Page 64 of A Sinner's Truth

All my brothers and sisters are in attendance. Aria asked me why they would want to come to her father’s funeral when they never knew him. I told her they’re here for her, because she’s family and that’s what family does.

I feel like I’m losing her. That thought isn’t supposed to bother me, because she’s only mine for now. I’m not prepared to let her go yet, and I’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to her for the full term of our arrangement. Even if that means ignoring my inner urge to rip her friend’s hand from his body.

Drew is sitting on her other side, holding her fucking hand. Although she’s leaning into me, she won’t let go of the fucker’s hand. I’m controlling my rage for her, because she’s attached to the little shit. And if I hurt him, I really will lose her.

My lips press against her temple. “You okay?” I whisper.

She looks up at me. There’s not even a drop of water in her eyes. Why won’t she cry? “I’m fine,” she whispers back. “Do you think we ordered enough champagne for the wake? There’re a lot of people here.”

“There will be enough,” I tell her.

When the service ends, I stand next to Aria, my hand on her lower back as she accepts everyone’s condolences and they tell her what a great man her father was. When the last of the guests have left to make their way to the restaurant we booked out, Aria sinks into me with a sigh.

“Why do people lie when someone dies?” she asks.

“What do you mean?”

“They are all saying what a great man my father was, but he wasn’t really. He was an asshole to most of these people,” she says.

“I think people want to make you feel better. They’re not saying it for his benefit.” I lead Aria over to the car.

I’ve been holding a grudge against my brothers for keeping Shelli’s lies from me. They should have told me about the journalwhen they found it. I understand why they did it, though. They didn’t want me to spiral any more than I already was. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Aria, I might have completely lost myself. She’s given me a new lease on life and she doesn’t even know it.

“I’m taking you home,” I tell Aria. We’ve only been at the wake for an hour but I know her. She doesn’t want to be here.

“I can’t leave,” she says. “I have to do this.”

“You’ve done it, darling. We’re leaving. Come on.”

“They’re all going to know I left. I can’t leave, Santo,” she repeats.

“Aria, you’re a De Bellis. What did I tell you about being a De Bellis? You don’t need to care about what anyone thinks anymore,” I remind her.

“And what happens when I’m no longer a De Bellis, Santo? We have an expiration date, remember?” she hisses at me.

An expiration date.“What if we don’t?” I suggest, my heart rate increasing. What the fuck am I saying?

“What do you mean?” Aria asks.

“What if we don’t have an expiration date? What if we just keep doing this and see what happens?”

“What do you mean?” she repeats.

“I mean, what if we do this for real?” I can feel sweat forming on my brow. Why the fuck is asking her to be with me so fucking stressful?

“You want me to be your girlfriend, for real?”

“I want you to be my wife. You are my wife,” I tell her.

“Oh.” Her eyes widen. “Okay.” She nods. That’s it. Just an okay and a nod.

“Okay?” I parrot.

“Okay,” she says again. “Can you take me home now?”

I should question her more. She’s clearly not in her right mind at the moment. Then again, she gave me the answer I want and I’m not about to let her back out of it.

“Let’s go.” I take hold of her hand.

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