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“How is this my fault? I wasn’t even there!”
“Everything you touch goes to shit.” I release him and watch as he wobbles to make my point. “You can’t even fucking stand up on your own feet.”
“I—” His words fall flat.
“You had one fucking job. One place to manage. To think you actually had the confidence to tell me you were ready for more. Shit like this always happens when you’re around,” I grit out.
Dario’s gaze is pinned to the floor and I can tell he’s doing it to mostly focus on remaining upright.
“You’ll never clean up your shit, Dario. You’ll never manage business when you can’t even look after yourself. You bitch and complain about having a babysitter? This is why. Pack your shit, you’re returning to Italy with Ivan.”
“Luca, please. This is home to me,” Dario says so quietly it reminds me of when he was a sniffling child. The times I’d protect him and step in for him. But we weren’t fucking kids anymore.
“No, Dario. Any place with a bottle of liquor can be your home.”
I step out before I kill my own brother. Lorenzo is only a few steps behind me. “We’ve obtained the footage sir from the Amor club.”
“Show me,” I say as I put my phone to my ear and call Ivan. He answers on the second dial. “I want you back in New York immediately. You’ll be taking Dario to Italy with you.”
“What ha—” I hang up on him.
I take the front steps two at a time walking toward the car. Then I come to a sudden stop as I look out over the long driveway and a realization snaps into place. Ivan was a former hound and although we already intended to press him for information when he returned regarding the cargo, another thought dawns.
Ara says she wants some kind of proof of her father’s betrayal. It never quite felt right. As if it were a mirror concealing truth. Wouldn’t she want the man who had killed her mother? A hound? Revenge?
“Sir?” Lorenzo looks at me from the car. Ara isn’t looking for answers, I realize. She’s after cold blooded murder. The corner of my mouth raises. My little viper is willing to stop at nothing to get it.
“Show me the footage.”
48
ARA
“Did you hear one of the Armani clubs burnt to the ground?” a guest whispers. “The police have announced they’re looking further into the matter but it looks like a fault in the kitchen. It’s just so good to hear no one was hurt.”
“Isn’t that Arabella Barone. Wasn’t something happening between her and Luca Armani, so why is she here with Leigh Sloan?”
I’m not surprised people are asking why I am with the new socialite in our circles. My father had narrowed down the matchmaking choice for me. I’m smiling as the photographer takes a photo of Lily and me. Once the photo is taken Lily whispers in my ear, “They’re not even trying to be discreet.”
“It’s as expected.” I say obnoxiously loud. “People hate it when they can’t receive the attention they’re after. I wonder how many years it’s been that Luca hasn’t paid them a second glance.”
Lily chokes, shocked. The two sisters behind us snarl and leave rather uppity.
“Besides today should focus on Sienna and Michael’s engagement,” I say saluting my glass of champagne in the air. Lily clanks hers with mine in agreeance, trying to hide her giggle from the sister’s reactions.
Sienna’s family mansion is beautiful and surrounded by stunning, well-maintained exotic gardens. The two newly engaged lovebirds look ecstatic as they receive everyone’s warm congratulations.
My care factor is wavering and I am on edge. I’d taken a gamble. Burning one of Luca Armani’s clubs might be the stupidest thing I’ve done yet. However, it may have very well gotten the reaction I was hoping for because only two hours after the blaze Luca returned to the family mansion no doubt to confront Dario. Their relationship was thin and faltering and my conscience reminded me how shitty it was to play on that. I never said I was a nice person and Luca would do the same to me. No he’d do worse. Hopefully he’d summon Ivan back to deal with his brother and return to Italy himself as well. If not, I’d find another way.
My time is already ticking. I look across at Leigh Sloan. The “ideal” suitor of the options Elanee Lane gave me. My father made it abundantly clear I was to attend the engagement party with him and so we were forced into an uncomfortable first date. I’d come so close to my end game I wasn’t willing to dispute my father. Yet. I could handle one measly date for the time being.
“I still can’t believe they’re engaged. They look so happy together,” Lily says as she glances in their direction starry eyed. “I want that.”
“Being confined into a marriage where you’ll yet again be told what to do?” I ask. I regret it immediately. My mask is slipping. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“Hey. You never really explained what happened on the balcony at the event between you and Luca? Did you guys break up?”
“We were never a thing,” I grit. “I don’t like my father forcing me into going on dates to fulfill what he thinks is fitting for me.”
