Chapter 4 Making You Strong

• ARIA
• My wrists burned as Damien’s men held me down, their grip ironclad against my trembling arms.
• My breathing was ragged, heart pounding in my chest like a trapped bird trying to break free.
• “Damien, please,” I begged, my voice cracking.
• I didn't want to be here. The room reeked of sweat, tears, and blood. It was suffocating, and it made me wonder why it was happening in the living room instead of wherever he did his business from.
• I knew about this life, but today was worse. This was animalistic.
• My plea fell on deaf ears. He didn’t even glance in my direction.
• He stood in the center of the room, his bloodstained shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a dagger glinting in his hand.
• “As a wife of a mafia Lord, this shouldn't faze you, Aria!” Katherine's voice was mocking, taunting, like seeing people die proved you were the wife of the year.
• I looked at the three men lying on the hardwood floor. Two were already slumped over, barely conscious, and one was still awake, but they were all drenched in blood, their faces beaten beyond recognition.
• “Katherine is right, Aria,” Damien said, his voice calm but laced with mockery as he turned his head slightly to meet my gaze. “This is what being my wife looks like. Consider this your education.”
• “You’re sick!” I spat, tears streaking down my cheeks.
• He smirked at that, a cruel twist of his lips.
• “No, beloved wife, you're weak. But don’t worry, because I intend on fixing that!”
• He turned his attention back to the men, crouching in front of the one who was still conscious.
• “You still have something to say, don’t you?” Damien murmured, his voice a deadly whisper as he traced the dagger on his neck.
• The man lifted his head, blood dripping from his split lips. He laughed, a wet, gurgling sound that sent a shiver down my spine.
• “You’ll never be Don material,” the man hissed, his voice thick with contempt. “You’re a joke, Damien. You’ll never be good enough. Not for them. Not for anyone.”
• Damien’s expression hardened, the air in the room growing colder and heavier. Without a word, he raised his gun and pulled the trigger.
• The deafening sound of the shot echoed in the room, and I screamed, the sound ripping from my throat like a wounded animal.
• Blood sprayed across the floor, and the man’s lifeless body slumped to the side.
• “No!” I sobbed, thrashing against the men holding me down.
• Damien finally turned back to me, his face impassive.
• “Where are you going, Aria?” he asked, his tone mocking. “You’re not leaving, are you? We still have a trip to take tomorrow.”
• “I’m not going anywhere with you!” I snapped, my voice hoarse from screaming. “Take Katherine. She’s the one you care about, and she is more cut out for this insanity!”
• His laugh was cold and humorless as he stepped closer, his dark eyes fixed on mine. “I'll give you one last chance to take that shit back.”
• My eyes hardened, A fire I didn't know was within me when I held his gaze. The love I had for Him was nowhere in sight.
• “Go to hell!”
• The bastard chuckled.
• “Fine. Stay here and pout, wife. But when you come to your senses, I'll ask my men to bring you along. For now, you can go and think about your actions.”
• I glared at him, hatred burning through my fear. “I will never come to my senses if it means staying with a monster like you.”
• His smile didn’t falter. “We’ll see about that.”
• With a flick of his hand, he signaled to the men. They yanked me to my feet and dragged me toward the guest room.
• “Let me go!” I screamed, kicking and struggling.
• But it was useless.
• They shoved me inside and slammed the door shut. The sound of the lock clicking into place sent a fresh wave of panic through me.
• I pounded on the door, my fists aching with every strike.
• “Damien, you can’t do this!”
• From the other side of the door, his voice responded,
• “Get some rest, Aria. You’ll need it.”
• I could hear a giggle from Katherine, who was probably having the time of her life.
• I slid to the floor, my back pressed against the cold wood, tears streaming down my face.
• I had never felt so powerless. But in the darkest corner of my mind, a single thought took root,
• I was going to leave this house. And this marriage altogether!