4. The Plan

I was seated in my living room with my brother, Edoardo, who I had just finished narrating the events of the day to. Immediately, I saw Giancarlo walk in; I knew he was bringing bad news.

My phone was blowing up; the few guests I bothered to invite to the wedding were getting worried, and I had no answer for them yet. I was hoping my men would get Aria back and we’ll proceed with the wedding even if it was late.

But when I saw Carlo, I knew I was only dreaming. I could tell by the look on his face that whatever he was about to tell me, I was not going to like it.

“Yes?” I asked.

“The car with the plate number was found three streets away from the subway,” Carlo said, pausing there. “It’s registered in Aria’s name.”

“And?”

“Pietro...” he called. I’d never seen Giancarlo at a loss for words. I frowned at him.

“Carlo speak.”

“She’s gone.”

I clasped both of my palms together. Heat crawled up my neck at his words. “Where did she go?” I asked, determined to follow her even to the devil’s den.

“We don’t know yet. Her name was not registered at the airport; none of our men at the checkpoints had seen her. The subway, the bus terminals, nothing.” Carlo said.

None of this was making sense anymore. “How can one person, one single lady sneak out under your noses?”

“I believe she’s still in Queensland,” Carlo said, and I shook my head.

“I think the problem we have is underestimating Aria Kostas. She is fuckin lethal. She has left Queensland, I can feel it in my bones. But one thing I’m very certain of is, she didn’t do any of this alone. She had help. Get me the fucker or fuckers that helped her.” Carlo nodded but was still standing there. “For god’s sake Carlo, didn’t you hear me?”

“Aria has only one friend, Susie. And she’s been at the wedding venue since morning. Never left there.” He explained.

How the hell did she do it then? It was all beautifully orchestrated. She had covered all bases like she knew what to expect. How did she do it?

I roared furiously, pounding my fists on one of the chairs with such force that it shifted aside. “Who were the people on guard when she ran out?”

Giancarlo tightened his lips, and I turned to him; he saw the terror in my eyes. “Kill them,” I ordered cold-bloodedly.

“Pietro...” He started.

“Kill them, put their heads on a spike, and hang them at the entrance of their family houses. It's standard punishment for what they did. They deserve worse.”

“Consider it done,” Carlo answered with a sober nod.

The emotion I was feeling was that of pure rage. Today is supposed to be my wedding day. Aside from the embarrassment Aria's action might cause me, she was putting herself in great danger. I’m not the holiest of all men. So the risk to her is pretty high.

With all the killings on my plate, her position as my bride makes her not just vulnerable, but it also puts her in a position where she has to be scared for the rest of her life. My motive for this marriage might be evil and centered on revenge, but that doesn’t mean I want her dead. Yet.

“Did you check her home, and she isn’t there?” Edoardo finally broke his silence.

“Yes. But our men found something-"

I snapped my face toward Carlo. “And you’re just mentioning it? What is it?”

Carlo pushed his phone to me. “It’s a note.” He said. “You should read it yourself.”

I brought the phone closer, and it read: “I’d rather be crushed by a moving van than get married to you, Mr. Eppolito.”

‘Screw you, Aria Kostas’.

I straightened, my spine uncoiling as every vertebra slotted back into place. Amusement curled the corner of my lips, even as anger lurked just beneath the surface. I had to admit; I felt proud. Aria was smart and brave and that would make breaking her way more fun than I thought.

Now I understood why she had the balls to make a whole journal about me. I still couldn’t get myself to believe it, while other women had thrown themselves at me in the past, Aria Kostas literally chose to run away from her life and home just to escape me.

Now, she had just turned herself into a package that I’m even more desperate to get my hands on.

“Tell my papa what happened. The rest of the guests should disperse. The bride had a health emergency or any other excuse you can think of.” I instructed. Carlo nodded his understanding.

“Any info on who deflated my tires?” I asked.

He nodded. “Some old beggar that was tipped a $100 by an anonymous man. He described the man, but it wasn’t something we could work with.”

“What did subway cameras give you?”

“Nothing,” he responded.

Aria Kostas was working with a man. Did she ditch me on our wedding day because of a man? Wait... she eloped with a man? My blood was boiling at this point.

‘How dare you, Aria Kostas?’

“Interrogate every single person wearing a wedding dress at that subway and the beggar that deflated my tires. If they fail to give you anything tangible this time around, end their miserable lives. Send some men to Aria's sister's place at Welbrum. They should notify me once they catch sight of Aria anywhere around there."

I paused and smiled wickedly as I thought of all the ways I'll punish Aria Kostas. Tracking down people who hide from me is what I do for a living. There’s no way I’ll let a young twenty-six-year-old College Professor get past me.

"I'm going in search of my bride." I said, looking at the clock at the fireplace. It was almost midnight. "Let's go pay Aria's best friend a visit." I said and started pulling off my suit jacket.

My brother started folding his sleeves, getting himself ready for a hunt.

“Pietro," Carlo started. "You don't have to do this yourself. Leave it to our men. I’ll pull in our contacts scattered all over the world on her. If you decide to do this yourself, who’s going to hold the tide while you're away?”

I slanted Giancarlo a murderous look, poison seeping into my gaze. “You don’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”

Old Carlo stood to match my posture. “Respectfully, Capo, we need you here; a lot is going on right now that needs your attention and sign-off. Meeting with the new supplier and vetting his products, you’re supposed to meet with Genovese for an alliance, and he won’t agree to meet unless you’re coming.”

Carlo was right, but I don’t care.

“We can get you another bride, Pietro. Someone willing and deserving of you. Just forget about this Kostas girl, and when our men get her, we treat her the way we treat infidels,” he suggested, and I almost ripped his tongue out.

"I'm ready." Edoardo announced ignoring Carlo's words of advice.

“Listen to me, Carlo." I started. "I want, and I will have Aria Kostas. Understood?”

He nodded grumpily and waited for my dismissal. “Tell me you understand.”

“Si, I understand.” He agreed.