Bellisima Princessa

Part 24

Ariyah's POV: 

Waking up confused, I realized that I wasn't dreaming, as there was an orange glow that could be seen through a crack in the curtains. Mariano's legs were entwined with mine, and my arm was around his neck, while his arms were around my torso. Somehow, we were still facing one another, chest to chest. I got up, and instead of being graceful, I fell flat on my face.

Mariano ran to the side of the bed to make sure I was okay, but not before tucking a gun in his waistband. He helped me crawl into the nearest closet, and before I could look up to thank him properly, he rushed me in with his final words. "Stay here. Do not leave, and do not unlock this door. I will come to get you, with three knocks in rapid succession, a three second break, and then two knocks. If you do not hear that pattern, do not open the door." 

With that, the door was slammed, and I heard his footsteps fade away. Well... at least I have a basket with candy bars and fidget toys in here in case of emergency!

Mariano's POV: 

I made sure the closet door was locked and then I went over to the nightstand. Out of the nightstand, I took one of my favorite switchblades that I tucked in the drawer before Ariyah had the chance to see it the other day. I would never expose her to this lifestyle any more than I had to, even though I was honest with her. Next, I walked over to a painting on the wall. After taking it off the wall, I said the password and allowed the scanner to scan both my eyes and hand. I picked the Ak-14, two glocks, and a few knuckles. Putting the knuckles in my back right pocket along with one glock on my hip and another pressing into my back, I slung the ak over my shoulder and prepared myself to face whatever shitshow was coming my way. I replaced the painting, then I both shut and locked the bedroom door. I ran down the steps as fast as I could, choosing to jump and miss a few steps. 

Alarms had begun blaring, and my men were calling my emergency business phone left and right. While I didn't have the phone on me, the Apple Watch attached to it was flaring as incoming calls and text messages came in. Something was up. All of the windows in my house had the shades drawn, and I would not dare to look outside in case I was to give my presence away if we had company. 

Heading to the surveillance room, my nerves were killing me. Of course I would never let it show, but I damn near pissed myself when I saw the door open. My hand was on the Glock in my waistband as I headed to the room. The door is more like the door to a bulletproof vault, except only those with approved finger print and eye scans are allowed to enter. Call it overkill, but I won't have any motherfucker come in here thinking he can cut off my hand or finger and enter. Ariyah doesn't know it, but in case of an emergency similar to this one, her eyes and fingers have both been authorized to unlock every door in this house.

 Upon further investigation, I found that the explosion knocked the security lines out. It had to have been an explosion, that much I knew. The red glow was still alive outside, and peeked through the blackout curtains we hadn't pulled. The shades covered the window, so I still have no clue how much damage has been done. The usual guard was not in his chair, which tells me he must have seen something and have gone to investigate. As I was thinking of a plan, Valencia calls me. She never calls me on the emergency business phone. I choose not to involve my women, not because they can't handle this life, but because I choose to risk mine for theirs. I do not want it to be the other way around. Despite ignoring all the other calls, I answered this one. Valencia's voice rushed through the phone. 

"I'm headed to your house right now. In fact, I'm about five minutes out. Mariano, I have a bad feeling about this. I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about this. Has V made it yet?"

I was shocked she believed fratello (brother) was here. "What do you mean made it, Valencia? He has not arranged to come here." 

Frustrated, Valencia raises her voice. "Yes, Mariano. He has arranged to come there! I- I can't give you any more information. I'm about two minute-"

The call abruptly ends. With that, I ran to the front door and threw it open. That is when mass chaos ensued. Knocking over a package at the door, I ran to the burning car. The heat was scorching, but nonetheless, I pulled at my brothers Mazarati. It wasn't opening. The door was completely locked, and through the shadows and the dusky light provided by the fire, I couldn't tell what impact the explosion had on his facial features. But I saw the blood dripping from his face. I frantically ran to the other side of the car, and I pushed it until it flipped over. The fire was behind me, and I could feel the heat emanating off of it. 

Valencia's speeding car made its way towards the disaster. As she stopped, she hit the breaks so hard she was thrown forward. She, however, couldn't have cared less and dashed out of her car, leaving the door wide open. I ran to her, catching her in my arms? I couldn't let her see fratello like this. It would traumatize her. She bit, kicked, scratched, and clawed at me. But I would take any form of pain to prevent her from seeing fratello's face blown to bits. 

As we fought, I held her in a bear hug and stumbled backwards towards my house. It's a good thing she approached from the secret passageway on the left side of the house, or else her car would have otherwise been engulfed in flames. "My brother!!! My brother!!! I can't leave him I have to try!!! Let me go you bastard!!! Fratello!! Mariano, please." 

Her last words were punctuated by the groaning of metal. It shocked us both. Was he trying to get out? "Stay here. Stay calm." As I approached the car, the engine had caught a hold of the fire. The groaning got even louder, and by the time I had begun running away, the car exploded, the sheer impact of it throwing both Valencia and I to the ground. 

Lightheaded, sore, and dizzy, I did the best I could to help Valencia up. I tried to make sure she didn't look back, but of course she did. When she did so, she collapsed and screamed. "FRATELLO!!! FRATELLO!!! I HATE YOU FOR DYING!!! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME!!! PLEASE DON'T-"

Valencia was unable to speak as her last words turned into sobs that wracked her body. I stood with her, holding her. Tears silently slid down my cheeks as I watched my brothers body burn in a car engulfed with flames.

I don't know how long we stayed there. Valencia cried until she was numb. We held one another in silence, until we both built up the strength to walk to the door. As we walked to the door, she spotted the box that I knocked over as I ran to what was left of fratello's car. "What's that?" She questioned. 

Before I could stop her, she walked over to the box. When she picked it up, my nerves were immediately inflamed. For her to register any emotion other than anger, something big must be about to happen. The fear on her face along with her next words instantly had me worried. "Oh fuck."

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First four votes for last chapter: 

1st Voter: cheh09ya

2nd voter: pirateleg

3rd voter: farahm123

4th voter: naazzzzzzzzzz08

P.S.- in part 9, Mariano said "bebe" in reference to Ariyah. This was wrong, and I apologize. In Italian, bebe is only used in reference to babies, not your S/O. Both my dom (speaks Italian and Spanish) and I speak (me, only a little lmao) Spanish and make usage of the word Bebe, so it was a mistake on my part to put that in when he was speaking Italian. I hope I haven't offended anyone, and please feel free to kindly correct any mistakes I have made. (Shoutout to @gojossmellyballs for letting me know, thank you babes 🥰)

Good review: "Wow... you have probably spoiled my night... now i just want to read this!!!And its midnight... i'm sleeping late tonighttt"

Also, I apologize to each and every single one of you. I WILL finish this book!!! I had college finals and then my grandmother died, and now I along with everyone else in my family have Covid. It has been a hell of a ride. 

May you find at least a moments peace today baddies 🤍🤍

The next chapter will be posted at 60 stars :)