Chapter 20:
Amara: “Can we talk, Aria?”
Aria: “I’ll call you later, cousin. Bye. Come in, Amara. Is everything okay?”
Amara: “I won’t beat around the bush. And you know I’m not someone who would do something behind your back. The thing is…”
Aria: “What is it?”
Amara: “Your brother and I…he said he likes me and yesterday I agreed to see where things go. Yeah, something like that.”
Aria: “He said he likes you?”
Amara: “Yeah, that’s why I postponed my departure.”
Aria: “And I thought his prideful ass was never going to admit it.”
Amara: “You knew?”
Aria: “Of course I knew, he never looked at any girl like he looks at you. You were special to him from day one and everyone could see it. I’m happy for the both of you, you both deserve happiness.”
Amara: “Am I the only one who didn’t see it?”
Aria: “You really had no idea, did you?”
Amara: “Meh.”
Aria: “So did you guys…?”
Amara: “Oh hell no. I don’t kiss and tell so don’t expect any juicy details from me.”
Aria: “By the way, I had a few things to talk to you about. Rico’s birthday is coming.”
Amara: “That’s nice.”
Aria: “So I’ve made a whole ass shopping list for that and you’re coming with me.”
Amara: “I hate shopping.”
Aria: “Yeah I know but you love me so you will come.”
Amara: “Don’t push your luck, women. Tell me when are we going? I need to mentally prepare myself for it.”
Aria: “The day after tomorrow.”
Amara: “Great. (Damon’s room)”
Damon: “I don’t think he’ll create problems for you anymore.”
Ryan: “I have something to tell you.”
In Ryan’s head: Here goes nothing.
Ryan: “I like Amara.”
Damon: “Yeah, and? Everyone likes her, so? Oh. Oh hell no…find someone else for your one-night stands, Diavolo. If you come near my sister I’ll cut your baby maker.”
Ryan: “Why does everyone think I’m a manwhore?”
Damon: “Because you are a manwhore.”
Ryan: “I was. I’m serious about her.”
Damon: “Really?”
Ryan: “I promise.”
Damon: “But why are you telling me? You should go and tell her.”
Ryan: “I did.”
Damon: “She said she likes you too? I don’t fucking believe it.”
Ryan: “She didn’t say she likes me. She just agreed to give me a chance to prove to her that I’m serious and that I can change.”
Damon: “That’s something new. I thought she hated you.”
Ryan: “Why would you think that?”
Damon: “She was avoiding you like a plague. Everyone noticed.”
Ryan: “It was because of the argument we had the other day.”
Damon: “What argument? What did you say to her?”
Ryan: “We yelled at each other and I called her a spoiled brat. (Damon smacks Ryan). What was that for?”
Damon: “She’s been with me for more than two years and I never raised my voice at her. I never called her a spoiled little brat…how the hell did she leave you alive? And who gave you the right to call her names in the first place? Do you have any idea what kind of life she lived?”
Ryan: “I don’t know but I’m willing to know and I yelled at her because I wanted her to leave. I was thinking about her safety.”
Damon: “Safety? She isn’t in any danger here, is she?”
Ryan: “She’s safe here but I thought at the time she would be more safe in New York.”
Damon: “Then you changed your mind?”
Ryan: “I told you I’m serious about her.”
Damon: “But you’re a wolf, don’t you have a mate out there?”
Ryan: “I don’t have a mate because I’m not like other wolves.”
In Ryan’s head: I can’t tell anyone that Amara is my mate. This truth I can’t share.
Damon: “Then all the best in dealing with my sister.”
Ryan: “I don’t need it.”
Damon: “Trust me, you’ll need it. It can be the easiest thing you ever done or the toughest. The irony is it depends on you. Just remember, you’ll get only one chance and if you fuck it up…you fucked it up. She has such a vengeful and unforgiving nature. So you better watch it. If you hurt her, she’s gonna bleed you.”
Ryan: “I was expecting you to say that you’d kill me if I hurt her.”
Damon: “My sister isn’t a damsel in distress, Diavolo. Even the devil shivers when she loses her patience. So good luck. (Damon laughs - at the mall shopping)”
Amara: “Are we done here?”
Aria: “For today? Yes.”
