Arya's POV -

"You know, I think my mama is finally starting to change." I say to Izzy truthfully.

"She's been going to therapy for a while now and wanting to be better for me. I know she's doing better. She is even okay with me living with Rome."

Izzy seems to be thinking over her next words as we sit at one of the tables inside. It's way too cold to be outside right now. I'd be freezing my butt off in 5 minutes.

"Yeah that is quite surprising. Your mama always seemed to be so strict."

"I guess that's what happens after Russians hunt you down." I shrug and she smiles a bit but it looks painful.

"They're not traumatized or anything after all that?" She asks and I shake my head.

"I found it weird too but both mama and papa said they didn't harm them."

When I said I'd tell Izzy everything, I meant it. I told her about all the fights mama and I got in. The wounds. About the Russians kidnapping them, about them kidnapping me. About being rescued and of course everything after all those crazy events.

"Luckily James and Elijah were able to catch Oliver. I'm not sure what they're going to do to him and I don't want to know." I admit, staring down at the table.

"You think Rome will kill him?" Izzy asks and I blow out a breath, swiping some hair out of my face.

"I don't know."

"Do you want Rome to kill him?" Izzy taps her nails on the table.

"I've never been one for violence." Tilting my head, I bite my lip in thought.

"But Oliver literally kidnapped me and brought me straight to his fathers hands. He even tried to befriend you."

Her eyes flash with an unknown emotion but she doesn't say anything.

She glances around the hall before looking back at me.

"So you do want Rome to kill Oliver?" She watches me and I swallow thickly.

I never thought I'd wish death upon anyone. I never thought death was the answer.

But I guess your thoughts can change after a life threatening situation.

"Yes." I whisper, "I do."

Izzy doesn't seem surprised at my answer.

Now that I think about it, she hasn't been surprised about a lot of the things I've said.

"You haven't shown much emotion to some of the things I've told you." I joke, referring to the whole mafia situation.

"I actually need to talk to you about that." She replies and now I turn confused.

"About the...mafia?"

She nods her head and I'm left even more confused. She wants to talk more about the mafia?

"Okay, what is it?"

Before she responds I get a ding from my phone.

"Hold that thought." I smile, taking out my phone and opening the message from my boyfriend.

Rome :)! Arya, are you still talking with Izzy?

Me: Yup, we should be done soon.

Rome :)! Listen to me baby, I need you to go to the bathroom closest to you. One of my men will be there waiting.

Me: What? Why?

Rome :)! Just trust me sweetheart. And don't bring Izzy.

Me: Are we in danger?

Rome :)! Now, Arya.

Huffing, I click off my phone and meet Izzy's gaze.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah uh I just need to go the bathroom real quick and then you can tell me what you need to, okay?"

"Do you want me to come with?" She offers and I shake my head even though I want to say yes.

"No I'll be okay, give me two minutes."

She nods her head cautiously as I get up from the chair and make my way to the restrooms.

Sure enough when I turn the corner one of Rome's men is leaning against the wall. I've never seen him before but he definitely looks like a mafia person with the scary looks and all.

He's got dirty blonde hair that's cut just behind and below his ears. His hair color reminds of James' but this man has dark brown eyes.

"Hi," I mumble shyly once I reach the unknown man. He gives me a small smile as a greeting and it releases some of the tension in my chest.

The man pulls out his phone and makes a call. He starts talking in Italian but I hear the word 'Capo' which I know means boss. Is he talking to Rome?

Less than 20 seconds later he ends the call and turns his attention back to me.

"Come on, one of the SUV's are outside to take you home."

"Huh? What about Izzy?" I says with confusion, pointing towards the direction of my best friend.

"She'll be fine, she can find a way home." He says, his voice now fully of stiffness at the mention of her.

I go to question the man further but he gestures towards the direction of the school doors.

"Boss's orders." He says and I sigh. Rome has a lot of explaining to do.

We begin our journey to the exit and I question him.

"Who are you? I've never seen you around."

"That's because you're not supposed to see me." He replies cheekily and I frown.

"I was one of the guards assigned to you by Rome to watch from afar for any danger by the Russians or anyone else." He explains and my mouth forms an 'O' shape.

"That makes sense. What's your name?"

"Grant."

"Well nice to meet you Grant, I'm Arya."

"I know that. I'm pretty sure It's important for me to know who I'm protecting."

I glare at him and he rolls his eyes, opening the doors to go outside.

The cold air immediately hits me and I shiver.

"Okay, to the SUV! Quick!" I yell, marching towards the vehicle with Grant trailing behind.

The doors open before I get there revealing Elijah which shocks me.

"Elijah? What are you doing here?" I question and he inhales sharply.

"Just get in." He nods his head to the now open car door and I do so, getting comfortable in the back seat.

"Hey princess," James greets me from the other seat and my eyes widen.

"You're here too? What's going on?!"

"Nothing for you to worry about," He waves his hand around in dismissal. "Just buckle up."

I grumble under my breath and do so and then go to shoot Izzy a quick text that I had to leave.

