Page 36 of A Sinner's Truth

When I get to the bottom of the stairs, Santo’s youngest brother is standing there with his wife. “Your husband wants us to take you to your apartment so you can pack,” Vin says.

“Where’d he go?” I ask.

“He had some errands.” Vin turns and walks out the front door, his hand gripped around Cammi’s.

“He’ll meet us at your place later,” she calls over a shoulder with a kind smile directed my way.

“Okay, but I can just get an Uber. You guys don’t need to be put out,” I tell Vin, following him out the front door.

He spins around. “You’re family. It’s not putting us out.”

These guys really do embrace the whole family thing, don’t they?Although the kid’s tone and facial expression tell me he’s not all that impressed.

The moment I walk into my apartment, I’m shoved behind a body. Not a body. Behind Vin. The kid moves so damn quick. One minute he’s standing at my back, the next he’s in front of me. Pointing a gun at Drew’s head.

Wait, a gun? Where did that even come from?

“You’ve got two seconds to tell me who you are and why the fuck you’re in my sister’s apartment,” Vin says.

“Oh my god, stop.” I step around him. “Seriously? This is Drew, my friend,” I explain.

Vin tilts his head. “Why is he in your apartment?”

“Because, like I said, he’s my friend. Can you put that away? You’re making me nervous,” I tell him.

“Vin, kiss me.” Cammi says. And like a switch has been flipped, Vin lowers the gun, turns around, and kisses his wife as if they’re the only ones in the room.

I walk over to Drew and throw my arms around him. “I’m sorry,” I whisper next to his ear. He looks a little pale, but I would be too if I had a gun aimed at my head.

“Are you okay?” he asks quietly.

“I am,” I tell him. “You can’t let on that the marriage is fake. No one knows.”

“You went and married a stranger. What the hell were you thinking?” Drew hisses as I step back.

“I was thinking I found my person, and I kind of thought my best friend would be happy that I found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.” My arms fold over my chest, and that’s when I take note that I’m still wearing Santo’s clothes.

“I’d be happier if you took a little longer to get to knowyour person,” Drew grumbles.

“Well, we all move to the beat of our own drum, right?” I smile. “I’m happy, Drew. I really need you to be happy for me too.”

“I am happy for you. Are you going to have a registry? Do you buy people wedding gifts after they elope?” he asks me.

“I don’t need gifts,” I tell him. “I do, however, need to shower and pack a few things.”

“You’re moving out?” Drew balks, sounding way more pissed off than he was a minute ago.

“I’m moving in with my husband.”

“You can’t be serious.” He shakes his head.

“I can be. It’s what married people tend to do, Drew.” My eyes bore into his, begging him to go along with this whole charade.

Although, it didn’t feel all that fake this morning when Santo had his fingers on me, when he brought me the kind of pleasure I’ve only ever given myself.

“This isn’t going to end well, Aria,” Drew says.

“Actually, it is. Please, just let me be happy,” I plead with him.

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