Page 68 of Souls and Sorrows

Annoyance at her biting tone drives into my chest, burrowing into my heart. I grit my teeth, swallowing down a scathing reply, if only because I don’t really want to head down that road with Ariana standing here.

My interest in the Riccis extends beyond an obvious attraction to the middle daughter; in fact, when I learned last year that Lenny and Elena had become friends because of proxy in company and location, I made it a point to crash every one of their outings together as I attempted to learn more about Ricci Inc.

I wanted to know the ins and outs of the company before I inevitably went for its throat.

Elena seemed to think my fixation was one of genuine curiosity or perhaps even some sort of legal study. And since she was the reason the company went under and her father was arrested in the first place, she wasn’t unwilling to spill some of its secrets.

Still, I didn’t really care for Ariana to find out about our shared history, if only because it makes me seem shady. Even though I’ve been pretty clear from the get-go what it is I want in this relationship.

The problem is, I’m starting to think the power isn’tallI want.

“I thought it might be nice to have my husband come with me to identify Papà’s body,” Ariana says, jutting her chin at her sister with a glare.

“Your husband? Good one.” Elena laughs, her breath puffing visibly in the air. When no one says anything, she laughs again and again, blinking rapidly before doubling over, cradling her stomach as she breaks into hysterics.

Ariana rolls her eyes, and I shift my weight on my feet, discomfort spreading through my abdomen.

Straightening out, Elena drags her index finger beneath one eye, like she’s wiping away a tear. She licks her lips, waiting for her sister to say something.

“It wasn’t a joke.” Ariana shrugs, pulling my coat closed tighter around her neck.

“Are you… are you serious?” Elena’s face contorts. “You’re fuckingmarried, and you didn’t think to tell anyone?”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that you’re more concerned about that than you are about Papà’s death?”

“No!” Elena shouts, stomping over so she’s just a couple of feet away from her sister. “Honestly, Ari, what the fuck? Papà was a given—I’m surprised I didn’t get a phone call about him sooner. But you? The last thing I knew was you were engaged to Vitus, and then I kept seeing him with these other girls, but you never answered my texts about it…”

Trailing off, she blows out a long breath, dropping her head.

When she looks back up, there are tears in her eyes, reflecting off the streetlights.

“What is going on with you?” she asks, lowering her voice so it’s little more than a soft breath of worry. “You didn’t used to be like this. You… you told me things.”

“People change, E. I’m sorry I can’t manage your expectations.”

Elena’s mouth falls open. “Well, you don’t have to be a bitch about it.”

“Fine, then don’t be a hypocrite. When you and Kal got married, you didn’t warn anyone beforehand. You just took off, and I had to learn from our parents, and at that point, there was no changing anything. You were in love, and you weren’t coming back for me.”

Ariana blinks, seeming to only just realize what she said.

What she revealed.

Even if I don’t know what they’re talking about, I feel a strange sense of protectiveness rear up inside of me, like a bubble expanding and sucking Ariana into it. I inch closer to her, willing to block out negativity from her sister if need be.

“I would’ve come back for you,” Elena says. “Every time. I just hadn’t—”

Waving her off, Ariana loops her arm through mine. “Well, now, you don’t have to.”

My throat constricts, and I have no fucking idea why.

Sadness overtakes Elena’s features, flushing her cheeks, but she seems to catch herself and remember why we’re all here. “So, Papà’s gone? Like, really gone?”

Ariana nods, digging her fingers into my arm.

Humming, Elena smacks her lips together. “Good riddance.”

My phone rings, and I take off to the side to pick it up, watching them interact without me. Their heads bend inward, not quite touching, and a conspiratorial smile lights up my wife’s face for the first time since all of this unfolded.

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