Chapter 10 The Price to Pay

Aria started on the salon set-up as soon as she had officially sent in her resignation to Alicia. A part of her regretted that it didn't turn out differently, if her family hadn't been who they were, she knew they would have been close. The second bedroom was styled into Aria's salon room, something she felt bad about because the reason the room was there was for any children they might have. However they couldn't afford to expand yet, so it was their it had to be.

 Hunter and Aria had considered moving, but they decided what's the point? This place was theirs and to be honest they both loved it. Aria lost a few customers with the switch over which hurt but most of her list came over with her. Most of them were impressed and pleased she had dared to open her own business so young, Aria thought that she forgot most of the time that she was only nineteen. It seemed so much had already happened to her in such a short space of time. Hunter was still busy with his books and he had now surpassed his own goal of earning 4,000 simeloens worth of royalties a week. It was 4,222 to be exact, he kept writing but didn't really feel the need for so much press as he was such a renowned author. His newest book The Thief who Stole Everything was a best-seller as well. Constance told Hunter she had, had an offer to buy the manuscript for a movie but Hunter politely declined saying movies always ruined books.  

Spring was coming to its ends and it was on one of the simmering hot days that Aria was relaxing on the couch when the doorbell chimed.

 "Maybe's it’s a customer," Hunter called from his desk.

 "On a Sunday?" Aria asked in disbelief, regretfully moving her body away from the couch.

 Opening the door she was surprised to see her Aunt Alicia on the other side, a sense of dread sunk itself into Aria's heart. 

"Hi Aria, you don't mind if I come in do you?" she questioned, walking through the door anyway. 

Hunter looked up, "Oh this is my husband Hunter, Hunter Alicia," she introduced them. 

Hunter stood up giving Aria a worried look, "Nice to meet you," he said. 

"You too," Alicia replied cheerfully but something about it felt fake to Aria. 

Hunter must have sensed something to because he quickly made an excuse to leave, "I have to meet Constance," he explained before leaving. 

Aria turned to Alicia, "So can I get you something tea, coffee," she offered feeling self-conscious of her home as Alicia inspected it. 

Alicia shook her head, "No Aria that isn't necessary," she said taking a seat. 

Nervously Aria sat down next to her, "So what brings you here?" Aria questioned Alicia lightly. 

"Look I hate to be the one to do this but sometimes things just work out that way you know. My sister Ariel bless her soul had a thing about our family and I only hope she didn't pass it onto you," Alicia told her looking at Aria's reaction. 

Aria remembered the one and only conversation she had ever had with her birth-mother and remembered her exact words. "Aria I love you, you’re my daughter but I can't see you, if they know you exist they'll get their claws into you and they won't let go. My family never forgives Aria and they never forget." 

Now all of a sudden Aria could see the wisdom in her words and she didn't hate her quite so much. "Look, I went looking for my biological mother and I found Ariel and that satisfied my curiosity. I'm quite happy with my real parents and my real family," Aria told Alicia emphasizing the key words. 

Alicia sniffed obviously not impressed, "Aria come now, we're blood you carry our genes we just want you to be part of the family. Just give us a chance," Alicia said to her. 

Aria could hear her bio mother's words ringing through her head no she wouldn't let them get her claws into her. Alicia already proved she didn't like Hunter, she would not let them control her life.

 "I'm not interested, thank you for everything you've done but I didn't ask for it. I just want to live my life as I have been," she told her firmly. 

"Aria, I am sorry my father tried very hard to gain custody of you but Ariel made sure you completely disappeared, she changed your name and everything. We only just found you again, you were father and mother's first granddaughter and they just want to meet you," Alicia explained to Aria and Aria was certain she was trying to guilt her into meeting them. 

"I'm sorry I can't," Aria repeated looking away. 

Alicia's features hardened and she stood up, Aria followed her to the door. 

Alicia turned to face Aria, "I hope you realize what you're doing, you can't just leave this family."

 "I think I just did," Aria responded. 

"There's always a price to pay are you sure you're ready to pay it?" Alicia taunted. 

