Retribution

GIOVANNI’S POV "Arya," I said softly, stopping in my tracks. "It's okay. You're safe now. I'm not going to hurt you." "You came," she whispered. Her voice was barely audible. "You actually came." "Of course I came." I took another slow step, treating her like a skittish animal that might bolt at any moment. "I've been looking for you for three months. Did you really think I wouldn't come the second I knew where you were?" Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I thought… I wasn't sure if you would come." "I'm here." I took another step. "And I'm taking you home. Both of you." I was close enough now to see the split lip, it was mostly healed but still visible. I didn’t miss the finger-shaped bruises on her arms. Or the way she held the baby protectively, like she expected someone to try to take him. The rage that had been simmering for months exploded into white-hot fury. Marco had terrorized her and reduced her to this fragile, broken version of herself. My fingers curled into a tight fist