Page 18 of The Sound in Silence

What do you expect of her? A loveless marriage and for her to take no lover in all these years?

My jaw clamps with the thought. No. No, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. With Aurora, my plan was to impregnate her as soon as possible and then free her. But I doubt that’s an option with Ariella. She’s too…too gentle. Too wary and jumping on her—literally—would make me a villain in her eyes. More than I likely already am.

For some reason, I don’t want that.

“Yes,” I finally respond, my back teeth grinding together, fully aware my agreement to his two-optioned question answers nothing. “Don’t be too obvious but you don’t have to hide. Given what I so far know of her, I think the more she gets to know you, the more amicable she’ll be to having you around. The less she’ll fear you.”

At some point, she might even enjoy his company more than my own.

“But when you’re around, remember whose ring she’s wearing, Sebastian. Whose surname she bears.”

“Sir?” His brows dip, and mine even rise, half-surprised he’s going to pretend I didn’t notice earlier. That’s simply insulting.

“I trust you, Sebastian, and it’s why you were chosen for the task, but if your eyes stray, I will be the final thing you’ll ever see.” I pause, letting the threat hang. Waiting for his stuttered agreement until dismissing him.

He’s a good kid so I have little doubt he’ll obey, but the reminder for us both makesmefeel better about leaving the city. He’s young, and sometimes youth equals stupidity, and stupidity needs behavioural reminders.

Only when he’s exited my office do I move as well, gathering my phone and checking last-minute emails on my laptop. The latest reply from the private tech company I hired to complete a deep dive background check on Ariella’s family told me it’d be twenty-four hours until they had a response. According to the email, it’s been nearing thirty hours and no response. So I shoot them a less-than-friendly prompt and shut the computer again. They’re hunting for facts I could ask Ariella directly for, but something tells me I need to be better equipped when dealing with her.

Finally finished and ready to go, I exit my office and take the long hallway decorated in paintings of the beach until pausing in the foyer, my gaze sliding up the wall and toward the bedroom doors she’s locked behind.

I wonder if she’s gotten undressed and showered by now. If she’s becoming familiar with my space, and making it hers too. A notion that should irritate me, but instead brings a smile to my face. Despite everything, I don’t want her to hate it here or else it’ll make for a very agonizing marriage.

I turn away and head back outside where Matthew is still waiting by the car, as I instructed him earlier to do. Once we’re both seated and he’s pulling away, the temptation to glance at the house behind me grows with every turn of the wheels, but I stare forward.

Distance will be a good thing. Ariella deserves happiness, and that’s not me. Not a husband who won’t have the time of day for her. Who doesn’twantto have the time of day for her. Leaving her behind right away is ideal; it sets the expectations of what’s to come and what not to expect from me.

So why does it feel so fucking wrong?

* * *

Vegas. Sin City.

A place filled with tourists who eagerly throw away their hard-earned money on the slim chance of winning big. The sayingthe house always winsis very true.Ialways win. Not them. Once in a while, a lucky fucker, usually by random chance, will strike a huge win, to ensure our casinos continue to promise prosperity. But it’s only ever just enough cash to lure customers to continue gambling on that one percent chance while we rob them of their money.

TheFamigliahas expanded in recent years, giving us a foothold into some of the southern states, including Vegas. Given the profitable city between the casinos, hotels, clubs, bars, and strip joints that both locals and visitors travel in for, it was an easy takeover and one that’s grown our legal holdings exponentially. While the underground scene in Vegas is still strong, the drugs still desired, it’s those legal businesses that make Vegas worth our time.

Since the party city is enjoyed by all, it’s become the base of so manyFamigliameetings, where all the capos from the organization come together and report on profits and dealings to me and Father. Now, only me.

A car waits for me right off the tarmac. The driver doesn’t need any direction before taking me toward the same condo complex I always stay at when I’m visiting. We own properties all over the country, in all the cities we frequent, for this very purpose.

When he pulls into the underground parking lot, the time on my phone reads five in the morning. I flew half the night, and my nap on the plane did little to settle my racing thoughts. Since New York is three hours ahead of Vegas, it’s already eight in the morning, which means Ariella could be waking soon, if she hasn’t already.

Despite the lack of notifications informing me so, I open my messenger app, tapping on a conversation between Sebastian and me, staring at it for a couple seconds, impatiently waiting for the bubbles, indicating he’s typing and letting me know she’s up.

But there’s nothing. Maybe her head is as full as mine was for the entirety of my flight, and she’s hiding from her new reality. Either way, when she wakes, if she’s not already, it’ll be her first official day as an underboss’s wife. She’ll have new responsibilities. Things I was prepared to shove at Aurora right away, but am hesitating with Ariella. The concept of forcing her into anything sickens me.

I exit the car and head straight for the elevator, typing in the code that’ll lift me straight to the private penthouse suite, without stopping at any other floor, regardless if another tenant requests the elevator. Inside, I lean against the deep, wood panelling, exhaustion pulling my eyes down.

Thankfully, Vegas is a quiet city in the morning, and my meeting is this evening. After the day and night I’ve had, my head needs to be focused, which means sleep is my entire plan for the first half of today.

The second my feet pass the threshold of the penthouse, my phone rings. I hate the little leap my stomach does, hoping to either see Ariella or Sebastian’s name—who’ll only call in regards to my wife—but the sensation immediately quells at spottingMotheron my screen.

My thumb hovers over the red button to end the ringing, but knowing her, she’ll continue incessantly until I pick up. So I do, not hiding my dislike with an exaggerated sigh. “What?”

“Good morning to you too, son.”

“What?”

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