Chapter 130:Breaking Points

Alessandro's brow furrowed and he whirled sharply to Grandma Penelope. "Greta's at it again," he growled low, frustration darkening in his eyes. He clenched his fists, the adrenaline from the night's violence still coursing through his veins.

Penelope raised an eyebrow. She calmly readjusted her scarf. "Oh, I know, Alessandro," she returned with a thread of defiance lacing her voice. "She called me too, spewing some silly threats. I hung up on her before she could finish."

"She doesn't quit, does she?" Romano said, the chagrin in every word. "Whatever we do, she is always back, and every time with increased determination."

Alessandro's face tightened. "She is relentless. I won't put it past her that she aligns herself with my father's enemies. We have to leave the building at once and get everyone to a safer location."

Up until that moment, Jacqueline had not said a word. Now she had an uneasy eye exchange with her grandmother. Just when she opened her mouth to say her piece, Ariel spoke up, breaking the silence. Her voice was laced with despair, "I… I don't think I can do this anymore."

The others just stared in shock at her. Her face was pale, and she clutched her purse tightly, as if her purse was where she drew strength from. "I never signed up for this," she whispered, though her words came across with the clarity of a shout in the silent room. She took a shaky breath, her gaze darting from Romano to Alessandro. "I thought. I thought you were a normal guy, Romano. I thought this. this life would be different."

Romano's eyes softened and he took a hesitant step closer toward her. "Ariel, I know it's overwhelming, but I'll protect you. I could never let anything happen to you."

But Ariel shook her head, her face set in a determined expression. "You can't promise that, Romano. Not when there's a constant target on your back… and mine." Her voice broke on a quaver, the fear that had been mounting inside her suddenly evident. "I wanted a simple life. Not one filled with threats and danger every time I turn around."

Romano reached for her now, his voice imploring. "Ariel, please. Don't do this. Just give me a chance to show you that you are safe with me."

Ariel's gaze softened a second, but then her shoulders squared, her mind made up. "No, Romano. I'm sorry. I won't be able to be part of this world. I'm breaking up with you." Her voice shook, but there was enough finality in the tone that left no room for argument.

Romano's hand dropped, and he paled as her words finally hit home. Opening his mouth, no words came out. He looked lost; a man standing on the edge of a cliff, just watching everything he cared about slip away.

Jacqueline took a step forward, her voice soft. "Ariel, are you sure? Maybe we could find some way to make it work."

Ariel shook her head, forcing a small, sad smile as she slung her bag over her shoulder. "Goodbye, Jacqueline," she whispered, sorrow laced through every word. Turning toward the door, her steps were certain but reluctant, as if each one was costing her more than the last.

Just as she reached the door, Alessandro's voice sliced through the tension like a blade. "Wait."

Ariel froze but didn't turn around. She turned a shade sideways, cocking an eyebrow in inquiry. Without giving her further warning, Alessandro gained ground swiftly upon her, with the fluidity of motion of an executioner. He struck her with a light blow on the back of her head in one swift movement, and she slumped forwards into his embrace, unconscious.

Jackie widened her eyes in horror and took his hand, running to him as if shocked. "Alessandro! What have you done? You must be out of your mind!"

Alessandro looked down at Ariel's unconscious body, his face unreadable. "She is far safer with us than out there, Jacqueline," he said calmly. "She'd be a target the moment she stepped out of this building. Greta wouldn't balk at using her against us."

Romano had been in stunned silence, watching. Now he seemed to snap out of his daze. "Alessandro… she wanted to leave. We can't force her to stay."

Alessandro turned on him, his eyes cold. "This isn't about what she wants, Romano. It's about survival. We're at war and anyone even remotely connected to us is a target. If she leaves now, she's a sitting duck."

Romano's face twisted in anger and heartbreak. "You think this is going to make her want to stay? This is only going to push her further away, Alessandro."

Till this moment, Penelope had remained silent, then cleared her throat. "Boys, not now," she said firmly, "Alessandro is right: Greta and whoever she has joined forces with will have absolutely no problem in taking advantage of any weakness they perceive. Ariel might not understand it now, but her safety comes before everything else.

Jackie turned to Penelope, a bite of annoyance following her eyes. "Grandma, there must be another way. We can't keep people against their will. That's not the kind of family I want to be a part of."

Penelope laid a reassuring hand on Jacqueline's shoulder. "I know it's hard to understand, dear, but sometimes… sometimes tough choices have to be made. We're doing this to protect Ariel, even if she doesn't see it that way right now."

She looked from Alessandro to Romano and back to her grandmother, her heart warring between loyalty and doubt. "I-I don't know if I can be okay with this," she whispered, the words barely audible.

Romano sighed, his face etched with pain. "I cannot force her to love me, Alessandro. Holding her here against her will. it is wrong."

Alessandro's face eased a fraction, but his will did not bend. "Romano, I'm not asking you to make her love you. But she needs to understand the danger we're in. If she walks out that door, it's not just her life she's risking-it's ours too."

Jacqueline took Romano's hand into her own, trying to comfort him. "Romano… perhaps just give her time. Allow her to see for herself this is not permanent. She might come around."

The shoulders of Romano sagged forward. His face was fatigued. "I just wanted to keep her safe… but now it feels like I'm losing her for good."

Alessandro set a hand on his brother's shoulder; his voice was soft and unusual. "Sometimes, people just don't understand what we are doing to protect them, Romano. Ariel may not appreciate it now, but she'll see, in time, that we had no other choice."

Just then, Ariel stirred in Alessandro's arms, releasing a low groan as she slowly gained consciousness. The action arrested Romano's heart as his eyes softened and he took her face in view.

"Ariel?" he whispered, leaning over to sweep hair out of her face. "Please… just listen to us. Just try to understand."

Her eyes fluttered open, disoriented and dazed, and scanned the room around her, confusion oozing from her gaze. "What… what happened?" she murmured.

Alessandro's voice came firm as he replied, "You fainted, Ariel. You're safe now. We'll explain everything, but for now, just rest."

Ariel's eyebrows furrowed, her gaze shifted to Romano, and confusion clouded her features. "Romano… I wanted to leave," she whispered, hurt and betrayal lacing her tone.

The words cut through Romano, yet he made himself give a soft smile. "I know, Ariel. And I am sorry. But I couldn't let you go. not yet."