She stared up at the ceiling, sweat pooling at her temples and soaking the neckline of her tank top. Her chest rose and fell as she sucked in air, her muscles screaming in protest. The faint sound of Lin and Silas's argument reached her ears, sharp and grating against the ringing in her head.
"Calm down, kid," Silas ordered.
"Don't tell me to calm down." Lin seethed.
"Still hitting a girl when she's down, I see," a voice cut through the noise, smooth and tinged with amusement.
Ariella rolled onto her side, wincing as a dull ache radiated through her ribs. She glanced toward the basement door, her green eyes widening. "Diana?"
The woman stepped into the room with the confidence that made people move out of her way. Her black wavy hair framed her tawny face, and her piercing brown eyes were as sharp as Ariella remembered. She smiled, her features softening. "Hello, little one."
Ariella pushed herself to her feet, every muscle in her body protesting. Diana closed the distance between them and hugged her, her arms warm and steady. Ariella winced as her side pressed against Diana, and the older woman pulled back immediately, her brow furrowing.
"What did he do to you?" Diana demanded, her gaze snapping to Silas.
Silas, still arguing with Lin, turned with a raised brow. "If you have a problem with how I train, take it up with Enzo," he said, his voice clipped.
Diana crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, I will. But I can't say I'm surprised. Still cocky as ever, aren't you, Silas?"
"Cocky?" Silas scoffed, taking a step forward. "I'm practical. Something you'd know nothing about, considering you've been absent for, what, ten years?"
Ariella glanced between them, the tension crackling like a live wire. Diana's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Ariella thought she might hit him.
Instead, she took a deliberate breath, her voice calm but cold. "You think this is training? Beating her into the ground until she can barely stand?"