As I type out the text, I see another car in the corner of my eye and two figures struggling on one of the paths.

My neck snaps up and to the window so fast I'm surprised I didn't get whiplash.

I do a double take.

A triple take.

And then my jaw drops, my phone dropping in my lap.

Disbelief fills my eyes.

First is that Rome's car is here.

Second is that I see him.

Third is that I don't only see him, I see Izzy as well.

And fourth is that Rome is practically dragging her towards his car while she squirms in his strong grip, yelling out things I can't understand.

I hear the front passenger side door shut and I see Grant getting in the seat.

All three of the men in here are completely ignoring what's happening outside.

Holy cow, they came to get me while Rome could get Izzy.

Wait, why is Rome attacking Izzy?!

I quickly unbuckle and open the door, leaving it open as I sprint towards the two.

"Arya!" I hear Elijah call behind me but I block it out.

"What the fuck?!" I scream and both Rome and Izzy freeze, their eyes meeting me.

I don't know if they were shocked to see me, or the fact that I just cussed.

I'm shocked I just cussed but I had other things to worry about.

"What is going on?! What are you doing to her?" I yell towards Rome, taking quick steps to grab her hand and pulls her away from him but his grip tightens on her arms.

"I'll explain to you later, baby. Go get in the car."

"No, you'll tell me right now." I say back, tugging harder on her hand. My eyes soften when I see tears trailing down Izzy's cheek.

"What have you done to her?" I ask with hardness and Rome's jaw clenches.

"What have I done to her? I haven't done anything."

"Then why-"

"You should be asking what Izzy has done to you. To us." His cold eyes go back to Izzy and she shrinks under his gaze.

"W-What?"

Rome glares down at her and more tears escape her eyes. She looks at me pleadingly and grips my hand tighter.

"P-Please Arya! I-I didn't mean to! I didn't want to!"

"Didn't want to do what? What happened, Izzy?" I ask sadly and she sniffles, wiping her nose.

"T-They made me. I didn't want to I promise! I didn't want to hurt you or Rome!"

"Bullshit," Rome scoffs and Izzy cries out again.

I turn my head when I hear footsteps and see Elijah, James, and Grant all approaching with cold eyes. They're all in mafia business mode right now.

What has Izzy done?

"Izzy, what happened?" I ask again and she tries to shake out of Rome's grip.

"Rome," I say, eyeing him and he sighs harshly, letting go of her arm.

She tackles me into a hug and my eyes widen, wrapping my arms around her.

She sobs into my neck and I pat her back.

"Izzy, you need to tell me what happened." I say for the third time but she only cries harder.

"Y-You need to believe that...that I didn't want to do it! I swear I didn't! I didn't want to!" It seems like she's trying to convince herself more than me but I nod anyways.

"Okay Izzy, okay. Just tell me."

The four men surround the two of us and I can feel Izzy's body shaking as her wide eyes look at all of them.

"If you don't tell her in 5 seconds, I will." Rome says after a little bit of silence and she trembles again.

Her glassy eyes meet mine and another tear falls down her face.

"I'm sorry." She whimpers and my heart beat quickens.

"I-I already knew about the mafia. Before you told me." She says and I'm left stunned.

"How did you know?"

She shakily grips onto both my hands and looks at me pleadingly.

"I-Ivan contacted me a little bit ago."

I nibble on my lip, my own hands starting to shake as I fear the worst.

"Ivan contacted you?" I whisper and she nods frantically.

"Y-Yes but he threatened me! He threatened he'd kill my family if I didn't tell him of you and Rome's whereabouts. Where you were 24/7. What you were doing."

My mind blanks. I can't focus on a thing.

I know Izzy has more to say but I didn't want to hear anymore.

"He-he'd sometimes hideout at my house b-but I couldn't stop him or he'd kill me! He'd hold me at gunpoint!"

I let go of her hands and she lets out another yell.

"Please Arya! Don't let Rome take me!" She screams as Rome reaches forward and grasps her forearm.

"I didn't want to! Ivan forced me! Those R-Russians forced me! Please!"

I cover my ears with my hands, trying to block everything out as sobs escape me, a waterfall of tears covering my face.

Ivan had been with Izzy.

He's been to her house.

He's hidden at her house before.

Izzy knows Ivan.

Ivan knows Izzy.

Were the messages she showed us from Trevor even real?

I feel my chest tightening up as I take small breaths.

"Send the men to Izzy's house." I can hear them talking near me.

"Ivan could be there-" I can't hear all of it.

"Surround the house-"

"See if the parents are there-"

"Bring Ivan back alive-"

My body drops and collides with the grass.

A painful ringing is heard in my ears.

Strong hands grip onto my face and my blurry vision meets Rome's form.

He's talking frantically to me but I can't hear a word. The ringing in my ear loud and blaring.

I notice the sun is starting to set. How long has it been?

My birthday is soon.

My birthday is tomorrow.

I close my eyes despite all the protests.

Happy early birthday to me.

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I can't tell if I like this chapter.