Arya's POV -

My heart pounded.

My head pounded.

I couldn't tell him the truth. I just couldn't.

His eyes continued to stare hard at me, demanding an answer.

"Arya? Who did that?" He asked again, and I can tell he was getting impatient as I refused to answer.

I swallowed, "N-No one did anything! I fell the other day and I hit my face." I blurted the first thing I could think of.

"Fell and hit your face?" He repeated slowly, disbelief in his tone.

"Y-Yeah, I...tripped over the steps and fell down face first on my side, no one touched me I promise." I said quickly, trying to get out of this situation.

He continued to stare at me, trying to figure out of I'm lying or not. I could feel sweat beginning to form on my forehead.

He exhaled deeply and leaned away from me, making me sigh internally with relief.

"And you covered it with makeup, why?" He continued to probe.

"It just looked bad that's all, I didn't want to gain any attention. Izzy hadn't even noticed it today."

I thought he was going to drop the subject there, but he continued.

"If anyone, and I mean anyone ever touches you in a way you don't like, you come find me, okay?"

My mouth parted slightly at his words, and I felt the need to truly tell him what happened.

But I snapped my jaw shut and nodded obediently.

"I don't want you to lie to me if something happens, understood?" His arms cross over his chest as he gazes at me once more, and then the bruise on my cheek.

"Yes, I understand..." I reply quietly, shifting on the booth seat.

"Okay," He sighs before reaching out to cup my face again, "Does it hurt a lot?"

"N-Not as much as before. It'll heal." I said, my hand going up to grab his on my face.

His jaw clenched but he said nothing else.

"Come on, I'll drive you home."

10 minutes later, we were parked in the same spot as Rome had dropped me off before.

Right before the horrific events.

"Thank you, I'll see you soon?" I ask hopefully to which he nods, gazing at me.

Before I can get out, Rome cups my face again before slowly leaning in.

His breath fans over my cheek and I find myself leaning into his warm touch.

His perfect lips graze over the bruise, giving it a soft and subtle kiss before pulling away.

"Promise me?" He asks and I tilt my head,

"Promise me if anything happens or you get hurt, you'll tell me."

Inside I was screaming at myself to blurt the truth out to him, but I just couldn't.

"Okay." Is the only word as I say as I grab my bag and get out of his car.

I make my way to my home, opening the door as It's literally always unlocked.

The living room TV was on, golf playing as the sport so I knew it was papa watching it.

Papa always loved golf, he used to play a lot more when he was younger.

Holding my hands to my chest, I peek into the living room to see papa sitting on the couch with a drink in hand.

I haven't seen him once since the accident with mama.

"Papa?" I ask and his head turns towards me.

"Arya, come sit." He pats the spot next to him and I nervously make my way over to him.

I plop down onto the spot he patted to, but I didn't say a word.

We both continue to look at the TV, but I can hardly pay attention to it.

"Does it hurt?" He asks the same question Rome had 20 minutes ago.

"No," I whisper painfully, "Not as much as the feeling of who it came from." I continue quietly and he sighs.

"She didn't mean to, kiddo." He says, turning down the volume on the TV and turning to me.

"Your mama just wants what's best for you. I do too, perhaps she took it a little too far though."

Yeah, just a little too far.

"Do you want some advil to help with the pain?"

"Yes please."

Papa gets up and heads towards the bathroom as I continue to look at the TV, watching the sport.

He soon returns with two tablets and a glass of water.

"Thank you," I say, placing the tablets on my tongue and taking a big gulp of the liquid.

"When will..." I pause before continuing, "When will mama be home? Normally she's here when I get home. Where is she?" I ask and papa sighs again.

"She's just out getting some groceries for dinner tonight. Actually, she should be home soon since she left a while ago. Why don't you go change and shower before she's here?" He says and I reply with an 'okay' before slowly getting up.

I take the now empty cup to the kitchen and wash it before putting it away.

At least papa wasn't that angry with me.

