Finding Beauty in the Darkness - Nikki Ash Page 0,35
day.”
“Good. Dr. Fox wants you to talk to someone. I’ve found a few people…”
Aria shakes her head vehemently. “No, the pills are working. You can get them for me, right?”
“I can, but you’ve been through a lot. You should talk to someone about it.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. My mom died, my stepfather went crazy and held me captive while abusing me. Now I’m being held here by you until you find another way to destroy Weston.”
“Well, when you put it like that, it’s not traumatizing at all,” I say sarcastically. When the hell did I become a smartass?
“I wasn’t a virgin when he took me. I’d had plenty of sex.” Images of Aria naked and sweaty pop into my head and I quickly change the subject.
“You’re a victim.”
“Yeah, so? That doesn’t mean I have to let what happened to me own me. He’s a crazy asshole. Yes, he raped me, but I’m not going to let him take more from me. I’m broke and have no idea where I stand with school. I need to move forward. I need to get a job and get school figured out. Maybe I can even take online classes while I’m here if you aren’t going to let me leave. I need to do something.”
I love how strong this woman is. She has every right to place blame and cry and make excuses but instead she’s picking up the pieces and handling business.
“All right. Money isn’t an issue while you’re here. Anything you need, I’ll provide. As far as school goes, I’m sure we can figure something out. I get you want to be strong and I commend you for that, but I’d feel better if you would at least talk to someone…just once. If you don’t feel it will help then you don’t have to see her again, and keep in mind she’s the one who will be prescribing your meds.”
Aria huffs loudly, but I can see her giving in. “Fine, one time.”
“Good girl. Now how about that movie? I’m sure we can get you some snacks from the kitchen and I might even be able to convince Maggie to make you a milk shake.”
Aria smiles wide. “Only on one condition. You join me.”
“I need to work.”
“Take a break.”
I know I’m going to regret giving into her. It’s like watching two trains coming toward each other on the same track and not being able to stop either of them. I know the wreck will end tragically of epic proportions, but I can’t help but watch. I want to look away, but I can’t. I know being around Aria more than necessary will only end catastrophically, but I can’t help but be drawn to her. The more I try to fight it, the more I want to be near her.
“Fine,” I concede.
“Yay!” Aria grins, her nose scrunching up in the adorable way it always does.
Yep, I’m well and truly fucked.
Chapter Twelve
ARIA
It’s been almost two weeks since Giovanni saved me from Weston, although saving me might be a somewhat lenient term since in return, he’s keeping me here at his mansion-slash-club under lock and key. I’ve quickly learned Giovanni has multiple sides to him. He can be cold and calculating when he needs to be, like when he confronted Weston or when he had to take a business call during our movie. Without so much as raising his voice, he made threats to whoever was on the other line, which weren’t even aimed at me but still sent chills right up my spine. Giovanni is not a man I’d want to cross.
But then, when he hung up the phone, and we went back to watching our movie, Romeo and Juliet (Don’t act like you didn’t love the 1990s version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes), and it got to the part where the families dueled, I jokingly asked him if that’s how it works in the mob. He threw his head back in laughter and told me he could see his brothers as Mercutio and Tybalt. I had no idea he had brothers. It’s obvious, Giovanni is an extremely private person.
When I grew tired and yawned several times, Giovanni grabbed a pillow and had me lay my head across his lap while he played with my hair. I fell asleep before the movie ended but woke up to him carrying me back to bed.
I’ve spent the majority of my time so far, cooped up in my room reading, aside from the movie night with