Page 3 of Redeem
His warm fingers wrap my upper arm, and I almost lean into his touch. It’s hard to keep my mask in place with him so close. But my heart knows it can’t take it. I can’t play his games anymore. I shake him off, and he makes a sound under his breath. His fingers grip me tighter, and I swallow down the lump in my throat. Is he going to apologize for what he did? Will he tell me it was all a lie...that he didn't play me? That he’s playing my father, instead?
I let him pull me off to the side, with everyone getting into the cars but us. I let out a deep breath and look up at Arrow. My anger returns. I want to scream and hit him. Tell him I hate him. I pull my arm free from his hold, and he drops his hand to his side. I watch him shift his weight between his feet as if, now that he has me here, he doesn't know what to say.
I feel naked in front of him. As much as I want to admit he means nothing to me, I can't stop the way he makes me feel. It's as if those feelings haven't gotten the memo that he betrayed me. So, I do what I do best. I turn off my feelings and shift the mask to the one my father sees.
I watch his expression change the moment my mask slides back on. I never gave him this mask, even when I had to pretend in front of others. I watch as his eyes roam my face.
“Are you okay, Bella?” he whispers.
Really? That's all he has to say? Nosorry for fucking you over?
I hold my head high. “No. Haven’t you heard? I’m a grieving widow.” With that, I turn toward the cars, dismissing him.
But Arrow won't let me dismiss him that easily. He grabs my arm once again. With a small huff, I yank my arm free and walk away without a backward glance. He lost the right to care about me the day he broke my heart.
The drive to the wake is deadly silent. My sister completely ignores me, along with my mother and father. I should be worried, but instead, I’m glad I don’t have to talk. I’ll deal with the aftermath when today’s over.
We pull up to the place that holds so many happy, yet also sad, memories for me. The place where this all started. The one deal that secured the future of my father’s greed.
And one silent promise to the boy I loved.
CHAPTER3
ISABELLA / ADDIE
Ishould be happy he’s dead. This is all I’ve wanted ever since the deal was made for me to marry him. But there’s a part of me that’s filled with guilt. I killed him.
I killed Adrian.
I may not have pulled the trigger, but I’m the reason he’s dead, and that just doesn’t sit right with me. Not because he’s gone—the world’s a better place without him—but because of the retaliation that will come from it. I’m the reason he’s gone, yet the blame isn’t on me. Someone else pulled that trigger, and another took the fall.
Our car door opens, and I take Angelo’s hand. The gravel crunches underneath my heels as I make my way toward the house. Light snow falls around us, and we stop just outside the front door, waiting for my family to catch up. My father stops in front of me, gripping my arm a little too tightly before leaning down. Biting down hard on my lip, I try not to let any emotion slip through the cracks of the perfect doll persona. His nails dig in farther, and it takes everything within me not to pull away, to fight back.
“Best behavior and stick with Angelo. No games, got it?” he growls in a low whisper before pulling back and hitting me with a heavy glare.
I nod like the good little mafia princess. I’ve just got to get through today and then deal with tomorrow.
My father walks off ahead, with my mother clinging to his arm and a generous number of soldiers surrounding us all. I have no idea what the fallout will be from Adrian’s death. My father has had several meetings since, but I haven’t been able to leave my room to sneak around and listen in. Angelo and other soldiers have been stationed at every exit, making it impossible to escape the confines of my room.
My sister slides up beside me, and we head inside. Instead of the family greeting us like I expected, the foyer is filled with heavily guarded soldiers. A shiver works its way down my spine as they search out my father. This is bad...very bad.
My father makes a scene as the guards take away his guns, much to his disgust. I get it. Their son was just murdered. It makes sense, but it doesn’t feel good. My sister clasps her hand in mine, and I look down in shock. It’s the first time in weeks she’s shown any type of affection toward me. I give her a gentle squeeze, and she lets out a small sound. She’s scared. I am too.
An older guy, with black, oily hair comes over, towering over us. “You. You come with me,” he snaps, pointing right at me.
Angelo brushes past me and stands in front, blocking his view. “That won’t be happening,” he growls, crossing his arms over his chest while eyeing the guy. Angelo’s a couple of inches taller than him and has much more bulk. My money would be on Angelo winning a fight.
“Fine,” the man huffs, stepping around Angelo. “I have to search her. For any hidden weapons.”
Fair enough. I did bring a weapon here last time. And now we’re burying that someone I came here to get. Not that they know that. Lifting up my arms, I look up right at this guy, daring him to touch me with my father only a few feet away. His hands brush over my arms and then down over my chest, going painfully slowly as he brushes over my nipples and smirks. Fucking asshole. Angelo makes a sound deep in his chest, and the guy’s face drops.
“Hurry up, we don’t have all day,” I snap, and he stands tall.
“Clear,” he says and dismisses me.
I turn to see my father isn’t too far away, talking with his men. He didn't witness what just happened to his daughter. Not that he would have cared. I feel violated, but that's what I have to put up with being his daughter. As long as it's the right ones doing it, he doesn't care.
“You okay?” I almost jump at Arrow’s voice in my ear. I don't respond. Why does he care now? It's messing with my head. I wish he would just stay away from me.
