Bittersweet 

ARYA’S POV I was still kneeling on the ground, holding Christabel close and breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo, when I heard footsteps approaching from behind. Matteo's voice cut through our reunion. "Mrs. De Santis." I looked up, reluctantly loosening my grip on Christabel, and froze. Three guards I had never seen before stood behind Matteo. Their faces were stern and my eyes immediately caught on the guns holstered at their hips. They were not even attempting to conceal it. A cold feeling settled in my stomach and I stood slowly, instinctively putting myself between these armed strangers and Christabel. "What's going on?" I asked Matteo. His expression was unreadable as always, but something about the way he looked at me was different. "Mr. De Santis has arranged accommodations at a nearby hotel," he said. "I'll be escorting you and your family there. You'll wait until this evening, when Mr. De Santis will join you for dinner." My father's snort of disgust wa