Page 29 of A Sinner's Truth

Chapter Fourteen

I’m not a needy person by any means. But evenIwould have appreciated it if Santo had stuck around a little longer or at least dropped me back at my apartment. He says I live here now, but can we really live together and fake this in front of everyone? I honestly think it’s going to be harder than I originally thought. Especially after meeting his brothers.

He left me standing in his bedroom.What the hell am I supposed to do?It’s been hours. I’ve paced around. Snooped. Yes, I’ve snooped through all his shit—I wasn’t lying when I told Drew that’s exactly what I would do—because, well, he left me alone in here and I was bored. I didn’t find much. More pictures of him and his fiancée who died. He really loved her. I can see it in the way he looked at her. But other than a few photos, there’s no trace of her in here. It’s as if she’s never been in this room.

I’m relieved that this is a fake relationship, because there is no way I can compete with a dead girl. Not that I’d want to take her place or anything. But still, because it’s not real, I don’t have to worry about it.

My stomach growls. I honestly didn’t expect Santo to be gone for so damn long. I’m about ready to just go home, which I should have done the minute he left me behind. Who leaves a stranger in their house anyway? An idiot, that’s who.

Oh god, I married an idiot.

But an idiot is better than the kind of husband my father had planned for me. A shiver rushes down my spine at the thought of Oliver until a knock at the door has me freezing.

Shit, what do I do?

Light tapping sounds out through the room again. So I make my way over to the door, open it, and find a gorgeous young girl on the other side. Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not make me have to break the news to a bunch of groupies that my new husband’s off the market. Surely his social media blast let them all know that.

“Hi, I’m Cammi. I thought you might be hungry,” the girl says while holding up the tray in her hands.

I recognise the name from the list Santo rattled off. His sister-in-law. Relief washes over me.Thank god. My stomach picks that exact moment to make it known just how hungry I am. “Starving.” I laugh.

“Here. I figured you were hiding out and not going to join us for dinner.” She walks into the room and places the tray on the bed.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” I sit on the edge of the mattress and lift the lid off the plate. The aroma of roast beef and veggies hits me instantly.

“I’m really happy he found you. I’ve been hoping for ages that he would find love again. We all have,” she says.

Guilt hits me. I’m lying to these people. We’re not in love. We’re not even trying to be. “He’s a really great guy.”Lame. So bloody lame, Aria. He’s a great guy? That’s the best you can come up with.

“He is. They all are. I mean, this family is… intense. But they love and look out for each other.” Cammi smiles at me.

“You’re his favourite, you know,” I tell her.

“I know.” She laughs.

“I heard that.” Another woman walks in with a baby on her hip. “I’m Daisy, and this is Luciano. Welcome to the fam,” she says.

“Thank you.” I don’t know what else to say. I do, however, want to stuff my face.

“Eat. Don’t think you need to wait. I don’t want to deal with Santo’s grumpy ass when he comes back and finds out you haven’t eaten all day,” Daisy says.

“He wouldn’t be grumpy about that,” I reply.

“How long have you known Santo? Where’d you two lovebirds meet?” she asks.

“Not long. We met at a bar. I literally fell onto his lap and proposed marriage the moment I looked into his eyes. And, well, the rest is history.” I shrug as I pop a roasted potato into my mouth.

“You proposed to him? Were you drunk?” Daisy laughs.

“A little bit,” I admit. “But when you know, you know, right?” I’m trying my best. Sticking to the truth with just a sprinkling of lies in the mix. It’d be great if Santo were here to buffer the interrogation, though. Just as that thought enters my head, a shadow looms in the doorway.

“Is there a reason you’re all in my room?” Santo asks.

“I brought her up some food,” Cammi says.

“I just came to get the tea,” Daisy adds.

“Thank you,” Santo directs to Cammi before turning to Daisy. “Don’t you have a home to go to?” He plucks the baby out of her arms with a grin. “You’re supposed to keep your mama on a leash, little man. We had a deal.”

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