This stopped Aria in her tracks, she knew what they were capable of. No Aria thought, they're just trying to scare me.

 "Of course, it was nice seeing you Alicia," Aria said coldly shutting the door. 

The dread increased when she told Hunter what had happened. "You did the right thing, they have no right to play with our lives," Hunter assured her, but Aria didn't think they were the type of people to make empty threats. As much as she didn't want to she decided to do some research, what she found shocked her.  Apparently the Amador family, her family funded every criminal organization on the mainland. In fact any drug deal, car jack, anything like that happened, you can be sure the Amador's money was behind it. However they couldn't jail them with anything solid, lots of lesser people took the blame in the ranks and apparently nobody could get into the inner sanctum, for only family resided there. It increased Aria's worry ten fold for maybe Alicia was right there was going to be a price. 

A phone call a couple of days later from Maria confirmed it. "Aria, I'm sorry I didn't know what to do they just barged in and took him, I tried calling the police but they have custody," Maria said through the phone, so fast Aria could barely understand her but she got the gist of it. 

"Maria calm down, what happened?" Aria asked worried. 

"Joseph Ariel's family took him, he's gone to live with them," she replied.

 I closed my eyes, if they couldn't have one of the children why not take the other one. Aria spent the next half an hour trying to calm Maria down and at the same time control her own guilt.  

"I'll just go to Alicia tell her I want to be part of it," she told Hunter. 

"Are you sure?" Hunter questioned. 

Aria considered it, it was like selling her soul to the devil but she had been selfish all her life but this time she couldn't chose herself over Joseph. 

"Yes, I have to," Aria said to him. 

Hunter nodded, "Good because I think it’s the right thing to do, but Aria you have to make them promise to leave Joseph alone." 

"I know," Aria replied, before her phone ringing stopped the conversation. 

"Hello," Aria said nervously since it was a number she had never seen. 

"Are you Aria Zion?" the man's voice asked. 

"Yes," Aria replied worried now because she knew that voice it was a pity voice. 

"I'm sorry but theirs been a terrible accident your parents were involved in a hit and run, I'm sorry they didn't make it," he informed her. 

Aria dropped the phone not understanding or processing what had just happened. She curled up on the floor replaying the man's words over and over, I'm sorry they didn't make it. 

She didn't know what possessed her to check her phone when it buzzed in her pocket but she wished she hadn't. The single sentence struck her with anger guilt and fear, she didn't have to ask who it was from. If we can't have our family, you can't have yours.  

Chapter 9 Alicia Barney

Now that the truth had come out, things in the Zion house were calmer. Aria continued her visits to Bridgeport but this time with Hunter by her side. It was on one of these visits something odd caught her eye.  Joseph and Maria who looked after him, were living in Ariel's house, although mansion would be a more appropriate term for it. She was looking at pictures of Ariel's family, the family that ruined her bio mother's life, and yet she couldn't understand why she displayed them proudly. She picked up one and was surprised to see the woman had Aria's own hair color, she was standing beside a man with two baby girls.

 "That's the Barnies," Maria told her coming behind her.

 That name reminded her of something she had been told by Hunter C how Alicia couldn't come in because she just had twins. 

"Who's that one?" Aria questioned pointing to the girl only a couple years older than her. 

"Alicia, she's Ariel's much younger sister, your hair and her hair comes from Ariel's grandmother," Maria explained. 

Aria however wasn't listening to the part about the hair, "Where does she live?" Aria quickly asked putting the pieces together. 

"In Riverview, I'm surprised you haven't seen her," Maria said. 

"Hmm," Aria muttered. 

"Why didn't she just come out and say it?" Aria asked Hunter as they talked about it back at home.

 "I don't know maybe she didn't realize you were related," Hunter replied always the one for logic. 

"No, their whole family have a huge reach, that's not it," Aria argued, pondering on it, "and the fact I don't see her, it’s the hair. I mean how many people do you know born with natural red streaks and tips." 

"If she really wanted to she could of said she dyed it," Hunter told her, again the voice of reason. 

