Two weeks later: I've been indoors ever since—only stepping out to visit Dad at the hospital, where he still lies in a coma.
The doctor says he'll be okay, but it might take months.
Every night, I see Rodger Jamey in my dreams—no, my nightmares.
Adrino can't even bring himself to calm me down.
He told me Rodger had flown me from New York to Iran, and no matter how hard they tried, no one could find me. No calls, no hints, no trace.
Tom—Papa—was a wreck when he came to Adrino, begging for help to get his daughter back.
"I had to send people all over the world for intel on you," Adrino said. "It took time."
Then Rodger sent a wedding invitation—telling him to come alone or lose his life.
"I complied. I knew after attending your wedding, he'd disappear again without a trace," Adrino explained.
"So I gave you this necklace," he said, holding it up. "It had a tracker."
We had planned everything perfectly, but Tom insisted on coming along—and now his life was on the line.
I knew none of it was his fault, but I was angry. I couldn't accept being left alone.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Adrino.
"Hello, Aria! Why don't you come over to the..."
"Hospital, right now?" I interrupted, my voice trembling.
"Just come. And don't be stubborn."
"Okay. I'll be there in fifteen."
I got up and ran out the door, my heart pounding like it might leap out of my chest.
At the hospital, I rushed to Dad's room—only to find the bed empty.
I sank to the floor and burst into tears.
"Aria!!"
His voice—innocent, sweet—echoed in my ears.
"Aria!!"
I looked up and saw Papa in a wheelchair.
"Papa!" I cried, rushing to hug him as I wept like a child.
*Five minutes later*
"It's okay," he said softly, wiping away tears.
"Aww, my baby girl," Larisa cried, bursting through the door.
"Larisa!! Baby!" I ran to her and hugged her tight, fresh tears spilling.
"How are you? I'm so sorry... Ari... I'm never leaving you again. I couldn't forgive myself," she sobbed.
"I'm fine now. Stop crying—I've missed you," I whispered.
"Not as much as I did. I love you, the most amazing bitch ever."
"Is anyone forgetting who planned the rescue?" Fred teased.
"Freddie!" I ran over and hugged him.
"Hi, bitch Aria. I love the new name—ARIA."
"Oh, Fred, I missed you, infant. If I'd ever known, I'd have planned the rescue ages ago."
"Snitch!" I laughed through tears.
I rushed over to where Adrino sat and kissed him.
He looked surprised at first, but then returned the kiss passionately.
The world around us faded as our souls united and my heart ignited—burning away all the pain inside me.
"Thank you, Adrino," I mumbled as he kissed me again.
For the first time, I felt inner peace.
Just then, someone walked in.
"Is there a reunion without the glue of the family around?" she teased.
Kate!!
"My daughter-in-law, how are you?"
I hugged her tightly.
What a perfect reunion.
Adrino hugged his mother. Larisa embraced Fred. Dad stood and hugged us all, as if he knew every one of us.
For once in my life, I was more than content.
Blackout
Bonus Scene: Fred's Waiting Room
Setting: A safe house near the extraction point. Adrino is already at the wedding. Fred, Larisa, and Kate wait anxiously with the recovery team.
Fred (pacing nervously):
"Okay, worst case scenario—she slaps him, Rodger shoots someone, Adrino flips a table, and we all cry.
Best case? Adrino gets her out, and I finally get to see Aria in that ridiculous wedding dress so I can roast her forever."
He stops pacing, looks at Larisa biting her nails, Kate tense and arms folded.
"Guys... does anyone have wine? Or sedatives? Or a stun gun I can use on myself until this nightmare ends?"
No one answers.
Fred sighs, walks to the window, then away, again and again.
"Okay, I can't do this. I've known Aria since we were sneaking makeup into school bags—though that's not true. If anything happens to her, I swear on my skincare routine, I'll become the Joker."
Larisa looks up, teary-eyed.
"You're not the only one losing your mind, Fred. I should've done more. I should've—"
Fred pulls her into a hug.
"Hey. Don't. You were the only real thing she had back then. You and I—we're not muscle or spies—we're just the people who loved her first. And that still counts."
Kate wipes a tear quietly but says nothing.
Fred smirks.
"When she gets out, I'm calling her 'Mrs. Mafia' for a week straight."
Larisa laughs softly.
"...and then cry and hug her like a big baby?"
"Oh, absolutely," Fred nods. "Snot and everything."
Birthday & The Riddle
Today was my twenty-third birthday.
Everyone was around—no one had left since the rescue.
We lived as one big happy family.
Everything was perfect.
Fred and Larisa giggled endlessly. Kate and Dad hid, doing whatever they do.
Adrino and I cared for the puppies Mom and Dad gifted us.
Fred lost his mind when Adrino named his dog after him.
"Adrino's such a jerk—why out of every name did he pick mine?" I thought.
"Happy birthday!" the whole house chorused.
Including the servants—Mom, Dad, Larisa, Fred, and the puppies barked.
"Where's Adrino?" I asked.
A maid brought a teddy bear with a note.
"I am where the sun shines at its peak,
The moon gazes at your feet,
The stars lead the night,
And where the planet obeys nature's call.
Love,
Adrino"
But where the heck was that?
I realized the sun shines on the beach, the moon brightens the night sky, the stars sparkle in the garden, and flowers obey nature's call there.
As I prepared to leave, another person brought a necklace.
"I know gold and silver look good on you, but oops—I changed my location. Let's try again, this time with this diamond necklace."
"Water is soft, but it can break the hardest rock. Love is precious, but people often prefer diamonds over it."
"I'm where no one can guess, only you can. I'm right inside you, right in front, left behind, and at the most dazzling place. Not New York. The place meant for love, where air brings us together."
"If I move clockwise in time, we move forward. Anti-clockwise, time stops. But I'm holding a lock for my endless love for you."
"Good luck. I'll wait for 27,000 seconds to find me, Mi Amor."
Adrino's real riddle.
"Where hearts are free and skies embrace,
Look where the waters kiss the place.
A tower stands with stories grand,
Under the stars, where lovers' hands
Have locked their vows forever bound.
Where all the world comes spinning 'round.
I wait for you, where dreams take flight,
And in the air, our hearts unite.
Follow the path where time stands still,
And find me there, as love's true will."
I studied the note carefully. Left once, dazzling place but not New York. Air bringing us together meant flight. Moving anti-clockwise meant going back in time. A lock. Good luck. 27,000 seconds was 7 hours and 30 minutes from now.
Paris.
Adrino was going to be the death of me, but what could I say? I loved him—crazily romantic or not.
"Sorry, family. I have a flight to catch."
The maid rolled out my suitcase and handed me my passport and a ticket to Paris.
"Stupid guy," I muttered.
"Go get him, girl," Larisa and Fred cheered.
I smiled and ran out the mansion.
Light Out