Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 17

Parastin
To protect

Marta Cabrera stood on her balcony, staring out at the twilight sky. A hand caressed her 8-month swollen belly and a cup of tea nestled in her other. She watched as the clouds started rolling in there was a storm brewing but somehow at that very moment everything around her felt calm and right. Her mother's words rang in her ears.

'There's always calm before the storm.'

That was one of the last things her mother had said to her. That and the fact that she didn't want anything to do with Marta anymore. She had blamed her eldest daughter for the loss of her other kids, she also believed that Marta had brought the curse upon herself by getting pregnant with a Drysdale baby. That had been two months ago, Marta hadn't heard from her mother since then. Although there was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind, she suppressed her uneasy thoughts.

She had kept her side of the deal, she had given back all of Ransom's money and more than 50% of the rest of it so there was no way Aria would break her side of the deal.

'Screw this up Cabrera and I'll make sure you're aren't alive to screw up anything else'

Aria's cold warning played in her head. She hadn't screwed up so there was no reason for Aria to come after her or her family. Besides the fact that her father killed Aria's entire family.

All too soon Marta wasn't feeling too well. Her tummy felt queasy as a wave of nausea washed over her. Suddenly she felt the urge to talk to her mom. Taking deep breaths she rubbed her hands over her huge belly as she made her way to the office to call the older Cabrera. Punching in the number she held the phone to her ear, the sound of the voicemail formed a sickening pit in Marta's stomach.

Aria was coming and she needed to be prepared.

~~~

Over the past few weeks Aria threw herself into training. The wounds on her body were almost healed but the wound that she buried deep within her heart was as fresh as ever. The time spent in Spain somehow just refreshed her motivation, there was one last Cabrera left and Aria would stop at nothing to rid the world of her. Every punch that she landed only strengthened her resolve. She was so lost in thought she didn't even notice Ransom standing at the doorway, looking over at her.

The past few weeks had proved tough on him, the raven-haired girl that stole his heart was so lost in her own world that she had distanced herself from him. Even though she was so close to him, she seemed so far. His heart ached as he stood there watching her land punch after punch. All he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and tell her how everything was going to be okay. How he would shield her from every hurt, every pain, every harm in the world. She was his dewdrop and he would always protect her with his life.

A slap on his back pulled him out of his train of thoughts, turning around he found John standing behind him with a knowing expression.

"Trouble in paradise?" the blonde smiled.

"You don't know the half of it" Ransom confessed running a hand through his dark locks.

"When I first met Veronica I was terrified of her."

Ransom was confused as to why John was telling him this but his interest peeked as he leaned against the wall, listening attentively.