ARIA’S POV
The sound of crickets chirping surrounded me, and the damp sand beneath me was the only thing that kept me grounded. Carter’s gaze was intense, but I tried to focus on the grains of sand between my fingers.
“We have to head back. It’s getting late”. He said
“What do you think he wants from me?”. I asked, feeling the wet sand in my hands.
“Matteo? No one knows what he wants” he said, and rose from his spot, dusting the soil off him. “Come with me”. He said, and there was a creak in the bushes, and we turned to face Matteo, emerge from behind a tree, his posture casual, but his gaze wicked. His hands were buried in his pockets, as if he was trying to feign nonchalance, but the intensity of his stare betrayed his true intentions. It was as if he was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Matteo…”. Carter started
“Have you heard?”. Matteo asked, his voice nothing like I’ve heard before.
“Heard what?”.
“Time for bed, Aria”. Matteo said to me
The condescending words struck me like a slap to the face, his attempt to infantilize me, only serving to deepen the rift between us.
“I’m not a child, Matteo,” I retorted, my tone hardening with each word.
“I said time for bed, Aria”. He repeated louder this time.
“I’m not sleepy”. I said after sucking my teeth.
“What was that?”. He asked, walking toward me with his hands in his pocket.
“Matteo, I’m not sleepy”. I sounded a bit firmer this time.
“But I want you gone”. He said, and he sounded a bit off and furious for some reason.
“Matteo…”. My voic is coming off as a whisper.
“Listen to him, Aria”. Carter interrupted. His voicetrembledg as he said those words. All I saw was a dark figure like Matteo and Carter by my side.
Matteo paused in his treks and turned to Carter like a predator stalking its prey.
“Why?”. Matteo asked calmly. “Why does she have to listen to you?”. Matteo asked, his eyes watching Carter. “Why the fuck does she have to listen to you?”. The tranquil night was shattered by Matteo’s angry shout, his voice piercing the silence like a blade. In response, a flock of birds erupted from the trees, taking flight as if fleeing from the sound of his wrath.
“Matteo, can you stop?” Carter pleaded, his voice cracking under the strain of fear. The sound of it made me wonder what had shaken him so deeply. Matteo turned his head towards us, his laughter echoing through the night like a twisted hymn. His hair fell gracefully around his face, framing his features in a wild and handsome way. Despite his menacing laughter, it was impossible to deny his captivating allure.
Matteo let Carter’s name roll off his tongue like a silken whisper, savoring the sweet sound of it.
“Carter…” he repeated, his voice a symphony of seduction.”Are you fucking my wife?”. Matteo asked and my breathe hitched
“What the fuck!”. Carter shouted and charged at Matteo in a blind fury, but Matteo’s reflexes were swift, his hands and feet a vicious blur that quickly overwhelmed the American. Carter was helpless against Matteo’s wrath, each blow a devastating evidence to Matteo’s strength. I watched in horror as Matteo’s fists rained down like hailstones, his brutality numbing my senses. Yet, a primal instinct took over, and I found myself hurling my body into Matteo, my teeth tearing into his shoulder in a feral display of defiance. Matteo let out a feral howl, the sound ripping through the stillness of the night like a scream from a wounded beast. As he tore off his shirt, the fabric giving way like paper beneath his rage, I seized the moment. Without a second thought, I darted towards Carter, determined to rescue him from this nightmare that Matteo had unleashed.
“I need you to run and lock yourself up in your room”. He said. “I’ll come find you”. I cried when I saw him in that state and shook my head disapproving his request.
“He’s furious, and he might hurt you”. Carter’s words were a warning I couldn’t ignore, his voice a snarl against my ear. I turned to face my husband, the moonlight casting his figure in an eerily beautiful glow that accentuated his muscles, his stance feral and menacing. His breath came in heavy pants, the sound a reminder of the powerful beast that lurked beneath his skin. I could feel the danger radiating from him, a threat that made my blood run cold.
I launched into a desperate sprint, the sharp twigs and thorns piercing my soles like daggers. Each step brought new agony, but I pressed on, driven by the fear that pursued me like a hellhound. Behind me, I could hear Matteo’s heavy footsteps thudding against the ground, each footfall a drumbeat of terror. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows that seemed to stretch their claws towards me. I stumbled but pushed myself to keep running, the pain from my bleeding feet adding to the panic that pulsed through my veins.
I fled into the mansion, my feet leaving bloody prints on the marble floors, like a trail marking my escape. As I hurried up the stairs, I could see Alonzo and Mrs. Fletcher observing from a distance, their cold, dispassionate gazes adding to the pain of my bleeding soles. They were like statues, frozen in a twisted form of admiration as they bore witness to Matteo’s unbridled ferocity. A profound sense of betrayal welled up within me, and for that reason, I hated them.
“Aria!” Matteo’s voice bellowed behind me, like a battle cry that echoed through the darkness. My hand trembled as I fumbled with the doorknob to my room, my breath coming in ragged gasps. But just as I was about to find sanctuary within the four walls of my bedroom, I turned to see him mere inches behind me, the heat of his breath fanning across my neck. It was as if the air had thickened, the very atmosphere conspiring to bring me closer to my tormentor. The door slammed against Matteo’s foot, the sharp sound of impact reverberating through the hallway. I turned to face him, my body quivering as I looked upon the sheer power of Matteo Marino, the embodiment of rage and lust. He glared at me, the fire in his eyes burning hotter with each breath that expanded his barrel chest. Then, in an instant, the world went dark, leaving only Matteo’s glowering gaze to pierce the inky blackness.