Page 148 of His Cursed Heart

bother me throughout the day. And I know it's not going to last because soon I'll be the Donna of Famiglia, but the title won't bring me back the demons or the bad luck. It's going to bring me power.

1st September, three years ago, was the day I lost my last piece of humanity, when they stole my sanity.

1st September, three years later, I was reborn.

Now it's the time for me to start living. I have Everette standing next to me like my protector, I have Vince that feels more like my son then brother.

I have my life in my own hands.

The buzz of the phone is my wake-up call, because the moment I see Arius calling me, I know the whole speech I just did about peace is long gone.

Because Arius never calls me.

Because no one knows I know him.

I answer the phone, already on my feet. "How bad is it?"

"You put Gianna in a mentally ill asylum?" He hisses, and I try to keep my calm.

"How do you know?" The only people that knew Mamma is there is me and Keres.

"Because your husband put me to follow you, Althea. He saw you sneak out." I almost scream at him, but I remember the sleeping boy in my bed.

I leave the room, my skin feeling on fire. It's not a problem that Everette saw me sneaking because at a point, I would've told him about Mamma.

It's the fact that he might found out about her role.

"And you gave him the address just like that?" I snap.

"You never told me where you put Gianna." He simply says and I wish he was in front of me so I can punch the shit out of him.

"And where do you think I was going when I snuck out?"

"An art show or something. I don't follow you, Althea." Definitely punch him.

"Arius," I say his name with a sigh. I enter the kitchen, wanting to slam my face to the counter.

"He won't be mad. It's not your secret."

"I will be Empress sooner or later."

"But you're not yet."

"You know what happened this morning, Arius?"

"I have a feeling you're going to tell me anyway."

"I woke up without any bad thoughts. Or demons. Or tensed muscles. I woke up with a content smile because I spent my birthday fucked by my husband, who by the way isn't mad at me, and then cuddled with both my boys. And now you've ruined my morning." I ramble my frustrations away.

"Then you better explain yourself before I'll spank your ass." I almost choke with my saliva when I hear that rough voice that I love.

Arius hangs the call with one last sighs, and my phone slips from my hold.

Everette looks at me with a raised eyebrow, his face full of annoyance. He opens the door that connects the kitchen with the backyard, and with small steps I walk outside, him following me.

Everette stands in front of me, looking like he wants to strangle me for all the lies I've hidden from him. I walk closer to him, pocking his face with my finger.

"Why aren't you mad?" I ask, and his laugh makes me flinch.