0034|| finally at peace

ARABELLA ARMANI

Arabella hummed softly to herself as she mixed colors on her palette, the fresh scent of acrylic paints filling the air of her cozy art room. Sunlight streamed in through the wide window, casting warm golden hues across the room. Her brush moved steadily across the canvas, creating the beginnings of a soft, rolling landscape.

She'd been in the zone all morning, letting her mind wander as she painted. It had been a week since she ran into Theo at the café, and they'd been texting daily since then. His easygoing charm and thoughtful questions had been a breath of fresh air—nothing like the whirlwind chaos of her past relationship with Alessio.

As she worked on the canvas, her phone buzzed on the table. She wiped her hands on a rag before picking it up. It was a text from Sarah.

Sarah bby😈

Carter and I are grabbing dinner later—wanna join?

Arabella smiled and quickly typed back.

baby mommy arabella😩🥰

I'd love to. Where?

Sarah bby😈

That new Italian place near the waterfront. 7 PM.

Arabella glanced at the clock. It was only midday. Plenty of time to finish the painting and get ready. But before she could set her phone down, it buzzed again—this time, from Theo.

Theo

Morning, Bella. How's the painting coming along?

Arabella's cheeks warmed at the nickname. It was new but felt natural coming from him.

pretty girl

Good! Working on a landscape today. How's your morning?

Theo

Uneventful so far. Thinking about heading to the bookstore later. Any recommendations?

pretty girl

Depends. Mystery or romance?

Theo

Why not both? A little danger, a little love.

She laughed softly and sent him a title before tucking her phone away. Theo had a way of keeping things light, and she appreciated that.

Hours later, Arabella stepped into the Italian restaurant to meet Sarah and Carter. The space was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the aroma of fresh garlic and herbs filling the air.

"There she is!" Sarah called from their table near the window, waving her over.

Arabella grinned and made her way over, hugging Sarah and Carter before sitting down.

"You're glowing," Carter teased, his sharp eyes narrowing playfully. "Who's the guy?"

Arabella laughed, shaking her head. "There's no guy."

"Yet," Sarah chimed in, smirking. "She's been smiling at her phone a lot lately."

Arabella rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "His name's Theo. He's sweet, but it's nothing serious. We've only hung out once."

"And?" Carter leaned forward, clearly intrigued.

"And... he's nice," Arabella said, unable to hide her smile. "Really nice. Different."

"Different is good," Sarah said, nudging her. "You deserve different. You deserve better."

Arabella nodded, her heart warming at her friend's support.

Later that evening, as Arabella lay in bed, her phone buzzed again. She grabbed it, expecting a message from Sarah or Carter, but her heart skipped when she saw Theo's name.

Theo: Had a great day today. If you're free this weekend, maybe we could grab coffee?

Arabella smiled, her fingers hovering over the screen as she considered her response. Just as she was about to type back, another message popped up—this one from a number she hadn't heard from in weeks.

SEXYBABYDADDYALESSIO👅💍💍

Stay safe, Arabella. No matter what.

Her breath hitched, her heart suddenly racing. It was so like Alessio to drop cryptic, protective messages out of the blue. But why now?

She stared at the two messages side by side—one from a past she was trying to leave behind, and the other from a future she wasn't sure she was ready for.

After a moment, she typed back to Theo

pretty girl

Coffee sounds perfect. Let me know when and where.

And then, she placed her phone facedown on the nightstand, ignoring the lingering weight of Alessio's words. Whatever he was wrapped up in, she didn't want to be pulled back into it. Not again.

For the first time in years, she was choosing herself. And it felt good.

_____________________________________

ALESSIO ROMANO

Alessio paced the length of his office, the low hum of the city outside filling the room. His mind was a battlefield, a mix of rage, frustration, and something far more personal gnawing at him: Arabella.

He hadn't meant to send that text, but the moment he saw her name in his contacts, the words spilled out before he could stop them. Now, he regretted it. She didn't need him barging into her life again, especially not with everything that was happening. But despite his best efforts, he couldn't get her out of his head.

The door creaked open, and Marco stepped inside, his expression grim. "We've confirmed it. Lorenzo's been meeting with Falcones every week. He's funneling them intel on shipments and safe houses."

Alessio turned to him sharply. "And you're just now telling me this?"

Marco raised his hands in defense. "It took time to confirm. We wanted to be sure before bringing it to you."

Alessio ran a hand through his hair, his temper barely contained. "This betrayal runs deeper than I thought. If Lorenzo's feeding them everything, it's only a matter of time before they make their move.

Marco hesitated, then added, "There's something else. One of the safe houses Lorenzo leaked is near the gallery Arabella used to visit. It's possible—"

Alessio didn't let him finish. "They won't go near her," he snapped. "If they do, I'll burn them to the ground."

Marco nodded but said nothing more. He knew better than to argue when it came to Arabella.

Alessio turned toward the window, his reflection staring back at him like a stranger. He was losing control, and that was a dangerous place to be. For a man like him, emotions were a weakness, and Arabella had always been his Achilles' heel.

Meanwhile, Arabella stood in front of her closet, debating what to wear for coffee with Theo. Her fingers grazed over a simple floral sundress before pulling it out and holding it against her. Light, casual, nothing too serious—perfect for a low-key coffee date.

As she got ready, her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at it, half expecting another message from Alessio. Instead, it was Theo.

Theo: Looking forward to seeing you today. No pressure, but I might have found a mystery/romance book for you. I need your opinion.

Arabella smiled, her nerves easing at his thoughtful message. She typed back quickly:

Arabella: I'm intrigued. I'll let you know if it passes the test.

An hour later, Arabella walked into the café, the smell of freshly brewed coffee enveloping her. Theo was already at a corner table, a book in hand and a coffee cup in front of him. When he saw her, he stood, smiling nervously.

"Hey," he said, his voice warm. "You look great."

"Thanks," Arabella said, sliding into the seat across from him. "So, let's see this book."

Theo grinned and held up the novel, the cover a mix of moody shadows and romantic swirls. "It's got a killer plot twist, or so the guy at the bookstore said."

As they sipped their coffee, the conversation flowed easily. Theo was easy to talk to, his shy demeanor softening the more they chatted. He asked about her art, her favorite places in the city, and even her go-to comfort movies.

For the first time in a long time, Arabella felt at ease—no expectations, no pressure, just a genuine connection.

When their cups were empty and the afternoon sun began to dip, Theo cleared his throat, his cheeks tinged with pink. "So, I was thinking... maybe next time we could do something that's not coffee? Like dinner? Or a walk?"

Arabella smiled, her heart warming at his sincerity. "I'd like that."

Later that evening, Arabella sat on her couch, replaying the day in her mind. Theo's text popped up, short and sweet:

Theo: Thanks for today. I had a great time.

She replied quickly:

Arabella: Me too. Dinner sounds good. Let me know when!

As she set her phone down, her thoughts briefly drifted to Alessio. The memory of his message lingered, but she pushed it aside. Theo was giving her something new, something uncomplicated. And right now, that's what she needed.

For the first time in years, she felt like she was moving forward. Away from Alessio. Away from the past. Toward something better.