His Bambina

Chapter 31

"If we want to get out of here we have to go now." Nicolas looks at me with urgency. But I can also see he's still unsure, as if waiting for me to change my mind. Maybe that's just my mind playing tricks on me, giving me false hope. We've gone too far. There's no other way.
I nod my head and Amelia grabs my shoulder to support me. Emily looks at us teary eyed. I give her a big hug, "You have to lay low for a bit. I don't want you to have to lie to Vincenzo for me. Just stay away from him long enough for us to eat a head start. Yeah?"
She nods and stifles her tears. We all say our goodbyes then she disappears.
The chaos across the room ensues as Nico grabs our attention, "You two get out and meet me at the corner we discussed, I will have the car come around to get you guys."
Amelia and I nod the scurry away from the crowd. With every step my throat fills with anxiety, apprehension, and guilt. Should I really be doing this? He has done nothing but love me for so long. But after what he's done I don't know if I can ever not be afraid. Besides this is the only way everyone will be safe. I have to do this.
          My loyal guards see us pass and bow their heads in understanding. Nicolas must've spread the word already. We're going home. No turning back now.
It feels like hours looking for an exit with no guards. Of course not everything would be fortunate to fall into our laps so easily. We stop at another exit and huff out in frustration. Five guards at one door? Is that really necessary?
We carefully walk away and keep searching. "Dammit!" I whisper, feeling defeated. We're losing too much time.
Amelia reassures me that we'll get out as we twist through the third floor, looking for an accessible fire escape. The gods are on our side as we delve deeper into the maze of bookshelves finding a cracked open window with a fire escape.
We rush towards it carelessly and a voice stops us in our tracks. "Fabbian!" Emily's rushed voice echoes across the room. We look to our right and see Fabian's back facing us.
"Emily? What are you doing up here? Where's the girls? Everything okay?"
Emily fumbles with the tool on her dress, "Th-there's a huge commotion happening on the first floor... they're struggling to contain it and I can't find any of our boys anywhere. You should go... now!"
We snap out of our daze, and sneak faster out the window as Fabian and Emily retreat to the staircase. That was close.
          We climb down the metal railing, and the air outside nips at my skin as if it's trying to herd me back inside. Amelia and I walk as fast as our heels will let us and wait at the corner of the next building over. I can hear my heart beating and it feels like it's about to explode out of my chest.
          My mind is racing. Is this the right thing to be doing? What if he finds me? What will he do to me, and more concerning what will he do to the ones who've helped me? I look at my best friend who over my life time has become the sister I never had. Her short black hair is pushed by the incoming fall breeze and her green eyes look at me wide with love and concern.
          "He should be here by now." Her phone rings and she quickly answers it. My blood is becoming colder and colder. We shouldn't have tried this. 
          "Come Aria, Nicolas said there has been a change in plans. He-he knows you're gone." Those last four words makes my heart fall to my stomach. Of course, he would notice, I just had hoped it wouldn't have been so soon. "We have to meet him by the park bench across the street."
          That means we must run past his building again, cross the street, and run through the park in order to get where we need to be. If I'm going to move that far quickly I am going to have to take my heels off. With our heels in our hands we go on our way to the park, and at the corner of the street Nicolas stands there waiting for us.
          "There you are. The driver is across the way, we must hurry if we want to get there in time. He cannot catch us, or else-" Nicolas looks at me solemnly. If he caught us it would be the end of us all.
          We cross the street but yelling echoes through the cold air that makes us all freeze in fear. He's close.
          "Hurry!" Nicolas yells and yet it comes out barely above a whisper. "Those trees, hide in those trees."
          Two large trees stand on opposite sides of a nearby gazebo. Amelia and I split ways. I make a sharp turn left and she does right. We quickly climb the trees, and my back dress tears as I slip and struggle to catch myself. Luckily the tree is thick and one branch in the back is set lower than the rest. God is on my side today because although the leaves on this tree are yellowing and ready to fall they are still here, hiding me from the one who hunts me.
          I look back through the leaves that cover me, and I can see our escape car close in the distance. We were so close. Three of my men exit the car and come over to assist Nicolas. By the time they come over however, you can see Vincenzo in the distance.
          Six men walk by his side, and I notice that three of them are my men that I passed by while leaving the building. I can feel the anger radiating off of him from here, and my body is shaking so much I'm afraid I'll slip from this branch and ruin this all.
"Where is she!?" His paces begin to grow quicker as he steps foot onto our sanctuary.
          Nicolas stands straight and masks his fear, "I don't know. I've been searching for her since you were careless enough to leave her side. She could be anywhere by now."
Vincenzo's fist collides with Nicolas's nose and I have to cover myself to mask my gasp in surprise. "Don't lie to me maiale. I know you have her."
"She's gone! Away from you moufette." Nico spits out the blood from the punch he received with a smile on his face. Why he enjoys riling the deadliest Mafia boss in Italy is beyond me. I wish for onc Nicholas would think it's his head before risking his life with that mouth of his.
Vincenzo's fist clenches at the disrespect Nicolas sends towards him, but his face remains calm. Something about his calmness makes me unsettled.
He lifts his right hand slightly and soon my three men are held at gunpoint. My men reach for their guns, but they're gone. Vincenzo made them put their guns away during the party. How convenient for him. I curse him and the smug look on his face.
Fear fills my lungs. He wouldn't dare. He can't. He knows if he murders my men I would never forgive him. I almost want to scream right then but as I look over Amelia is motioning me to stay quiet. I know why. If I give myself up now, there is no promise that my men will go unharmed. Who knows what he'll do to them for helping me.
"Tell me where she is or else your men are dead. I know she couldn't have gone far, tell her to come out of hiding and no one gets hurt." Lies. Someone always gets hurt.
"She doesn't want to be with you. Leave her be."
"You think you can keep her from me! You're wrong Nicolas." I hear another click of a gun and he holds up his gun facing straight for Nicolas's head. Panic is all I can feel right now. My mind races and I search my surroundings. Movement happens behind us that catches my eye, and I find a sniper standing atop the slide. I try to lean deeper into the tree not wanting to be seen. I know Vincenzo, and I know he will not let anyone escape. If Nicolas moves an inch to run he will be shot, if not by Vincenzo himself than by that sniper.
"If you do this, you will only be making matters worse. You don't understa-"
"Don't tell me what I do and do not know!" He takes a menacing step towards him. And all of his men's guns click letting me know that the safety is now off and they're ready to kill.
Amelia's face pales as she looks at me frantically. If I let this happen she will be losing her brother, one of her cousins and we'd lose our friends. I don't know what will happen but I have to try something. I will not be responsible for their deaths tonight.
"Fine. If you won't say anything then you leave me no choice. I'll find her myself." He raises his hands ready to signal all gun men.
"Pace. (please)" My voice is calm and quiet, but the breeze carries it to his ears. He signals his men to stop but they all keep their guns up, ready. 
          "Amore? Vieni fuori.(Love? Come out.)" His tone is full of dominance, and I now I shouldn't refuse him.
          I try my hardest to speak his tongue which he had been teaching me so my men won't completely know what I say. "No, a meno che tu non possa promettermi che andranno incolumi." (No, unless you can promise me they will go unscathed)
          "You're not exactly in the position to make demands princess." He growls out, unhappy that I am disobeying him.
          "Dammi la tua parola."(Give me your word) I keep my voice unwavering, to show him I will not back down.
          He clenches his teeth but soon he gives the order for his men to stand down. But as I look in the distance his sniper is still aiming straight to what I'm guessing is Nicolas's head. "Your word." I can swear I saw him flinch at my tone, but he soon recovers. He nods his head and the sniper soon puts down his gun.
          "You're turn principessa." I slowly climb down the tree not bothering to grab my shoes. Should I be doing this? There will be no other opportunity to do this again. Once he has me in his grasp, he will never let me leave his sight again.
"Now." I flinch and make my way to the side of the tree, showing myself. All he does is point to the empty spot next to him.
Nicolas's eyes greet mine, and the fear inside of them is overwhelming. "Reine..."
          The grip Vincenzo has on his gun becomes tighter as his patience grows thin.  A single tear falls down my cheek and I walk towards him with my eyes to the floor. When I get to arms reach he grabs a hold of me roughly and pulls me closer.
"Don't ever try that shit with me again." He whispers into my ear, but his voice makes me shake. What have I gotten myself into?

