Page 42 of A Sinner's Truth

Aria disappeared twenty minutes ago. I’ve been wandering through the house looking for her. Wherever she went, she either doesn’t want to be found or she left. Or worse.

I try not to let my mind drift towards that last option. In my world,worsehas a much darker meaning. My heart picks up the longer I spend looking for her. When I make it to the kitchen, I find Vin raiding the pantry.

“You see Aria?” I ask him.

“Outside,” he says, then adds, “Take it easy on her,” as he walks off in the opposite direction.

The moment I push through the doors and step out onto the patio, I see why. My wife is sitting on the ground with a fucking joint between her lips. She hasn’t noticed me walk out yet. Standing back, I watch as she inhales and exhales the smoke.

I’m going to fucking kill my little brother.

There’s only one way for Aria to have gotten her hands on drugs in this house. And that’s through Vin. We all turn a blind eye to his bad habit. It helps him deal with the fucked-up shit that happened to him.

Why the fuck does Aria think she needs to get high, though? Did something happen to her?

I lower myself down next to her, and she turns her head to me. “Why do I feel like I’ve just been busted by my father and am in for a lecture of all lectures?” she asks.

“I’m not your father, but I’m sure we can find a way to role play if you want to call meDaddy.” I smirk, filthy images of Aria on her knees in front of me playing through my mind.

“Pass.” She scrunches up her nose at the thought.

“There a reason you’re out here getting high, instead of in there enjoying your party?” I snatch the joint from her fingers and stomp it out.

“It’s your party, not mine. I don’t know anyone in there. And I just needed some fresh air,” she says.

“Funny, seeing as filling your lungs with smoke is the opposite of fresh air.”

“I don’t like crowds that much, and I needed to calm my nerves,” she tells me.

“Why don’t you like crowds?”

“Because people suck,” she says. “I can do crowds, if I’m prepared and know what’s happening. I wasn’t expecting all of this.” She waves a hand back towards the house.

“You should have told me. I would have gotten you out.”

“I don’t want to cause problems…or be one.” Aria shrugs.

“You’re my wife, Aria, not a problem.” There’s something about the word.Wife.It brings out a protectiveness in me I’ve never known. Not even for Shelli. Don’t get me wrong. I would have done anything for that woman. I loved her since I was old enough to realise what love was.I still love her, I remind myself. But when I refer to Aria as my wife, it’s like a primal need within me rises to the surface.

“What kind of wife would I be if I didn’t want to be at a party with all your family in attendance? A party your brother took time out of his day to plan for us?”

“The kind of wife I chose to marry. You’re a De Bellis now, darling. You need to learn not to give a fuck what anyone else thinks. Because they sure as shit aren’t brave enough to tell you anyway.” I smile. The thought of anyone disrespecting my wife just gives me a reason to get violent. And over the past year and a half, I’ve grown fond of the violence in our world.

“That isn’t something I’m going to be able to live up to. I’ve been trained my entire life to be the exact opposite. That impressions matter, and that it’s always in my best interests to make sure others see the best of me.”

“Your father is an asshole,” I curse under my breath. “You don’t need to be anything but yourself around here.”

“What if myself really wants to just get high and forget the world?” She smiles.

“Thenyourselfneeds to find another way to forget the world, one that doesn’t require the use of drugs,” I grunt.

“It’s a natural herb, grows on trees and everything,” Aria insists.

“Come with me. I have a better way for you to forget the world.” I push to my feet, towering over Aria as I hold out a hand for her to take.

She places her palm in mine and I tug her up before leading her inside. Using the back staircase to guide her into my room. Our room.

“Remove your panties,” I tell her as soon as the door clicks closed behind us.

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