Amara: “Thank God. Let’s go home. (on a roof of a building)”
Darien: “So which one?”
James: “Just look, you’ll know.”
Darien: “Oh fuck me. Where were you this whole time, beautiful? How come we never crossed paths. She isn’t human, is she?”
James: “Why do you think so?”
Darien: “A human can’t make my jaw drop like this and a human surely can’t possess this kind of beauty. Look at her. I want her.”
James: “Okay, we can kidnap her then you can do whatever you want and when you’re done, you can kill her.”
Darien: “No, I don’t want her for only one night. I want her for the rest of my life. She’s worthy of bearing my children.”
James: “What are you talking about? If what Hudson said is true, then she’s a threat and we need to take care of the threat.”
Darien: “I want her, no one can lay a finger on her. You’re not touching her, disobey me and I’ll send you to hell. She’s gonna be my wife.”
James: “But what if she’s a human? Humans are immortal, she’ll die sooner or later.”
Darien: “I’ll turn her. She’ll become a vampire like me, we’ll live forever…together. I’m gonna see her now, I wanna admire her from up close.”
In James’ head: His father will kill me if she turns out to be a threat and I didn’t kill her. This horny fucker can never keep it in his pants. I need to pay for his sins every time. (outside a cafe)
Karl: “You’re being watched.”
In Amara’s head: I know.
In Aria’s head: A vampire. (Aria’s wolf Devin growls)
Aria: “Guys, we need to leave right now.”
Darien: “What’s the rush, Aria?”
Aria: “Back off. This is my brother’s territory. You shouldn’t be here. If you wanna live to see another day, leave right now.”
Darien: “Is this how you guys welcome your guests? Don’t worry, I’m not here for you Aria, I don’t look at married women. I’m here for her.”
Amara: “Both of you get in the car. Aria, get in the car, I’ll deal with him.”
In Aria’s head: Why is my wolf ready to obey as if she’s ordered by the alpha or luna?
Darien: “Won’t you turn around and look at me, beautiful?”
In Darien’s head: Here goes my heart. You’ll be mine, beautiful.
Darien: “Where are my manners? I’m Darien, what’s your name?”
In Amara’s head: Do you know what a rotting dead body smells like? It smells like him and even the most expensive perfume in this world can’t hide this kind of smell, from me at least. I feel like I’m throwing up. I’ve met people who have done heinous sins but still, they didn’t smell like him. Their souls were still not that corrupted but this man in front of me…his soul is rotten. The foul smell coming from his body told me a lot of stories. The most painful ones. I’m trying to block it because I don’t think I can handle knowing what kind of things he has done but I’m feeling miserably.
Darien: “Earth to beautiful. You didn’t tell me your name yet.”
Amara: “It’s none of your fucking business.”
Darien: “I like that sassy mouth of yours. I’m looking forward to dealing with that mouth of yours every day when you become my wife. We’re gonna have fun, you know?”
Amara: “What the fuck did you just say?”
Darien: “You’re gonna be my wife and you’re gonna carry my children.”
Amara: “You’re funny. If you touch me, I’ll cut your penis off and feed it to the dogs.”
Darien: “Your fiery nature has already won me over. We’ll meet again soon and at that time our conversation won’t be this short.”
In Amara’s head: I wanna kill him but my instincts tell me otherwise. It would be a bad decision but not because I’ll be in trouble but because the people I care about will get in trouble because of my actions. At the same time there’s a part of me that’s telling me leaving him alive would be a mistake. I hate when I get stuck in this kind of situation. (in the car Aria texting Ryan)
Aria’s Text: “Something happened. We came across a vampire when we were about to get in our car. He wanted to talk to Amara and she seemed disturbed after that conversation. We’re on our way, we’ll reach home in five minutes. (in the living room)”
In Amara’s head: Great.
Ryan: “What happened?”
Amara: “I believe Aria has already told you, hasn’t she?”
Ryan: “I’m asking about the conversation you had with him. What did he say to you? Do you know him? Why did he wanna talk to you?”
Amara: “I never seen him before. I know nothing about him other than that he smells like a rotting dead body and his name is Darien and he wanted to talk to me because he had some things to say. Like how eager he is to deal with my mouth every day, that he wants to make me his wife and he wants me to carry his children. So yeah, that’s why he wanted to talk to me.”
