Page 5 of Redeem
“But now, you can’t have any distractions. She’s not your responsibility anymore. Let Angelo deal with her. I need you now more than ever, Arrow.”
Salvatore spots Maximo Santoro in the crowd and leaves me to go greet him. I feel like I can finally breathe. I should’ve known he would notice me looking for her and following her every move. Nothing gets past that man.
He’s right—it’s time for me to step up and into the role I’ve been preparing for my entire life. I wanted this. I wanted to find my parents' killers and wipe them out. It’s always been my plan. But why does it feel like I made the wrong choice? Fuck, I just need some space from her and to clear my head. I can’t let her distract me from my plans.
* * *
The wake was boring as shit, and I’m thankful when we walk back through the front doors to the Romano house.
“Arrow, my office in five,” Salvatore says, shrugging off his suit jacket and handing it to a maid. He walks off toward the kitchen, leaving me there with the maid. I’ve been asking to speak to him about my parents and finding their killer. I’m hoping he’s finally giving me the time to discuss it.
I look over to Bella. She’s already halfway up the stairs, headed toward her room...her cage. I need to speak to her. I need to explain why I did what I did. I can’t stand the way she looks at me.
I jog up the stairs, chasing her. I grab her arm, stopping her just as she reaches her room.
She glares over her shoulder, ripping her arm free. “Don’t bother wasting your breath. Nothing you say is going to change how I feel about you,” she snaps, then walks off without a backward glance.
I go to open my mouth, but Salvatore starts up the stairs. Fuck. I head straight for his office, meeting him inside.
“Shut the door on your way out, Angelo. We’ve got business to discuss,” Salvatore says, leaning back in his chair.
Now is the time. He will help me find my parents' killers and seek revenge. And then my allegiance to Salvatore will finally be worth the pain I’ve caused Bella.
CHAPTER5
ISABELLA / ADDIE
It’s been four days since the funeral and today is Christmas. It’s not my favorite holiday. Since the day I was told I was marrying Adrian, our families have come together every Christmas Day to celebrate.
Only, this year, there is no Adrian. Emilio sits at the table with his father. Maximo stands up and comes around the table to greet my father. Rosalie stands beside me, and we’re both wearing dresses our mother made us buy. Ones we loathe, of course. Both of us are acting our parts as the perfect daughters of Salvatore Romano.
“It is so lovely to see such beautiful ladies on a special day.” Maximo smiles down at us, and I release an internal scream. But on the outside, I smile and nod and accept his hand as he places a kiss on my cheek.
I’m so numb to the words, I don’t reply, and my father’s large hand lands on my shoulder. I let out a small squeak and jump in surprise. Maximo’s eyes widen, and I see something in there. He’s watching me too closely. He knows...he knows that I brought the gun. I look at my feet as my heart races, and my father clears his throat.
“It’s taken a toll on Isabella. We must understand her grief is different from our own, because of the future they had planned as husband and wife,” my father says.
“Yes, indeed. I lost a son, but you lost your fiancé. I understand how sad you must be over Adrian. But today is one of strength. Our families are stronger together. Even without the marriage sealing our families together, you’re still part of our family, Isabella.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, and my father’s hand finally lifts from my shoulder.
My brothers snicker at something and all attention shifts to them. My father clears his throat.
“Junior, Tommy, how have you been?” Maximo asks my twin brothers.
I take the opportunity to move away. I ignore when the men start talking in riddles, knowing it means something to them, something that I'm not allowed to know. Emilio doesn't stand from the table, nor does he join in on the business they’re discussing. He stays seated, watching everyone in the room.
When his eyes land on mine, I see a small flicker of the pain he hides so well. I want to go to him. To tell him that everything will be okay, like he once did for me. But things have changed so much. Nothing will ever be okay. Everything’s broken...just like us.
I take a seat next to my mother, and Rosa sits beside me, her phone hidden underneath the tablecloth as she texts her friends.
The men all talk, and Emilio says a few words when his father asks him a question. Other than that, he doesn't speak at all. He doesn't join in with their banter. Eventually, the meal is served, and it’s the same as every year—manicotti and roasted veal. But just like all other years, it tastes like ash in my mouth. I can barely stomach it.
It's not until I hear the wordRoxburythat I peek up from my food.
“Yes, Emilio will be finishing out the school year, then he will return home.” Maximo explains.
I look at Emilio and watch his jaw tick. He doesn't like the sound of that. Neither do I. He has the guys up there. They’re his family now.
