting his chest and he shook his head before looking at her face.

"Shh...you're safe here Aria.", He cooed lightly rubbing her back hesitantly, not wanting to scare her away.

"Listen to your dad once.", He said turning her towards her father who was crying. Her heart clenched in pain as she looked at him. She couldn't see him crying even if he will turn out to be a monster like Hades.

Ryan looked at the chaos confused and his eyes turned blurry when he understood what was happening. Aria wasn't able to understand and absorb the new revelation.

"Don't cry.", She whispered taking slow hesitant steps towards her father who opened his arms for her. She sobbed running into his arms making him pat her back lovingly.

"Your dad isn't a monster baby...I have never hurt any innocent in my whole life.", He said cleaning his face.

"I k--now you can't...I'm sorry for not listening to you.", She sobbed hugging him even tighter.

"Shhh...let's go into the room and then talk. Maxim, I want to talk to you, come.", He told the last part to maxim who nodded still in awe of the girl who had a man like Alexander wrap around her fingers.

He shut his mouth as he heard Ryan walking past him after hitting his back.

"You piece of shit.", He grumbled following him inside the room that had a lavender touch to it.

He leaned on the wall looking at the cute family moment. Seeing them happy, he told himself to remember to meet his mama tomorrow. She will cut his neck if he would miss another day of meeting her and it already has been two days.

Alexander fed Aria some breadsticks and soup while telling her about his 'work' jumping some details that will make her worry.

"Does mumma know? And where is she?", Aria asked worried.

"She was tired so she is sleeping. And she knows about my work Ri. I married her after telling her thr truth only.", He said and she hummed eating another breadstick.

"Ryan, feed her some more. I'm gonna have a talk with Max.", He told Ryan before getting up from the bed and coming towards me.

"What are you doing here? Weren't you sleeping like a rock just a few hours ago?", He asked amused making maxim chuckle.

"I'm going to my home tomorrow so you will have to check the shipments without me old man.", He said making him glare at him.

"Ok, go and don't get yourself almost killed.", Alex said remembering the last time when he got himself in the middle of a shooting. That time he had got shot thrice in his stomach almost killing him.

"Aye, aye, captain.", He said saluting him.

"Wait ... Aria, this is Maxim, my most trusted and second hand man. Maxim, this is Aria, my daughter.", He said stopping him and introducing him to the girl who looked scared of him.

"Hy Aria. I hope you're feeling better now.", He said awkwardly not knowing how to make small talk. What could he talk to her about at such a vulnerable time?

"..h--hi..", she squeaked out scared of the big and bulky man in front of her. He was the man she was holding onto tightly and the thought made her cringe.

Then only did she realise that she was scared of men. She knew her father and brother couldn't hurt her but she was unsure about the others.

"I'll take my leave now.", He told Alexander making him nod.

He looked one last time at the girl who had suddenly peaked his interest and finally took his leave.

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Heyo!!

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Maxim and Aria meet.👀

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Himanshi ❣️