A Sinner’s Truth (De Bellis Crime Family Book 5)
A Sinner’s Truth: Chapter 26

I smile. For the last three weeks, I’ve pretty much been holed up in bed with Santo or working on the Dolore campaign. I haven’t heard from my father, but he hasn’t cut me off yet, so I’m assuming he’s quietly stewing at me from afar.

I get why Drew has that opinion of Santo. My husband can come across as possessive and controlling at times. Okay, all the time. But it comes from a good place. I don’t think he’s trying to control me. I think he really wants to protect me.

I also know he has extreme jealousy issues, especially when it comes to my friendship with Drew. Santo doesn’t trust anyone who doesn’t bear his last name. I don’t think any of the brothers do. I’m negotiable when it comes to a lot of things. I’m prepared to compromise, if it means our marriage will appear real to anyone watching. I’m not ever going to give up my friendship with Drew, though. Santo can live the next eleven months being jealous out of his mind. My best friend isn’t going anywhere.

“Shit,” I curse under my breath. I haven’t planned anything. Drew and I have had this tradition where we each plan the other’s birthday celebrations. We’ve been doing it since we were fifteen.

“What’s wrong?” Santo asks.

I look up from my phone screen. Santo has this way of entering a room like a damn ninja. I never hear him. “It’s Drew’s birthday tomorrow night and I haven’t planned anything.”

“Not sure how that’s your problem,” he grunts.

“It’s my problem because it’s our tradition. And now, I have less than twenty-four hours to plan something epic for him.” I jump off the bed and start pacing. I can do this. How hard can it be?

“You need to relax. It’s just a birthday.”

“I’ve been a shitty friend for the last month. I need to do this,” I stress.

“What about Unhinged? I can have the VIP section booked out for the night. Table service, whatever you want,” Santo offers.

I pause. “You’d do that for Drew?”

“I’d do that for you, not him. If it means you’re not going to spend the next twenty-four hours having your mind occupied with thoughts of another man, then yes. I’ll do it for you.”

It always comes back to him. I don’t know how Santo does it, but even when he’s making a nice gesture, he brings it back to being all about his wants.

Ignoring his jealous side, I smile. “Thank you. That would be great.”

“Send me a guest list. I’ll call Ash and set it up,” he says.

“Thank you. I really do appreciate it,” I tell him.

“Don’t mention it.” Santo is about to walk out of the room when I stop him.

“So, do you want to be my date tomorrow night?”

He turns around and there’s an evil glint in his eyes. “Is that a serious question, Aria? If you thought I was letting you go without me, you’re delusional, darling.”

“Perfect. You can be my arm candy. I can’t wait to see their faces when I introduce you.”

“Whose faces?”

“Girls from school. Drew still keeps in touch with pretty much everyone. I only see them if I’m dragged along with him to an event. But they’re the typical mean girls. I’ve never had anything to rub in their faces before. Now, I have you.” I smile at the thought.

It’s petty. I know, but I can’t help but be proud to be Santo’s wife. Even if it’s only for a year, I decided that I’m going to make the most of the time we have left together. I’m going to embrace the wife thing. Fake or not, I’m going to be the best wife Santo will ever have.

The thought of him moving on after me doesn’t sit too well, but I’ll accept it. I don’t expect forever, and he certainly doesn’t want it either. At least not with me.

“Why do I feel objectified?” Santo smirks.

“Because that’s exactly what I’m doing.” I laugh.

“I like it. But just for the record, I couldn’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks and neither should you,” he says.

“I know, but it’s just… I guess I’ve never had much to be proud of before,” I tell him. It’s lame.

“You’re proud of being my wife?” Santo asks.

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He presses his lips against mine. “Let’s show ʼem all what they’re missing then.” He winks.

Walking into Unhinged with my hand firmly clasped in Santo’s is a different experience. I’ve been to the VIP section before, but when you’re the wife of Santo De Bellis, there’s a-whole-nother level of service I’ve never seen.

The security at the door greeted Santo by name, then politely nodded at me and referred to me as Mrs De Bellis. How they knew who I was, I have no idea.

Santo’s hand twitches around mine as we walk up the stairs, where the VIP section has been roped off for our party.

I hear him before I see him. “Aria Swan, you outdid yourself!”

