Page 125 of Sinner's Vows

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

I set up a call with all my brothers in an hour’s time and then lead her to the shower where we wash off the morning’s business. I take time to wash her with tenderness, take care of her, and when she breaks down in my arms after a shattering orgasm, I hug her to me.

“I’m just so tired,” she whispers against my neck, trying to find any excuse for the emotional turmoil she still cares to hide.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. We’ll be home soon, and then, you can rest.” Her ordeal doesn’t only include the events this morning. She probably has to go back to the day her mom died, and I will be there for her, every step of the way.

Once we’re dressed again, I set up my laptop and start the online call.

Ariana reaches for my hand just before I let in my brothers, who have all already dialed in and are waiting for me to connect them.

“Please, don’t tell them about this morning.”

“I won’t. We work on a need-to-know basis, and this morning stays with us.” This is how it starts, all these secrets…

She nods, and I squeeze her hand. When she squeezes back, I finally let the others into the call, and within seconds, my brothers’ faces fill the screen. From their background images, Luca and Benedict are in Matteo’s office. Steph is sitting on a verandah I don’t recognize—he’s recently arrived at the Trapanis’ house in Lake Como.

Well, this is one way to break it to the others that Matteo is Randazzo’s son. At least Matteo isn’t alone and it’s better for this to come out sooner rather than later.

“So, I got the DNA tests back,” I start, then pause.

“And?” Matteo prods.

“Uhm, so, turns out Ariana is part of the family.”

At this, eyebrows all quirk up, and my brothers shoot each other glances.

“Fuck, is she one of the Don’s by-blows?” Matteo asks, shifting in his seat.

“She’s right here, Matteo,” I say, my tone suggesting that nobody even thinks of giving her a smidgen of disrespect. I prompt Ariana to get her face on the screen. “And no, turns out she’s one of Randazzo’s children…and your half-sister.”

I can hear a needle drop all the way across the Atlantic Ocean, in that fucking soundproof apartment of Matteo. In the shocked quiet, it’s somewhat eerie to see the color drain from his face.

“How long have you known, Matty?” I ask, trying to break the tension.

Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. I should have waited to do this in person, all of us together. A hand comes to rest on Matteo’s shoulder. It’s Benedict’s, and on his other shoulder, Luca’s.

“Fuck,” Matteo grunts as he drops his head back, dragging his fingers through his hair. “I had my first suspicions the day I met with Randazzo, but the Don confirmed it on the day he died.”

And this was probably another reason to kill the old man, because who wouldn’t be triggered to learn that years of abuse was at the hand of a man who wasn’t even your father? Fuck, I’d do it in a twitch.

“That doesn’t change anything,” Luca says, breaking the tension and confirming what I felt when I learned about Matteo’s parentage. “You know what they say, boys, teamwork makes the fucking dream work, and as far as I see, the family just got bigger. Welcome to the party, Ariana.”

Thank fuck for Luca. He might be a little shit, but sometimes, he’s so on point, it’s a relief.

“We’ll have to throw a welcome party once you’re home, Ariana,” Benedict adds. “I look forward to getting to know you.”

“Same here,” Stephano says. “We’ll get to see you soon. Gigi and Carla can’t wait to properly suss you out.”

Next to me, Ariana breaks into a small chuckle, but her eyes are glued to Matteo’s face on the screen, probably scanning his features for any that could match her own, or those of Randazzo, so she can tick off some family traits.

Matteo blows out a deep huff, and it’s dense with relief. “Welcome to the family, Ariana. We should do...we should do dinner or breakfast or something together once you’re back home.”

Oh, boy. Poor Matteo. He’s had enough mindfucks for a lifetime, and this in a few short months.

“I’ll email you the DNA test results, so you have it on hand.” I glance at the time. “It’s time to change her profile on the DIA site, Ben. Can you arrange that?” It would take the DIA some time to find Garlini’s body, and the sooner Ariana disappears forever, the better.

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