CHAPTER 63 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
“DID YOU KNOW he would do this, Arianna?” Maria stabs her finger at the newspaper article. “You did, didn’t you? Was this what it was all about?”
Horrified, I watch Maria pace around the bedroom, pulling at her hair, her beautiful face twisted with anger, which clashes with the tears flowing down her cheeks. I’ve never seen her like this before.
She spins around - a manicured nail pointing in my face. “You killed Matteo just to take over?”
Jumping up from the edge of the bed, I grab her shoulders.
“Stop this!” I yell. “You’re hysterical.
You don’t know what you’re saying! Of course I didn’t know Papà would hand his business to me until he said so yesterday.
Even then, I didn’t think he’d actually do it.
That never happens - ever. Not to a woman. You as well as I know that.”
“Then why has he done it?” Maria’s eyes blaze with what I can only describe as craziness.
“I have no idea. You also know why I killed Matteo. He was dangerous and unhinged. Nothing else. How do you still not accept that, Maria?”
Like a flicked switch, the burning rage drains out of my sister, her face morphing back to the confused innocence she always wears, leaving her bewildered.
“I... I don’t know why I said that... Oh, Christ!
” With her face in her hands, she sinks back down onto the bed, her shoulders jerking as silent sobs flood her body. “I think I’m going mad.”
I hover next to Maria, alternating between wanting to walk out of the room in disgust and the inbuilt urge to comfort her.
“I’m sorry.” Maria raises her head, her eyes searching mine. “I didn’t mean any of it. I-I think the shock of things has just hit me. I-I don’t know why I lash out at you.” Her brow knits lines on her smooth forehead. “I do accept about Matteo, really I do. I understand it all. I...”
“Okay, just calm down.” Sitting down next to Maria, I try to justify her outburst. “Do you want to see a doctor? I mean, if you’re worrying that...”
“No! No, I don’t. Please don’t make me. I just need some sleep and get my head straight. It’s all been too much.”
“Okay, okay,” I soothe. “No doctor.”
“What will you do with Papà’s firm?” Immediately forgetting her accusations, Maria changes the conversation. “Will he have nothing to do with his firm now? How will that work? What I mean is, how will it work with you... with you being a woman?”
I purse my lips. That’s something bothering me too, but I can’t let anyone know that. Even Red.
Pulling on my mask, I smile brightly. “I’m meeting the workforce for the first time as head this afternoon, and I’ll tell them what I expect. As for Papà - he’s retiring. I don’t know where to. I didn’t ask.”
Maria clutches the hem of my top. “Did... did they ask about me?”
I hesitate. Telling Maria that Papà or Mother did not mention her will only upset her further. “It wasn’t that kind of conversation. They weren’t in a good place.”
Maria looks up with further questions that I do not wish to answer behind her eyes. My heart sinks with despair.
“Arianna?”
The deep voice belonging to the man I love is just what I need to hear right now.
I get up from the bed and hurry to the door. Opening it, I slip through the gap onto the landing and press myself against Red’s chest. Feeling his beating heart against me is the boost I need from the cloying madness.
“Hey, what’s up?” Red holds me at arm’s length, his piercing eyes studying me with concern.
“Maria’s had another meltdown,” I whisper, not wanting her to hear, although I imagine she’s pressed up against the inside of the door for that very reason.
Standing on tiptoe, I press my lips against Red’s. “You coming here has made me feel all the better,” I smile, cheekily running my hand along his thigh. But my hand being so near, yet so far, doesn’t have the reaction I hope for.
“You might feel differently when you hear why I’ve interrupted you.”
Alarm bells clang inside me. “What’s happened? I’m not due to speak to those men now, am I? Shit! Am I late?”
“No,” Red says quietly. “There’s two things: one I’ve received information about Luca Bristoni and secondly, I thought you’d want to know that I’ve been informed that Matteo’s funeral is tomorrow and your attendance is expected.”