I have to wrench my hand out of Santo’s when Drew hugs me. He then picks me up and spins me around, then puts my feet back on the ground.

“It’s Aria De Bellis. You like it?” I ask Drew as my eyes flick around the space.

“Like it? I love it. Thank you,” he says. “Come do a shot with me.” Drew walks off. Before I can follow him, an arm wraps around my waist and my back is pulled up against a hard chest.

“Don’t let him do that again,” Santo growls into my ear.

I spin around. “I get your jealousy knows no bounds, but he’s a friend. That’s it.” I have no intention of telling Drew he can’t hug me.

“I can’t help but want to murder every fucker who looks at you. Imagine what I want to do to the ones who touch you?” Santo raises a challenging brow.

“Well, it’s a good thing you have something called self-control.” I tap his chest. “Come on, it’s a party. Let’s do a shot with the birthday boy.” Taking Santo’s hand, I lead him over to where Drew is seated with a heap of his friends from school.

They all look up when we approach.

“Everyone, this is Santo, my husband. Santo, everyone.” I wave a hand, having absolutely no intention of personally introducing him to them all by name.

One of the girls stands from her seat, her eyes unashamedly checking out my husband as she holds out a palm in his direction. “I’m Sonya.”

Santo looks at her hand like it’s going to burn him. When he reaches out to shake it, it’s a quick exchange before he pulls back again. “Nice to meet you,” he says while wrapping an arm around my shoulder and tucking me into his side. His lips press against my temple, and I melt.

We sit down and Drew hands us each a shot. “Happy birthday!” I yell and clink my glass against his.

Five shots and three vodka and cranberries later, I’m starting to regret bringing Santo here. Every girl in my supposed friend group is ogling him. They’re not even pretending to be discreet about it. I’m starting to feel very territorial, to the point that I want to rip their hair out of their heads and tell them to back the fuck off.

Santo seems oblivious to the attention. His hands haven’t left my body. He’s constantly touching me, kissing my head. His eyes don’t linger from me for long. I see him looking around the room now and then but then he’s straight back to watching me.

“They need to stop looking at you,” I hiss under my breath.

“Who?” Santo asks.

“Everyone. They’re looking at you like you’re their next meal. But you’re not. You’re my next meal,” I tell him.

“Oh shit.” Drew laughs. “Mate, hold on to her. Aria can get a little violent when she’s drunk.”

“Violent? How so?” Santo questions with a keen interest.

“She’s likely to jump across the table and attack the hyenas for trying to take what’s hers,” Drew says, and Santo chuckles.

“She’s not going to do that.”

“Wait… You have a gun, right? I mean, you never go anywhere without one?” I ask Santo.

He lifts a curious brow in my direction. “How do you know that?”

“I watch you a lot more than you think I do. You’re pretty to look at.” I shrug. He should probably be hung up in a museum or something—that’s how pretty he is.

“What would you want with a gun, Aria?”

“I want to shoot them in the eyes,” I grind out, and Santo laughs. Like full-belly laughs.

“No you don’t,” he says. “Come dance with me.” He stands and suddenly I’m on my feet, a little wobbly but I manage to stay upright.

Santo wraps his arm around my waist and leads me to the dance floor. As soon as we get to the bottom of the stairs, something tugs at my arm. Not something. Someone. My entire body is yanked backwards. Thanks to the firm hold Santo has on me, I don’t fall. When I turn around to look, I find Oliver glaring at me.

“I will get what’s mine,” he says and then disappears into the crowd.

“What happened?” Santo asks. He didn’t see Oliver. Did I even see him? Am I that drunk?

“I don’t know,” I reply. “Can we go home?”

Santo looks behind me into the crowd, his eyes assessing everything around us before he nods. “Let’s get out of here.”

On our way out of the club, Santo stops and says something in Italian to one of the security guys.

“What were you talking about?” I ask him when he tucks me into the front of his car. He didn’t drink tonight, told me that he was my designated driver. I tried to convince him we could always get an Uber home but he wasn’t having it.

“I told him I was going home with the most gorgeous girl in the club.” Santo winks at me, and I feel my cheeks heat up. I doubt that’s what they were talking about at all. But it’s still nice to hear.

My head leans back against the leather seat and I close my eyes, letting the vibrations of the engine run through my body before I feel myself drift off.