Page 55 of A Sinner's Truth

“Those words are blasphemy around these parts, darling,” I tell her. “I created this one myself.”

“What’s it called?” Aria asks.

“Cinque Dolore.” I hate that this blend was born from my pain and grief right after Shelli was murdered. She didn’t deserve the months I spent mourning her. I never thought anything would make me hate that woman, but one page from her journal has me wanting to bring her back from the dead just to strangle her myself.

I wouldn’t actually be able to do it, though. I know that. If Shelli had told me what she’d done, I would have helped her. I would have found a way to forgive her because I loved her. I thought she was my one.

But now, as I’m looking into Aria’s big green eyes, I’m starting to wonder if Cammi is right. Maybe there is more to life than just existing. I’m not foolish enough to allow myself to fall for it though, whatever this is with Aria. It’s temporary and that’s the best way for it to be. When it comes down to it, everything in life is temporary really.

“What does it mean?Dolore?” Aria asks.

“Pain, grief. I created it after Shelli died,” I tell her.

There’s pity in her eyes, and I hate it. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. No one should have to feel that kind of loss.”

“She cheated on me. The baby she was carrying—the one I thought was mine…wasn’t. She had an affair with a fucking cop. It’s not a loss.” I shrug. The pain in my chest rips through me. The urge to hit something is strong.

“Yeah, but you didn’t know that then, and you experienced a great loss because of it. Even if the ending wasn’t what youthought, that doesn’t take away the years of greatness that you did have with her.” Aria pours two more glasses and hands one to me. “To new beginnings and middles,” she says.

“To endings that never come,” I add before clinking my glass against hers.

Why the fuck did I say that?We have a literal timer counting down the days to our ending. It’s coming.

“So, what is it exactly that you want me to do around here?” Aria asks.

“I want you to create a new campaign for Dolore. This is the best blend we have,” I tell her.

“Okay, any ideas as to what you want?”

“You have free rein. Come up with a few different options and I’ll look at them.” I take Aria’s glass from her grip and then wrap my hand around hers, leading her out of the barrel house.

I guide her around the corner, stopping when I see my brother walking up with Logan Galaze. I didn’t know Gio had a meeting here today. If I did, I wouldn’t have brought Aria with me.

My brother’s glare falls to me, then to my wife. His jaw ticks, but other than that little tell, he keeps his poker face. Our number one rule is to keep our women as far away from the life as possible. This, having her in the same space as a member of another crime family, is too close.

“Santo, there’s some paperwork I need you to look at in the office,” Gio says, slowing down but not stopping.

Logan does stop. He holds his hand out to me. “Santo, good to see you.”

“You too.” I return the gesture.

“And who is this?” His beady eyes roam up and down the length of Aria’s body. Beady eyes that I’m going to rip out of his fucking head.

“My wife. Aria,” I grit out.

Logan laughs. “Oh, I heard you got married. Aria Swan, nice to meet you.” Logan doesn’t hold his hand out again—thank god, because I would have broken his fingers before he touched her.

“It’s Aria De Bellis now, thank you,” she says, and I smile. I’m so fucking proud of her use of my name. I think she’s going to make the most of it over the next twelve months. And I hope she does. It can open a lot of doors for her.

“Good seeing you,” I say, pulling Aria along with me as I continue walking.

“Who was that?” she asks once we’re out of earshot.

“No one you need to know,” I tell her. I let my own eyes roam over her body now. She’s dressed respectably. Her skirt reaches her knees and her blouse is buttoned up to cover most of her cleavage. But fuck me, does she give off the sexy secretary vibe. “Is there anything you can do to make yourself… less appealing?”

“Less appealing?”

“Yeah, like… not so fucking sexy.” I don’t like it when other men look at her.

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