Aria shook her head, "No Ariel said that her family always takes care of it's own, I'm one of them what if my job my promotions were all of their design," Aria protested. 

Hunter considered her words, "You're going to have to ask her," was all he said. 

Aria paused afraid now that everything she wanted to know, wouldn't give her the answers she wanted to hear. "I don't know where she lives," Aria replied, the final argument that her brain demanded of her. 

"We'll look her up because something tells me you need this," Hunter told her, giving his wife a reassuring hug. 

It was that conversation that led Aria to stand outside a mansion, that put Joseph's house to shame. 

Nervously she walked to the door, wishing she had accepted Hunter's offer to come. She had been sure that this was something she needed to do alone, now Aria wasn't so sure. The simple chime of the bell, didn't seem nearly loud enough to echo through the huge house. 

After a couple of minutes of waiting, Aria descended back down the steps, but stopped when she heard her name called.

 "Aria," a familiar brave voice called out. 

Aria turned to face it and was affronted with a hug, like she was some long-lost family member and Aria supposed that she was. As Aria was released she turned to look at her attacker and was, even though she had expected it, still shocked to see the familiar hair. 

"Alicia," she guessed.

 "Who else? I'm so glad I can finally meet you," she said, chewing the bottom of her lip for the first time looking nervous, "I really wanted to call, but Daddy told me to wait for you to find me." 

Aria frowned, so they had known who she was, Alicia'a father her grandfather. 

"Its nice to meet you too but I just wanted to ask you a few things," Aria admitted, unsure of what to say. Alicia didn't let it deter her, "Of course but inside," she said not giving a Aria time to voice a protest. 

"You must miss Bridgeport, Riverview just lacks something. I was living in Monte Vista when I met Norman that's my husband's name and when I moved here ahh, I still haven't gotten over it," Alicia explained as they walked through the door. 

Aria fought the urge to whistle when she walked into her place, "I've actually started to like Riverview," Aria finally answered. 

"Oh I'm glad, but personally I can't wait to see the family in Champs Les Sims, its where we holiday. You should come the family are dying to met and you can bring Hunter as well," Alicia told her excitedly.

 Aria shook her head, "No that’s not why I'm here, I want to know if you gave me the job because I was family?" Aria asked her seriously.

 Alicia gave her a puzzled look, "Of course, not that that matters the Salon is more of a front business, its a miracle I get time to run it with all the callings on my time." 

Aria felt a sick feeling creeping into her stomach, Ariel had told her that her family didn't make money from the best means and here Alicia was admitting it.

 "Oh you should come work with us, we can talk to daddy about it," Alicia continued but Aria hardly heard her. 

She had gotten the answer she wanted the job in Riverview came from her bio mom's side of the family, rich from blood money. Which made her pockets lined with it too and Alicia was convinced she wanted part of it? 

"I can't," Aria spluttered out, "I'm sorry, I quit," Aria announced before turning and running back out the door. 

By the time she had parked the car back at home, Aria was a lot calmer. Though her job had come from someone else, her large client list was by her merit, which is why Aria had decided to that she should open up a salon at home. It wouldn't be hard since she did mostly house calls and was hardly seen at the salon anyway. As Aria made her way inside she was only pondering how to put this idea to Hunter who she found hunched over the computer screen.

 This didn't surprise her as he had been eager to get started on his new book after he found out that once again his latest horror Twisted Lies was a best-seller. 

He looked up in surprise when he saw Aria, "You're back," he exclaimed. 

Aria nodded, "It didn't go how I expected it to," she admitted and told Hunter what had happened.

 He frowned, "Now might not be the time to say it but something about what you were saying about your family wanting to help you reminded me of something. Anyway to cut a long story short the Barnies owned this home and sold it to us. Which probably explains why we got it so cheap," Hunter informed her. 

"What do they want?" Aria questioned confused, it didn't make sense. 

"They take care of their own and like it or not Aria you are one of them," Hunter said to her. 

Aria shook her head, a steely determination lighting her features, "No I'm not and I will tell them that."