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Vincent
The words leave my mouth, and I want to immediately take them back. I should have told her to stay, that she is my everything. Instead, I sit here, watching her spiral down the hole that I never wanted her to dive into.
Aribella says nothing and gets up. Still, I make no move to keep her here. She will stay or she will go. It has to be her choice now. “I...” That soft whisper of hers is like a tidal wave of anguish hitting my body, drowning me.
Tears run down her face, and she looks ill. I can tell her blood pressure is rising. “You need to take your medicine.”
Pulling out the bottles, I hand them to her, and she takes them. Yet, she stands there, not moving. “You killed him.”
Fuck, I shouldn’t have told her. Hell, it would have been easy to make up a story about how he died on a yacht. Sighing, I grab her shoulders. “Yes, I did, Aribella, and you are free to go if you wish. I’ll have to tell the families you are out there, though. You won’t be safe.”
Now I’m resulting to blackmail, well, more like emotional warfare. I’m sick of myself, but it’s what I must do. Aribella is mine and she won’t be leaving without fear in her mind.
“I’d like to be alone for a bit.” She trembles as she takes her first steps out of my office. I don’t follow her. My home is wired so I can see every hall and room.
The library door opens, and I smile. Of course, she would go there. I can tell it will be her refuge, and for now, I won’t barge in on it. Working will be a good distraction, but Mossimo comes into the office and sits down.
“What?”
He has the damn cat in his arms. I swear if it wouldn’t hurt Aribella, I’d drown the cat. “You know, for someone who was happy in the kitchen, you look like someone died.”
“Fuck off.”
Mossimo laughs and shakes his head at me. “You told her, then.”
Banging my hand on the desk, I stand up and pace. “Yes. I had to. There was no choice in the matter. The fact I fucked her before telling her was wrong. I’m sure she feels betrayed not only by me, but by her brother as well. The bastard gave her to me. Like she was fucking property.”
“And yet, you love her.”
I still at his words and look at him. “No. She is someone…”
“Stop bullshitting yourself. You love her. I saw how you pulled every picture, written word, and social media interaction on not only Carlos but Aribella. Hell, you spent hours watching her at the college campus. You love her and you made sure to setup the trap where Carlos had no fucking way out but to give her to you.”
He’s right, dammit. It was the only way to save her, but it also was to get what I wanted, Aribella in my home and life.
“You’re right, Mossimo.”
“Of course, I am. Now stop moping and go get your girl.” Laughing, he leaves my office and I stand there, looking out the window. Yeah, me being this whiny little bitch isn’t my style. Aribella will see reason. I know she will.
Mi reinais on the window seat, reading a book when I enter the library. I didn’t go to her immediately. No, I let myself calm down to a simmering boil of anxiety before I came in here. Otherwise, I would have thrown her to the floor and ravaged her, forcing her to see my way.
“Aribella.”
She jumps, and the book falls from her arms. “Oh.” Looking away from me, she curls into herself.
“Have you made a decision on whether or not you are staying here?”
“Where else would I go? The farm was the only place I had.” She glares at me as I step closer to her.
Now’s the time to tell her you’d have her the finest of homes built but, that’s not what I do. “This is true. It’s been demolished.”
Another lie that’s slipped my lips. What can I say? I want Aribella here. “Then I guess you know I have to stay. I can’t be homeless and most certainly can’t fight off the crime families on my own.”
Mi reinalooks defeated, and it kills me. “I know you hate me. It’s going to be alright though. I promise to spend every day making things right between us.”
Aribella turns her head to look at me, and she wipes a tear from her cheek. “The problem is that I don’t hate you. Not even a little bit. I’m hurt that you killed my brother. Yet, I’m furious he traded me in his place. It doesn’t make any sense to me. Betrayal and lies. They keep adding up to one thing and that it’s me that’s getting played on both ends.”
Fuck. What do I say to that? How do I make it better? There’s absolutely nothing I can say that will sound good. I might as well be honest. “This is true. You’ll have to figure out on your own if you are going to trust me or not.”