I did what papa asked and took a very long long shower. It had to of lasted about 30 minutes because all that's been on my mind were these past events.

I cried for about 5 minutes before actually shampooing and conditioning my hair.

I grabbed a pair of gray sweats and a black long sleeve for bed, I wanted to be extra comfy.

Getting out of the shower, I dried my hair briefly with my towel before shuffling on the sweats and throwing my long sleeve over my head.

I grabbed my brush and brushed my hair, parting it in the middle.

I stared at the bruise for about 5 minutes with tears in my eyes before I decided to stop sulking.

Opening my drawer in my room, I grabbed a pair of white socks and put them on my cold feet.

It was starting to get super chilly out since we were in October.

I heard the sound of the front door opening, followed by mama's voice as she talked to papa.

My hands began to shake slightly at the feeling of seeing her.

How would she react this time?

Was she going to hit me again?

I opened my door slightly and leaned towards the stairs to hear what they were discussing.

"You can't...honey...that's not..." Is all I heard. I couldn't understand their conversation.

Making my way to the steps, I went down slowly one by one, trying to take as long as possible.

I watched mama filling up a pot with water as she conversed with papa.

She turned on the stove and placed it on top before putting a box of spaghetti on the counter.

I loved spaghetti.

Her back was to me, her brown hair flowing down her back with a lot of curls like mine.

Finally after a lot of time watching the two, I made my presence known in the kitchen.

I didn't look mama's way as I took quick steps to the cabinets to grab a cup for water.

I wasn't even thirsty, I just needed something to do.

Turning towards the faucet, both mama's and papa's conversation died down once I entered.

The cup filled with water and I turned off the tap before sipping a bit of it.

I took a seat at the island counter and briefly looked up at mama, but her back was still to me, she was staring at the stove.

She hadn't said a word, only poured the spaghetti in the pot once it was boiling and began to mix it with a spoon.

I clenched onto the cup tighter in my hand as I waited for her to say something.

Anything.

To even look at me.

Almost 30 minutes of the most awkward silence went by, papa tried to make conversation a few times but it died down in 10 seconds.

Nothing was said as mama took out 3 plates.

Nothing was said as she filled up all 3 with spaghetti.

Nothing was said as we ate.

And nothing was said as I cleaned my dish, retreating to my room.

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Rome's POV -

She was lying to me. I just knew it.

I wasn't part of the mafia for nothing. I knew when someone was lying.

The slight shake of her hands betrayed her.

The slight sweat on her forehead gave it away.

And all I wanted to know was who the hell hit her.

An idea of who came to mind, and I found my hands clenching into fists of the idea of being correct.

She said her mother was only angry.

But why did I feel like there was more to it?

But I had to be sure. I wouldn't assume.

Why would she lie to me?

Who was she protecting?

Dialing the number that's saved me so many times, It rang as I drove my car back to my house.

Before they could speak, I spoke before them.

"I need you to do a background check." I said into the phone.

"On who?" Elijah replied.

"Arya Cadel. Not one on her, but on her parents. Who they are. Where they're from. What their jobs are. Anything."

There was silence for a second before he replied, "Arya? Was she the one at the house?"

"Yes, you met her already?"

There was another pause.

"I met her once, she was looking for James when you weren't back."

Ah, when she woke up after falling asleep.

"That's not important right now. Just get me the background checks on them."

"Yes Capo." He said before I hung up and tossed my phone onto the leather seat next to me.

(Boss.)

I still couldn't believe Arya was actually lying to me.

After I asked her twice to promise me she'd come to me when in trouble.

Even if It's by her parents.

And if I was correct then there's going to be a huge fucking problem.

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UNKNOWN POV -

"Это правда?" A man asked on the other line.

(Is it true?)

"Это так, я не думал, что это возможно."

(It is, I didn't think it was possible.)

There was a chuckle.

Evil.

Menacing.

Cruel.

"Ну тогда это только облегчает."

(Well then that just makes it easier.)

"Be patient my friend, because soon sweet revenge will come our way."