Taken By The Mafia Lord

873 Not Good Enough

The war was going to happen, Arianna could tell from the activities going on around her. Never has she seen Draven’s family house this busy until today. For the past hours, many cars drove into the compound, accompanied by unfamiliar men Arianna had never seen until now.

The last she had seen, a cart of weapons was being carried into the house and her heart had never stopped pounding ever since. It dawned on her that this was the weapon that would be used on Marcel and every member of the Luciano family she valued. If she doesn’t do something now, the father of her child is going to vanish from the face of the earth forever.

Thanks to that, Arianna has been looking for Eric in this sea of people. She had to talk to him, convince him that this was a mistake. Violence was not the answer and they would only end up destroying each other. Arianna couldn’t tell who would win in a war between two families, but she couldn’t let that happen.

As much as she wasn’t attached to Eric, he was still her mother’s husband and her mother would be heartbroken over the loss. In one word, Arianna was torn between both sides. She couldn’t lose Eric, Elijah, Ezra, Ephraim, and Elvis that accepted her as part of Draven but she couldn’t Marcel, Victor, Adele, and Luca with the rest of them. All of them were important to them.

If there was anyone that had to be punished, it was Daniel. Everyone knew that this was his fault and he had to pay for what he did. But placing judgment on the entire Luciano family was not the way to do it. They are innocent. Eric should punish only Daniel and leave the rest of them.

Sadly, no matter how hard she searched, Arianna could not find him. Who knows where he was, probably bent over a layout and plotted their attack. However, she did find her mother and she hurried over to her side. Rose, her stepsister, has been sent to stay with her mother Karen and the young girl was kind enough to go with Redhead.

“Mother, I need to speak to Eric,” Arianna demanded, blocking her way.

“Arianna, trust me, this is not the time.” Natalie tried to sidestep her but Arianna was determined and stood her ground.

“Do you even hear yourself? He’s about to go attack Marcel, how could you let that happen?!”

.....

Hearing the accusation in her voice made Natalie snap at her, “You think I haven’t tried?! Do you think that I just folded my hands and watched everything escalate to this point?!”

Arianna’s mouth opened and closed with no answer and her mother continued to fire at her,

“I warned Marcel! Told him that his father would be the death of him yet his sense of duty towards that madman did not let him do the right thing until it got to this point. Moreover….” She lifted her chin defiantly, “What do you expect Eric to do, sit and fold his arms as the Luciano family throws this shit on his face.”

“It’s not the Luciano family, it’s all Daniel’s handwork,” Arianna groaned, desperate to be heard. This had to be stopped before it was too late.

“Daniel is still part of the Luciano family! For crying out loud Arianna, a truce was in place! Eric and Marcel had a deal underway, a means to bring peace to both families and still yet Daniel struck while being aware of that. The Luciano family broke the treaty first, it’s right the Draven family retaliated. Trust me, this is the only way to bring back the respect to the Draven family, or else every other crime family would follow in the same step. If Eric doesn’t do this, his men would take up the case to restore the glory of the family. ”

“No, there has to be another way to solve this without the bloodshed. Mother…..” A tear slipped down her face and her voice cracked as she reminded her, “I’m carrying his child. I-I can’t lose Marcel…. I just need to see Eric and maybe… maybe he would understand.”

Arianna wiped her face with the back of her hand while more tears flowed down her face, “Just tell me where he is…” She pleaded with her mother.

It was obvious that Natalie was torn between decisions. She had to keep her husband’s back, but this was her daughter…. and her grandchild. It was a difficult decision to make.

“He’s in the basement along with his brothers,” Natalie told her and Arianna released the breath that she had been holding in.

“Don’t be optimistic though, it’s guarded by enough soldiers to keep people like you from getting into the meeting room,” Natalie informed her.

Just as she thought, Eric was intentionally avoiding her.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Arianna said with determination in her eyes and her fist clenched by her sides, “Thanks for doing your part already.”

With that being said, she turned and intentionally approached the men gathered around the table with many weapons spread out.

“I’m so sorry,” She bumped into one of them, “I think I missed my step.”

“It’s alright,” The man sighed, running his hand through his hair, “You just watch where you’re going.”

“Thank you,” Arianna smiled at him, “You just saved a life.”

“Okie….?” The man was confused by her comment yet didn’t think much about it, focusing his attention back on the group.

Arianna was a woman with purpose as she left to find Eric. She hasn’t stepped into the basement of the house since she arrived here, however, it wasn’t hard to find, and just like her mother said, two men were guiding the door.

She didn’t recognize both men but they obviously knew considering they addressed her by her name.

“Arianna, you’re not supposed to be here.”

“Just let me in, I need to speak with Eric,” Arianna hoped dialogue would work and she wouldn’t have to resort to violence.

“I’m sorry but that is the order from the boss, so please turn around and leave. You’re not permitted to be in here and we might have to use violence if you refuse otherwise.”

Arianna sighed, she got her hope high for nothing. And then she moved. She guessed it was a bonus to have the element of surprise on her side because they never saw her coming. The first thing Arianna did was to tase the man closest to her with the taser gun she had stolen from that man.

The moment the first man fell, the other man woke from his slumber and knocked the stun gun from her hand before she could use it on him. He was just about to hit her when Arianna decided to play dirty.

She cried out at once, “Remember, I’m a girl!”

He halted at once and that hesitation was his mistake. Arianna lifted her leg and kicked him in the place where the sun never shines and while he was still groaning in pain, finished him with a roundabout kick.

Arianna was breathing heavily and stared at the defeated men on the ground, unable to get up on their feet for a second round. Their woes are loud in her ear. That was close, but she was not close to giving up.

With the road clear, she opened the door and went in, everyone present staring at her as soon as she stepped in. Silence descended in the room and just as her mother told her, Eric was here with his brothers.

“Who let you in?” Eric’s voice boomed across the room until he lifted his gaze and saw his men from afar, defeated.

“While I should be impressed by your work, unfortunately, Arianna, you are not supposed to be in this room, and would appreciate it if you left right now.”

But Arianna stepped forward, saying, “You can’t go to war with Marcel, Eric, please.”

“While I would take into account your relationship with Marcel, the Luciano family was the first to break the accord. I owe a responsibility to this family and right now, I’m taking up my role as the head and bringing justice to the souls we lost.”

She told him, “Violence can’t be the answer, Eric. There has to be another way.”

Eric breathed out and then stared straight into her eyes saying, “I wouldn’t blame your mother but it’s quite unfortunate that you were not raised with the underworld’s tradition. There is no permanent friend or enemy in this line of work, Arianna. I’m sorry but I can’t let emotion cloud my judgment. Marcel is a good leader, but not good enough to prevent a war. ”

He turned to his brother, Elijah, “See to it that my stepdaughter is escorted out of here safely, and keep an eye on her.”

“No, no, no…!” Arianna wanted to fight off Elijah but he was stronger than her and already held her close to him so she wouldn’t break out of his grip.

“I’m sorry, but you have to come with me, Arianna.”

But before Elijah could drag her away, She announced, “I’m pregnant! I’m having Marcel’s baby. You can’t just end the father of my child like that!” She cried out loud.

It was obvious that the announcement was a game changer because she could see the reaction on the faces of the brothers. But in the next minute, they shook their heads one after the other and her heart dropped.

“I’m sorry, Arianna. But this has to be done.”

“No!”