The ride home is excruciating. I don't know what's worse: the tight grip he has on the steering wheel and anger seething through him or the fact that he's suffocating me with his silence.
"Vincenzo, I-"
"Don't." I shut my mouth and try to stop my hands from shaking. I wish my friends were here to ease my discomfort, but I know that if they ever come near him again he will not go easy on them.
We get home and he slams his door shut and enters the house not waiting for me to walk with him. As I enter the building it feels foreign to me. It is no longer comforting and beautiful, but the walls are closing in on me warning me of what is to come.
Even with the knowledge of how much trouble I am in right now, I turn right and make my way to the farthest empty guest room. I don't care how angry it will make him. He left me, and I am not ready to follow him around like a lost puppy. I will not give him the satisfaction. Deadliest man alive be damned, I will fight him tooth and nail till I take my last breath.
"Aria!" His voice booms and the walls tremble in fright. I can hear doors open and slam shut throughout the halls, and some females scream as he abruptly and uncaringly enters the occupied rooms searching for me. I straighten my posture and brace for him to eventually find me. Each slamming door is a nail in my coffin.
Soon enough my door swings open and the beast stands in all of his furious glory. I only spare him a glance and set my gaze at the wall in front of me. "First you dare to run and hide from me. Then you have the balls to start making demands on moves that I make in front of my men. And now you have the audacity to still defy and disrespect me?"
I close my eyes and keep my breathing calm. Rough hands grasp my chin and his venomous voice sends shivers down my spine, "Look at me monello."
I try not to flinch, refusing to show him any emotion other than anger. I glare at him and his dark eyes grow even darker. "Oh, the things I am going to do to you." My heart stops and the memory of the days before start running through my mind.
I yank my head away from him frantically and hug my knees to my chest. "I don't care. You've already hurt me enough."
Those words cut through him like a blade and it takes him a moment to recover. I was expecting a harsh punishment to follow my words, but he does nothing. Instead he straightens his posture and turns the other way. Not a word slips past his beautiful yet cruel lips as he exits the room with the door slamming behind him.
A breath that I was holding escaped my lungs and out my mouth, and my body slumps in defeat. How will I be able to survive this dread I hold in my mind. And how can I act strong with the overwhelming guilt I feel in my heart?

A double update because I love you guys!
I hope you're enjoying the story for far. Be sure to tell me what you think!