ROSE 44

Posted by AdminHHAdmin, ? Views, Released on April 29, 2025

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< Chapter 44

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I stumbled backward, my body refusing to process the words.

Dead?

No.

She had just been here. Laughing, talking, drinking wine with me. She had cried in my arms. She had whispered in her sleep, She had been alive.

I had suspected her and…on my God.

I gulped, my hands flying to my chest. Impossible for this to happen.

How could it have happened?

My brain could not process the whole situation.

She was gone

Dead and gone.

Was this what she was planning when she was walking around?

I was so confused. I blinked back the tears that were starting to form in my eyes.

The blood drained from my face, my pulse hammering in my ears. “No.” My voice was barely above a whisper. “No, that’s- that’s not possible.”

Dominic exhaled sharply, rubbing his jaw. He wasn’t shocked. He wasn’t even surprised. Just… thoughtful as he stared at nothing in particular.

I swallowed. “What happened?”

“We don’t know yet.” His voice was low, calm–too calm. “Nico arrived this evening. He is going to check at this moment.” My stomach twisted.

This was my fault.

I had doubted her. I had spied on her. I had told Dominic.

And now-

And no

Now, she is gone. If only I hadn’t left, maybe it wouldn’t have happened.

I covered my mouth, nausea creeping up my throat. “Oh my God.”

“Aria,” Dominic warned.

I shook my head. “She was right here.” I took a shuddering breath. “She

Dominic’s hand curled around my wrist. “She wasn’t fine.”

I snapped my gaze to his. “You don’t know that.”

as fine.”

He let out a slow exhale. “You heard her whispering, you saw the message–something was wrong, Aria. After going through what she went through, I am sure she wasn’t mentally okay.”

“That’s not true…”

I wanted to argue. I wanted to scream.

But the truth clawed at my chest.

Something had been wrong.

And I had ignored it.

Dominic’s grip tightened slightly. “I’ll find out what happened.”

I shook my head. “She’s gone. What’s the use?”

“Justice.”

I didn’t say anything. His phone pinged and he checked it.

“She left a note. Addressed to you.”

I froze.

Chapter:44

Dominic hesitated.

That hesitation terrified me. “Let’s just be patient.”

****

A knock sounded at the door.

Nico walked in, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. His sharp eyes flicked to Dominic, then to me.

“She left this.” He held up a folded piece of paper.

My knees threatened to buckle.

Dominic took it from him, unfolding it with steady fingers. His eyes scanned the words.

Then, finally, he handed it to me.

I stared at it, my hands trembling. My vision blurred as I read.

*Aria,

I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to be part of this. But he, he gave me no choice.

Dario wanted me to do something. Something that would destroy you and Dominic. He said if I did it he would love me again. But I wasn’t as stupid as before. I don’t even know why. I don’t understand what he’s planning.

But I couldn’t do it.

I was so tired.

I thought if I could just leave, things would be okay. But you can’t escape men like them.

You were kind to me. You gave me a moment of peace. I hope you get out of this life before it’s too late. I’m sorry.

Amara”

The paper crumpled in my hands.

My chest ached.

She hadn’t been working with Dario.

She had been trapped, just like me. Emotionally blackmailed.

And now she was dead because of it.

I couldn’t stop the tear that slipped down my cheek.

Dominic’s voice was quiet. “We’ll find out what he wanted her to do.”

I barely heard him.

Nico crossed his arms. “We need to handle this fast. Dario’s already going to know she’s dead and might put it on you. Dominic nodded, his face unreadable. “We’ll deal with him.”

I wasn’t listening.

All I could think about was how I had doubted her.

How I had failed her.

Dominic stepped closer, his hand brushing against mine. “Aria.”

I didn’t look at him.

I just stared at the note, my heart breaking.

Amara was gone.

And I had never even told her how much I needed a friend.

The air in the room felt suffocating, pressing down on me as if the walls were closing in. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. She had been here, alive, breathing, laughing. We had spent the day together, talking like we had all the time in the world.

And now…

She was nothing but a memory.

“Aria.”

Dominic called once again. His voice was quiet, firm.

I felt his presence behind me, his warmth radiating against my back, but I couldn’t move.

I didn’t want to.

Because if I moved, if I spoke, then it became real and I would break.

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “Say something.”

Chapter 44

My throat tightened. “What do you want me to say?”

“You are scaring me. I just want to know if you are okay.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the letter so tightly it crumpled in my hands. “I’m not. She didn’t deserve this.”

“No,” Dominic agreed. “She didn’t.”

I turned to face him then, eyes burning. “Then why?” My voice cracked. “Why does this keep happening?”

Dominic exhaled, his gaze dark and unreadable. “Because we live in a world where people like Dario don’t stop until they get what they want.”

People like you too. I wanted to say.

I shook my head. “But he didn’t get what he wanted. Amara’s dead. What the hell was the point?”

Nico scoffed from where he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “The point Aria, is that men like Dario don’t care about the people they break. He would’ve rather seen her dead than lose control of her. She knows that. Beside she was tired and wanted peace. It was her choice.”

“God…” I ran my hands through my hair.

My stomach turned as I turned away from there.

She reminded me of myself. Except-

I was still breathing.

She wasn’t.

Would I end up like her one day? Mentally unstable?

Who was I kidding? The cancer was already eating at me anyways.

I took a shaky breath. “We have to do something.”

Dominic studied me carefully. “We will.”

“Not later.” I clenched my jaw. “Now.”

Nico let out a low chuckle. “She’s got fire, this one.”

I ignored him, my focus solely on Dominic. “Dario needs to pay for this.”

Dominic’s eyes darkened. “He will.”

“Then let’s go, I pushed. “You told Matteo to bring him here. So what are we waiting for?”

Dominic didn’t answer right away. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair, glancing at Nico. “Where is he now?” Nico’s smirk vanished. “Matteo is bringing him in as we speak. He put up a fight, but you know how that goes.”

I swallowed. “He’s alive?”

“For now,” Dominic said smoothly.

I nodded, my hands balling into fists. “Good.”

Because I wanted to see him.

I wanted him to look me in the eyes and know-

Amara had died because of him.

The room they dragged Dario into was cold, windowless, with only a single overhead light lighting up the space.

I stood behind Dominic and Nico, my arms crossed, my heartbeat hammering in my ears as Matteo and two other men shoved Dario into a chair.

He looked… rough.

His lip was split, his right eye swollen, and his expensive suit was stained with blood–his own.

Dominic stepped forward, slowly, his hands were tucked in his pocket, a sneer in his face as he regarded him.

“Dario.”

Dario spat blood onto the floor. “De Luca,” he rasped. “Wish I could say it’s nice to see you but I haven’t wanted trouble now I am bringing it to my door step.”

Dominic smiled. “Wish I could say you’ll be leaving this room alive.”

Dario chuckled, though it was strained. “You think you scare me?” His gaze flicked toward me, his smirk widening despite the bruises covering his face. “Ah. I see you’ve brought your little whore to watch.”

I snapped.

Chapter 44

Before I even realized what I was doing, I lunged, my palm slapping his cheek so hard that my hand stung. But his face turned and blood rushed out of his mouth so that was satisfying for me.