Page 27 of A Sinner's Truth

I shove at his shoulder. “Get the fuck away from her,” I grunt.

Marcel comes up and hugs Aria next. When he walks back over to the sofa, Aria turns to me and whispers, “Are they all huggers?”

“Not those two.” I point to Gio, who is leaning against his desk. Then to Vin, who is sprawled out on the sofa, his arms spread across the back and an ankle resting on a knee.

“Welcome to the fam,” Vin says.

“Thank you.”

“Aria Swan, right?” Gio asks.

Aria looks at me. “Aria De Bellis, actually,” she corrects him.

I smile.Smart girl. Gio’s lips tip up at one corner. He almost grins. “Welcome to the family. Let me know if there is anything you need.”

“Thank you,” Aria says.

“I’m going to go show her around,” I tell everyone.

Gio nods but he gives me that look. The one that sayswe’re going to talk. I know this isn’t over just yet. He comes and takes Aurelio from me. “We’ll talk soon,” he says, in case his look wasn’t enough.

“Sure thing, boss.” I pivot on my heel with Aria’s hand still clutched in mine. I need to get her out of this room before she decides this was a mistake and runs for the hills.

Why the fuck do I even care if she does?I’m doing this to help her. The fact it gets my family off my back about moving on is a plus. But I don’t need it. I don’t need her.

I take Aria straight upstairs to my room. It’s odd having her in this space. I haven’t had anyone else in here. There’s framed pictures of Shelli and me on the dresser, pictures that immediately catch Aria’s eye. She picks one up and sets it down without asking any questions.

“Her name was Shelli. You’ll probably hear about her, so you should know,” I start, and quickly realise I can’t do this conversation sober. I walk over to the wet bar, remove the lid from a bottle of Cinque, and tip the open top into my mouth. After a few chugs of the amber liquid, I turn back to Aria. “She was my fiancée.”

“Was?” Aria repeats.

“She was murdered the night before our wedding,” I explain, and watch her eyes widen.

“I’m sorry.”

Yeah, everyone is fucking sorry.

Aria doesn’t press me for more, which I’m grateful for. I need to get out of here. Being with herin hereis fucking with my head, and I’m having thoughts I shouldn’t fucking be having for another woman.

“Will you be okay hanging out alone for a bit? I need to go do a few things.” I have to get away from her. She’s confusing the fuck out of me, and I need some clarity.

“Ah, sure. I can go home,” she says.

“Aria, this is your home. Help yourself to whatever,” I tell her before walking out. Leaving her alone in my bedroom.

As soon as I’m in the hallway, I breathe in a lungful of air. My hands shake as I try to get a grip on my emotions. I can’t fall apart here. It’s not the place.

Just as I think I’m going to make a clean escape, a few steps between me and the front door, I’m stopped by Gio. “What’s the deal?” he calls out after me.

“There is no deal,” I tell him.

“So, what? You just woke up one day, got over your grieving, and thought you’d marry a stranger?” He crosses his arms over his chest while pinning me with a glare.

“Pretty much.” The words taste like bile in my mouth. I will never get over the only woman I’ve ever loved, and my brother knows that.

“What about Shelli?” He lifts a questioning brow in my direction. “Last I checked, three was a crowd in a marriage.”

“Shelli’s dead, Gio. She ain’t coming back. Aria is a great girl. You just need to get to know her,” I tell him.

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