A Sinner’s Truth: Chapter 20

I wake up alone. I shouldn’t be surprised. I went to sleep alone. I don’t know where Santo disappeared to last night. Once I was locked away in his room, I wasn’t going to walk back out to that party.

Now, in the light of day, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. Santo was really passionate about me not returning to my father’s company. That said, I can’t sit around here all day and wait for my new husband to grace me with his presence either.

After showering, I throw on a light-blue blouse and a black pencil skirt. My hair is tied up into a high ponytail and I applied minimal makeup. Enough that says I made an effort to look nice. I might not be working at my father’s company, but I do need to drop in. I can’t just disappear on the team I’ve been working so closely with. The right thing to do is to let them know I’m leaving, exchange goodbyes and everything. I can do that without running into my father.

It’s a good thing Santo isn’t here. I can get out of the house without him trying to dictate where I can and can’t go.

I pick up my phone and throw it into my purse. I should message Drew later and see if he wants to meet up for lunch. I grab my shoes and head downstairs as quietly as I can. As I pass one of the scary guys in suits, he says something into the sleeve of his jacket. I really need to take up Italian. I hate not knowing what people are saying about me.

“Aria, good morning. Great party last night, right?” One of Santo’s brothers stops in front of me—Gabe, I think.

“Ah, yeah, it was.”

“El is just about ready,” he tells me.

“Ready?” I question. “What is she ready for?”

“To take you to the showings. Santo asked her to give you a ride. He’s meeting you there.” Gabe tilts his head at me. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”

I shake my head. “Can you tell him I have other plans?” I try to step around Gabe, but he blocks my path.

“No, but you can.” He retrieves his phone from his pocket and dials a number. “Bro, your wife has other plans,” he says into the device, listening for a second or two before turning it towards me. “It’s for you.”

I roll my eyes and snatch the phone out of his hand. “Hello.”

“What plans do you have that are more important than finding our home?” Santo asks, his words slurring slightly.

“I have to go to the office. Are you drunk?” I ask him.

“No.”

“You sound like you are.”

“No, you’re not going to the office. Meet me at the first house with El. I’ll take you wherever you want to go afterwards. I don’t want you going anywhere alone,” he says.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Santo. And you can pick a house all on your own. I really don’t care where we live,” I tell him, because it’s temporary. Twelve months. After that, I’ll go back to my apartment. Back to my life.

“Meet me there. I need your help. Please.” There’s something about the way he says he needs me that has me pausing.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just… Meet me at the house,” he says and cuts the call.

I hand the phone back to Gabe, who gives me an incredulous look. “You’re good for him,” he tells me. “Underneath all that moody arsehole shit, he is a good guy.”

“I know. He’s one of the best people I know.” I’m not lying. I don’t know too many people who would have jumped in and helped me the way Santo did. Which is why, when he says he needs my help, I decide to ditch my plans to go to the office and meet up with him instead.

“I’m really sorry,” I tell Eloise. We’ve been waiting for Santo to show up for the last twenty minutes.

“Don’t apologise for him. Something probably came up.” She smiles at me.

“I know, but you’ve wasted your time.” I’m going to kill him. I’m embarrassed—and a little hurt that he told me he needed me when it’s clear he doesn’t need anyone but himself.

“I’m going to call Gio and see if he knows what’s up.” Eloise walks towards the front door with her phone to her ear. “He didn’t show.”

I can only hear one side of the conversation, though.

“Oh, shit. Never mind. He just pulled up. You, ah, might want to meet us here or send Gabe.” She hangs up and turns to me with a sympathetic look on her face.

“El, nice place.” Santo comes staggering through the front door. “There she is! My wife. Honey, I’m home.” He holds out his arms while laughing at his own joke.

“What are you doing?” I ask, refusing to move from my spot.

“Don’t be like that,” he slurs and walks towards me before pulling me against his chest. He smells like a bar.

“How much have you had to drink?” I ask him.

“Enough.” He shrugs. “I had to see her.”

“See who?” My brows furrow.

“Shelli. I had to see her and tell her what I did. What we did.” He whispers that last part.

He got drunk so he could talk to his dead fiancée? Okay, maybe he’s a little more lost in his grief than I originally thought.

“So, sissy, show me around. Does my wife love the place? Because you know what they say: Happy wife, happy life! Although it should probably be: Alive wife, happy life. Am I right?” Santo walks farther into the house.

“I’m sorry,” El mouths to me.

“I should be the one apologising to you,” I tell her. “I’ll try to get him out. You don’t need to deal with this.”

“Gio will be here soon,” she says.

“How often does this happen?” I ask her. I don’t know much about Santo. What I do know is that my heart is hurting for him right now. I understand his grief and his guilt, and I get why he’d feel the need to talk to Shelli. He thinks he’s wronged her in some way by fooling around with me.

“Holy shit, Aria, have you seen this kitchen? It’s insane!” Santo yells out.

“I’ve seen it,” I call back while heading in that direction. I find him standing in the middle of the room.

“Do you want this house?” he asks me.

“Do you?”

“It’s just a house,” he says.

“It’s a house, yes. But it’s the occupants who make it a home,” I tell him.

“Oh, that’s a good line. I’m stealing that one,” Eloise says. “Santo, you need coffee.” She walks towards the coffee machine.

“I don’t need coffee. I need to dance.” He stalks forward, his arms close around my waist, and he picks me up. I squeal as my feet leave the floor and he spins us around.

“Oh my god, stop. Put me down!” I tell him.

“We didn’t have a first dance,” he says.

“Those things are usually skipped when you elope.”

“You should have a big wedding. You’re going to make a very pretty bride one day.” Santo cups my cheeks. I blink up at him. He is the most beautifully broken man I’ve ever seen. His eyes are so dark they’re almost black as they stare back at me with an emotion I’ve never seen on his face before.

“Santo, what’s going on?” Gio’s voice interrupts our moment.

“Bro, I know you’re going to miss me, but we’re moving out,” Santo tells him.

“You’re moving out?”

“Yep. Me and Aria. She’s my wife,” Santo says, while swaying on his feet.

“So I’ve heard. Come on, mate. There’s a job I need you to help me with.” Gio holds out an arm towards the front of the house.

“Thanks for coming.” Eloise kisses her husband briefly on the lips.

“If you call, I come.” He winks at her, and she blushes.

“Aria, you mind going home with El?” Santo asks me. “I’d drive, but… well, I can’t.” He laughs.

“Sure,” I tell him.

Gio grabs Santo by the arm. “Let’s go,” he says before dragging his brother out of the house.

“He’s not going to…” I let my sentence drop off.

“He’ll be fine. Gio will talk to him. They’re all very close, the brothers,” Eloise tells me something I already know.

I just feel like I’m failing him. He’s done all of this to help me, and what have I done for him in return? Nothing. Except add guilt to the pile of grief he’s drowning in.