Taken By The Mafia Lord

514 Every Choice Comes With A Cost

“Get off me!” Arianna pushed him off her when she realized the misleading position the both of them were in.

Thankfully, Elijah let her go and Arianna was able to stand up to her feet. Her lips were swollen and still tingling from the kiss the both of them shared – which was a huge mistake. She must have lost her mind for a moment there. Everything had taken her by surprise. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that she had kissed Elijah and cheated on Marcel. The guilt was beginning to gnaw at her conscience.

Hence, when Elijah took a step toward her, Arianna stepped back instantly as if he was dangerous. Elijah noticed the action and frowned.

“I am not going to hurt you,”

“I never thought you would hurt me,” Arianna told him, yet made sure that there was still that distance between them.

However, Elijah didn’t believe her, and said, “Why are you acting cautiously in front of me then?” He scrutinized her body language and she seemed distant. If anything, Arianna seemed wary of his presence.

When he thought of the both of them meeting again, Elijah had thought she would be joyous to see him, not this. He didn’t like the current look Arianna was giving him – as if he was a burden that she couldn’t wait to offload.

Arianna took a deep breath before wetting her lower lips and looked up at Elijah, saying, “I’m just making sure that we don’t cross the line, that’s all.”

“What do you mean by that?” Elijah asked, taking a step forward.

.....

“Elijah...” Arianna lifted a warning brow, her body taut and ready to make a move if he dared to take another step towards her.

Elijah stopped and lifted his head, his eyes narrowed with suspicion as he said, “It’s Marcel, isn’t it?”

Arianna didn’t say a word nor refute his claim. If anything, she dropped her gaze and that was all the affirmation

Elijah needed. She acknowledged the truth.

He nodded his head in understanding, his jaw clenched hard as reality dawned on him.

“You couldn’t wait for me?” He accused her and hot rage shimmered through Arianna. How dare he accuse her of that? She had waited for him for months! Not to mention that Elijah was the reason she didn’t accept Marcel’s feelings for her sooner, because she had respected what they shared even if it was for a short time. She held back because of him and this is all he has to say to her.

“Says who?” Arianna hissed with so much venom in her tone. She forgot all about drawing boundaries as she covered the distance between them and stood face to face with Elijah. Her gaze was burning with molten anger and if Arianna could shoot out fire from her eyes, he would be long dead.

“I patiently waited for a month, where were you, Elijah?!”

“I was trying to -”

“Had he killed me would you have the guts to ask me that question?” She asked him furiously, not caring about guilt trapping him.

She went on, “I was tossed and moved around like I was a fucking commodity, so don’t fucking tell me you didn’t have the opportunity to get me out of here. So don’t blame me for deciding to be with your enemy while you were taking your sweet time.”

“I never gave up on you, Arianna,” Elijah said. He then grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest, “Why do you think I risked everything to come see you now?”

“To stop me from seeing Marcel because you can’t stand the thought of the both of us together, wasn’t that the message you were sending at the party that day?” Arianna said crudely as she snatched her hand back.

Elijah paused for a moment upon seeing Arianna had it in for him today. This wasn’t how he imagined their union to be. They weren’t supposed to be fighting.

“Fine, I admit it,” He confessed, “I was mad, but you can’t blame me, Arianna. Of all people, why Marcel?! I never stopped pinning for you. Did you really have little faith in what we shared?”

Arianna looked him straight in the eyes, trying to figure him out. However, no amount of reason could change the present. It was all in the past.

“No, I treasured what we shared, Elijah,” She confessed, “However, people change, you should have thought of that when you left your ex-girlfriend with a handsome man like Marcel who turned out to be the opposite of what I thought him to be.”

For a moment, Elijah didn’t say anything until he burst into laughter. A long hysterical laughter that told Arianna that whatever she just said sounded like a joke to him.

“Handsome man like Marcel?” Elijah scoffed, “Are you kidding me?” He couldn’t believe her.

“Do you even know who Marcel is or has he blinded you with his sugary words and maybe a few moves in bed?” His tone dripped with so much venom. The thought of Arianna and Marcel in bed blinded Elijah with so much fury he wanted to end the fucking bastard.

“You would not speak of Marcel like that?!” Arianna defended him, “What we share is genuine -”

“Wake up, Arianna!” Elijah snapped at her with a ferocity that startled her, “Look around you, Arianna, you are merely a toy he would use and discard when he’s become bored.” He warned her.

“And you wouldn’t?”

“What?”

“For someone who claims to be genuinely interested in me, you were quick to abandon me at the airport,” She reminded him of their separation.

Elijah groaned, “I did it so I would be able to come back for you. Come on, Arianna, the both of us knew that I would be dead had Marcel caught me that day.”

“Of course, I know that. However, that’s the huge difference between you and Marcel. While you would run away to save your life, Marcel would rather the both of us die together just to keep me safe. He has a strong sense of loyalty, nor am I blaming you for your choice since it’s human instinct to want to preserve one’s life. However, your decision that day was a life changing one and like every choice, it comes with a cost. ” Arianna told him, “I can’t leave Marcel. Not even for you, Elijah. ”