A Sinner’s Truth (De Bellis Crime Family Book 5)
A Sinner’s Truth: Chapter 34

“Are you sure you’re comfortable?” I ask Drew for the tenth time.

“Aria, stop fussing. It’s weird and creeping me out,” he tells me. “I’m fine.”

“I’ll let you two catch up. I’ve got some work to do. I’ll be in Gio’s office if you need me,” Santo calls out from where he’s standing by the door, watching us.

I spin around. My palms get sweaty and my pulse increases. I don’t like being away from him. I need him. The only time I feel safe is when my husband is within arm’s reach. Although Drew’s the one who jumped in front of me and saved me that day, there is something about Santo that just makes me feel safe. I know it’s irrational. I’m fine here. No one is getting into this fortress of a house. But the thought of Santo leaving me has me spiralling.

Santo closes the distance and pulls me against his chest. “I’m not leaving. I’ll be right down the hall, and this door stays the fuck open,” he says.

“You’ll be just down the hall. It’s fine,” I repeat more to myself than to him. The moment he walks out, I turn back to Drew. I need to be a better friend. “So, what do you want to do?”

“What’s wrong with you?” Drew asks.

“What do you mean?” I try to feign ignorance, but I’m not fooling him.

“Why are you afraid? Has he done something?” Drew tries to push himself up on the bed.

“Lay your ass down. He hasn’t done anything. It’s me,” I tell him. “I don’t like being separated from Santo. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Whenever he leaves the room, I panic.”

“That’s understandable. You had someone try to shoot you, Aria,” Drew says.

“Yeah, but you were actually shot and you’re fine,” I point out. “You’re not jumping at your own shadow.”

“The fucker wasn’t aiming for me. I’m just glad he got me, instead of you.” Drew smiles. “Besides, this scar is going to work wonders on the chicks.”

I shake my head at him. “How do you make everything come back to girls and sex? Seriously, it’s concerning.”

“It’s easy when you like sex.” Drew laughs.

“I like sex. Now,” I throw back at him. “Santo does this thing with his fingers…” I let my sentence trail off when my best friend looks like he might actually vomit. “If you don’t want to hear about it, then stop telling me about your whoring ways.”

“Fine. No more stories about my whoring ways,” he agrees.

After ten minutes without Santo, I feel like I’ve reached my threshold. Drew has been doing his best to distract me and keep me engaged in conversation, but I can’t do it. I need to see my husband, just for a second. “I’m going to get a drink. You want anything?”

“Water would be great,” Drew says.

The moment I walk out, I make a beeline for Gio’s office. The door is closed when I get there and the guy standing guard knocks as soon as I approach. I hear footsteps and then the door opens. Gio smiles at me. “Aria, you okay?”

“I… ah… Is Santo in there?” I ask him.

Gio steps out of the doorway and Santo barges past him. “Hey, I was just coming to find you. I’m hungry. Let’s eat.” He takes my hand and leads me towards the kitchen.

The thing about Santo is… he doesn’t make me feel like I’m losing my mind when I need to be with him all the time. He doesn’t even bring it up. Instead, he’ll say things like he was just coming to find me. I know he wasn’t, but the fact he’s willing to do that for me means the world. He’s completely fine with me using him as a security blanket. I’m sure it’ll get old soon. No one wants to be around the same person that much. I know he has work to do as well. I shouldn’t be interrupting him, but I can’t function without him right now.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper as Santo guides me into the kitchen.

“For what?” he asks me.

“For coming to find you again,” I say. “For interrupting you. For needing you all the time.”

“You needing me is not something you ever have to apologise for, darling. That’s literally in my job title as husband. And if you ever need me, I want you to come and find me.”

“I don’t know why I’m so scared all the time,” I tell him.

“Because you have a fucking psychopath trying to shoot you. You should be scared. Fear isn’t a bad thing. But I promise I am going to do everything I can to make sure that nothing ever happens to you.” Santo lets go of my hand and opens the fridge. “What do you want to eat?”

“I’m not hungry,” I tell him.

“You sure? I can make you something,” he offers.

“I’m sure. I have to bring Drew a water. Can you come and see me in a few?” I want to try to separate from Santo more. I want to be able to walk around the house without needing my husband to chaperone me.

“Sure.” Santo smiles and kisses my forehead before handing me a bottle of water.

I make my way back into the guest room. It’s on the ground floor so Drew doesn’t have to walk up the stairs. “I got you water.”

“You see him?” Drew asks.

“Who?” Once again, I play dumb. And once again, it doesn’t work. He knows me too well.

“Your husband.” Drew raises a single brow at me in question, and I shrug.

“I ran into him in the hall.”

“Okay, I have an idea. Would you rather?” Drew asks. “Would you rather eat a cockroach or a butterfly?”

“Gross. Neither.”

“Nope, you gotta choose. That’s how the game works,” he tells me.

“Fine. A butterfly. My stomach is filled with them enough these days anyway.” I smirk. “Would you rather never have sex again or have your dick cut off?”

“I quit. I’m not playing this game anymore,” Drew says.

“Nope. It’s the rules. You have to answer,” I remind him.

“Fine. Never have sex again. Because at least I’d have my dick and I could still get oral.” He smiles like he’s found a loophole. “Would you rather play this game with me or go and find your husband?”

“Ah…” I don’t want to hurt my best friend’s feelings by answering honestly. “I plead the Fifth.”

“That’s not a thing here, and you have to answer, Aria,” Drew says.

“Find my husband. Because this game sucks.”

“Then go and find him. I’m gonna get some sleep and you hanging around is keeping me awake.”

“Are you sure? I want to be here for you, Drew. I feel horrible.” I sigh.

“You are here, Aria, but I really do want to sleep. So please go and pester your husband for a few hours.” Drew waves a hand towards the door.

“Okay, but I’ll be back. Get some good rest and try not to dream about your dick rotting and falling off from disease,” I tell him.

“Cruel, you are so fucking cruel,” he grunts.

“I aim to please.” I laugh and walk out the door, only to run smack-bang into Santo.