Page 72 of The Casella King

It’s something I’ve only read about in books or seen in movies, but never in the real world.

All-consuming to others may mean sunshine and a happily ever after, but to me, an all-consuming love is the way Ezra shows love.

With dominance, possessiveness, greed, power, and lust. He is everything they say he is but so much more. He is the person who would follow me into hell willingly, then proceed to kill Lucifer himself to give me the throne.

I hear the roar of the engines enter the large driveway and almost take a tumble as I run down the stairs. My heart pounds in my chest as I watch Nico exit the car, clutching his arm, his clothes all dirty. Then my stomach flips, my hands flying to cover my mouth as I watch Ezra step out of his car, clutching Ryan into his chest. Giselle barges past me, sprinting to Ezra, reaching out for Ryan, she scoops him into her arms and drops to her knees, tears running down her face. I feel hot tears wash over my face as I watch her relief unfold. My arms fly across Ezra’s neck as our bodies slam into each other, and I breathe him in, holding him tight.

“You’re okay.” I breathe through my sobs. “You’re okay.” I try to convince myself more than anything.

“I’m okay, sweetheart.” He kisses me. “I promised you I’d get him back.”

Giselle walks into the house, and within minutes she’s gathered her things, placing them into her car.

“Wait, please don’t leave yet,” I plead as I watch Ryan cooing from her arms.

She turns to me, her lips forming a line. “I’m vacating the house as soon as I can.” She looks to Ezra. “I want no part in whatever you do. I will not put my family in danger, being associated with you.”

“G, please. Don’t do this.” My voice is desperate as she looks at me, her brows furrowed.

“Don’t contact me again, Aries.” She walks over to her car, buckling in Ryan.

I plead and plead, but it’s no use, she has made up her mind. I watch as they drive out of the driveway, my sister not sparing me another glance as they drive off into the distance. My heart cracks as I realise the two people I love most in life cannot be in my life at the same time. I feel Ezra’s arms wrap around me, and my sobs come out muffled as I bury my face in his chest.

“She’s my only sister,” I whisper through the tears.

He kisses the top of my head, cradling me close into him. “I know, baby.” He clasps my face in his hands, his eyes boring into mine. “I’m your family now.”

“I’m sorry, Aries.” I hear Nico say, still clutching his arm, bringing me back to reality. I love my sister, but I can’t force her to be a part of a life I know will always be filled with murder. I help Nico up the stairs as he puts his arm over my shoulder for balance.

“Let’s get you inside.” I say as I look over my shoulder, waiting for Ezra to follow.

“You two head inside, I need to speak with Henry.” Ezra motions for us to go ahead.

I settle Nico on the lounge as he slips his phone out, dialling a number. “Yeah, we need you here at Ezra’s place.” He hangs upand watches me as I sit across from him, considering all the ways I might be able to win my sister over again. “Do you think she’ll come around?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t.” I look up to him. “If I was her, I wouldn’t either.”

I grip the tray in my hands as I walk over to the table, setting it down. The smell of freshly cooked bacon lingering in the air. It’s been a few days since the incident with Ryan, and everyone has just been trying to recover. The trip to Italy had been cancelled for the foreseeable future as Ezra decides what action would be best to take. Meanwhile, although I’m not forced to, I chose to spend some more time with Darcy. We’ve been talking every day, and since that first time she had shared somethingrealabout herself with me, she’s been a closed book.

“The chef made you an eggs benny this morning,” I state, showing her the plate on the tray. Her eyes glance towards the tray, and I can hear her stomach rumble.

“I’m not really that hungry.” She turns her nose up at me.

Sighing, I take a seat beside her. “Is there anything I can get you?”

Her green eyes look to me, as she raises her eyebrows. “Out of here would be nice.”

“Come on, you know I can’t do that. Is there anything you want? Like a book or something?” I ask again, feeling the guilt creep in. The time I spent stuck in the basement of the Brayford house was not fun, and I just know she’s feeling trapped, but as much as I want her to have her freedom, I know the rival families would feast on her the moment she was out of Ezra and Nico’s protection.

When she doesn’t speak, I let the silence linger. My thoughts escaping to my sister’s words.

“You thought that marrying into the city’s most notorious mafia family wouldn’t come with consequences?”

I feel a stab in the chest again as my heart cracks further the more I think about it.

“Hello?” Darcy waves her hand in my face, snapping me back into the room.

“What?” I run my palms along my jeans.

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