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Chapter Twenty-One
ARIA
"Father just called." I snap my head up from breakfast and squint my eyes as I try to determine whether or not I care about the information Marcel is about to relay. I have liked having him close to me again, but I know he is still under my father’s thumb in some ways. He has to be because he will take his place one day, but sometimes he takes it farther than that. I hope that this is maybe some good news about our brother or at least that we know who the enemy is here. Because if that’s not it, I don’t even want to hear it.
"And?" I ask a little curtly, waiting for what he has to say.
"Gabriella is having an engagement party, and he expects to see us there. We'll be surrounded by family, so it should be safe, especially if we bring Sal's men with us."
I shake my head in frustration, shoving my plate away. I no longer have an appetite. Sure, Marcel should probably go, though I don’t like the idea under these circumstances with the threat against us. Salvatore wants us to stay inside for a reason, a damn good one, and I haven’t fought the order because I know that. I saw the man following us with my own eyes. And I also don’t feel any more like any event like that will have me surrounded by family. My father hardly deserves the word, and I know what my uncle and his kind has done. Even if he is my familia, I just don't trust him any farther than I can throw him.
"So, go," I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. "I have no need to go."
Marcel gives me a stern look, and I stand up to face him. It will be one of the first times I have ever placed my anger in my brother’s direction. "I am married off now, Marcellus, and to a non-clan leader." I feel Salvatore come into the room at that moment, and he looks at us with bewilderment but says nothing, letting me hash it out. "Why would I be obligated to the Funars or their extended familia any longer, especially considering our father deems me completely useless now?" I challenge him.
I am not backing down on this one. My last name no longer ties me directly to the clans not in the same way it once did, and my father considers me nothing. I don’t have to do what he says. "Aria, this is not the time to be difficult or a brat. Marrying does not mean you are no longer one of us. And why should it feel like obligation to celebrate the engagement of your cousin? You need to keep Gabriele on your good side if nothing else. It only makes sense for you and your husband to go," he asks hard, his hand wrapping around my wrist to show his dominance. That is when I see a bit of my father in him, and I can't stand it.
"I never thought you would turn out like our father. I always felt the day you took over would be a huge change in the way the Funar clan does things, brother, but I am not so sure anymore."
His eyes go dark, and he lets out a growl. I see Sal inching closer to us just in case he has to pull us apart. He cares for the both of us, so I bet he will wait until it is necessary, but he won’t let this go on too much longer.
"You really feel so much loyalty to your new last name? The only reason that he even married you was because I begged him to in order to save you from what had happened to you, from Father throwing you way."
I gasp and pull away, angry tears stinging my eyes as I look over to my husband who is now right next to us, doing a very poor job of hiding the anger on his own animated face.
"Marcel, I will not stand for any more of this. There is no reason to be hurting each other like this," he tells his friend before looking to me. "It may be true that I tried once again to marry you because Marcel asked me to do so to protect you, but I have been asking for your hand for years. I was just never deemed worthy by your father before," he confirms.
The hurt is bubbling up, and I can’t seem to control my words. Maybe I have a bit of my father’s tempter in me too. "Yes, my father believes I’m low enough to be with a Moretti now." I spit it at Marcel, but I can see on my husband’s face who it is I have hurt with my words, and he leaves the room as my heart aches with guilt.
