Chapter 2

Gabriel found me at dawn.

I was still in my studio, surrounded by ash and broken glass.

"Aria, we need to talk—"

"No." I didn't look up from the blade I was sharpening. "We don't."

"Dominic wants you back at the estate. There's a family dinner tonight."

"Tell Dominic to go fuck himself."

"He's not asking." Gabriel's voice dropped. "The Volkovs arrive tomorrow. He needs all family assets accounted for."

Assets.

That's what I was now.

"Fine." I stood, every muscle screaming. "Let's go see what else he wants to destroy."

---

The Cavallo estate looked different in daylight.

Cold. Mausoleum-like.

Gabriel led me through the main house to the west wing.

My wing.

My studio.

The door was open.

Inside, everything was gone.

My easels. My paintings. The weapons I'd spent years perfecting.

"What—where is everything?"

"Relocated." A woman's voice, accented and sharp.

I turned.

Natalia Volkov stood in MY doorway, blonde hair perfect, blue eyes assessing me like I was livestock.

"You must be Aria. The... craftsman."

"Where are my things?"

"Dominic said I could redecorate. This room has the best light." She smiled. "For my morning yoga."

My studio. My sanctuary. Converted into her fucking gym.

"Everything was moved to storage," Gabriel muttered. "I tried to—"

"It's fine." My voice was ice. "I don't need it anymore."

Natalia tilted her head. "You're prettier than I expected. I can see why Dominic kept you around."

Kept.

Past tense.

"Enjoy the room," I said. "The bloodstains on the floor are from my best work. They don't come out."

Her smile faltered.

Good.

---

Dinner was a circle of hell Dante forgot to mention.

Twenty people around a table that could seat fifty.

Dominic at the head. Natalia at his right.

Me at the far end, barely visible.

"To new alliances," Dominic raised his glass. "And the future of both our families."

Everyone drank.

I stared at my untouched wine.

"Aria." Mikhail Volkov's voice boomed. "My daughter tells me you're a weaponsmith."

"I was."

"Was?" His eyebrows rose.

"I'm transitioning to... other projects."

"She's being modest," Dominic cut in. "Aria has created some of our family's most valuable pieces."

He said it like I was furniture he was appraising.

"Then you'll forge Natalia's ceremonial blade?" Mikhail pressed.

Every eye turned to me.

"Of course," I heard myself say. "It would be an honor."

Liar. Liar. Liar.

"Excellent!" Mikhail beamed. "I want it to bear both family crests. A symbol of unity."

"Unity," I repeated. "How romantic."

Natalia's hand covered Dominic's on the table.

He didn't pull away.

I excused myself before dessert.

Nobody noticed.

---

I found my way to the library—one of the few rooms still unlocked to me.

But even here, things had changed.

The photo of Dominic and me at last year's gala? Gone.

The first blade I'd ever made him, displayed in a glass case? Gone.

Even the fucking CHAIR I used to read in had been replaced.

"Efficient, isn't he?"

I spun.

Gabriel stood in the doorway, looking tired.

"He's erasing me."

"He's protecting the alliance. The Volkovs can't know about—"

"About his whore?" I smiled. "You can say it, Gabriel. That's what I am. What I was."

"You were more than that."

"To whom? Not to him." I ran my fingers over the empty bookshelf. "Ten years, and I'm being deleted like I never existed."

"Aria—"

"Do you know what he said to me last night?" I turned to face him. "He called me convenient. A transaction. Said the love was just what I needed to hear."

Gabriel's jaw tightened. "He's an idiot."

"He's honest. Finally." I laughed, bitter. "I should thank him for that, at least."

Footsteps in the hallway.

Dominic's voice: "Is she still here?"

Gabriel and I froze.

"Yes, sir. In the library."

"Get her out. Natalia wants to tour the house, and I don't want... complications."

Complications.

That's what ten years of devotion earned me.

Gabriel's eyes met mine, pained.

"You should go," he whispered.

"Yeah." I headed for the door. "I should."

---

Dominic stood in the hallway with Natalia on his arm.

They looked like a magazine cover. Perfect. Powerful. Meant to be.

"Aria." He didn't quite meet my eyes. "You're leaving?"

"You wanted me gone, didn't you? No complications."

His jaw flexed. "I didn't mean—"

"Yes, you did." I walked past them. "Enjoy your tour."

"Wait." Natalia's voice stopped me. "I wanted to thank you. For agreeing to forge my blade."

I turned slowly.

She smiled, all teeth. "Dominic speaks so highly of your work. He says you put your heart into every piece."

"I used to," I said. "But hearts are expensive. I don't waste them anymore."

Her smile cracked slightly.

Dominic's hand tightened on her waist. "Aria—"

"Goodnight, Mr. Cavallo." I emphasized the formality. "Miss Volkov."

I left them standing there.

Behind me, I heard Natalia whisper: "She's in love with you."

And Dominic's response: "She'll get over it."

---

Six days left.

I sat in my car outside the estate, gripping the steering wheel.

My phone buzzed.

Papa: The papers are ready. New passport. New identity. Where do you want to go?

I typed back: Anywhere with no memories.

Another buzz. Unknown number.

A photo: My old studio, now filled with Natalia's yoga mats and decorative pillows.

The message: Thanks for the space! It's perfect. - N

I deleted it.

Then I opened my banking app.

Every account. Frozen.

My apartment lease. Transferred to Cavallo Holdings.

My car title. Under review for "family asset reconciliation."

He wasn't just erasing me.

He was making sure I had nowhere to run except where he allowed.

But Papa didn't play by Cavallo rules.

Neither would I.

I started the engine and drove toward the warehouse district.