Damon: “Little one.”
Amara: “I'm fine, brother.”
Damon: “No, you’re anxious, I can feel it. Breathe.”
In Ryan’s head: Azrael’s fighting control. I’m glad Damon is here to comfort her before I have people to kill.
Ryan: “Let’s go welcome our unwanted guest. (in the woods)”
Darien: “We're about to reach the border, James.”
James: “Help me.”
Darien: “Can’t do, I need to save my ass first.”
Azrael: “Fucking coward.”
Darien: “Easy, don’t forget I’m not standing on your territory. I’m on neutral ground, you can’t kill me here or else your pack will get in trouble. (Ryan shifts back to human form)”
In Ryan’s head: Darien Dominguez, son of Axton Dominguez. The one who killed my parents in. When Amara said the name Darien, I knew it sounded familiar. I know him.
Ryan: “You’re just like your father. A fucking coward.”
Darien: “So the rumors are true, you do have a big dick.”
Ryan: “I also have big fangs, motherfucker. Come to this side of the border and I’ll show you how easily I can behead you.”
Darien: “Oh I’ll come for sure but not now.”
Ryan: “If you dare come here again, I’ll send that head of yours to your father.”
Darien: “We’ll see about that but I’ll have to come back here because there’s something that caught my attention and I won’t rest until I can make her mine.”
Ryan: “If I see you near my sister again I won’t hesitate to kill you on neutral ground.”
Darien: “You think that low of me. I’m not interested in a married woman. We’ll meet again, I guess. (Amara’s room)”
Amara: “I’m fine. I don’t need a hug.”
Ryan: “I know but I need one.”
In Amara’s head: I don’t know how but being in his arms calmed my mind. He makes me feel at ease. I never knew it was possible for me to find peace in someone’s arms because physical touch always made me uncomfortable. Maybe because growing up I never had someone who comforted me with hugs but Damon made me realize what it feels like to be comforted by someone you consider your family. Diavolo’s touch brings me peace for some reason. Who would’ve thought Ryan Diavolo Accardi is capable of giving hugs? Aria was right and I was too blind to see this side of him. He’s a different person. When I went through all the information Karl collected on Diavolo the image I created was a ruthless, arrogant leader who doesn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself and his close circle. A man who's a womanizer and who’s capable of having feelings for anyone. When he kidnapped Damon I was ready to kill him but then I came here and I realized these people are nothing like what I thought. The Ryan I found here is nothing like what I expected. His people respect him, they’d die for him. He cares for other people here and definitely wouldn’t hesitate to kill to keep them safe. He’s merciless when it comes to his people and that’s why other people are terrified of him. Since I came here I feel different, of course, there’s never a dull moment here. If someone had told me a few weeks ago I’ll find peace and a stranger’s arms I would’ve laughed out loud but look at me now, growing accustomed to his touch. Kissed him that night as if my life depended on it. What’s wrong with me?
Amara: “Just one more minute. You should shower.”
Ryan: “I did shower before coming here.”
Amara: “You still smell like him. Did you fight him? Why do you have his scent on you?”
In Ryan’s head: She wasn’t joking when she said people’s scent tell her a lot.
Ryan: “We kind of had a small conversation. Why did you say he has a foul scent?”
Amara: “Because he does. Before you ask, no normal person can’t smell it, they can only smell the expensive cologne he’s wearing but what I smelled was his rotted soul.”
Ryan: “Did he touch you?”
Amara: “If he had then he wouldn’t have been alive to have that small conversation with you now would he? A part of me wanted to kill him right there.”
Ryan: “Then why didn’t you?”
Amara: “The voices in my head said your people would get in trouble. I know it doesn’t make sense but I couldn’t ignore it.”
In Ryan’s head: Trust me, it totally makes sense.
Ryan: “It seems you’re still fuming, don’t you?”
Amara: “So?”
Ryan: “In the gym, you can vent your anger.”
Amara: “That’s a good idea. Are you gonna join?”
Ryan: “I’ll meet you there after taking a shower.”
Amara: “You’re gonna take a shower again? I didn’t know you value my word.”
Ryan: “Trust me, I value your everything more than you can imagine, alma mia. Did I make you blush, alma mia?”