Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Idropped Zara off, again at the front gates because she didn’t want me driving up to the actual house. She seemed distant, drained. I wish I could have just taken her home and kept her with me. I’m sure if I tried to do that, I’d have her father banging down my door looking for her in no time.
The last thing I need is to piss off Dominic McKinley any more than I already have. He’s my uncle’s best friend, and one of the wealthiest men in the country. I’m sure if he really wanted me out of Zara’s life, he’d have means to make that happen, despite who my family is.
I’d take the risk for her, though. If she wanted to stay with me, I’d find a way to make that happen too. Luckily, I have reasonable parents who will do anything to help us. Although my dad has his reservations about my relationship with Zara, he’s still going to be supportive of my choice.
As I pull into the driveway, I groan, almost wishing I’d stayed out longer. There are cars lined up. All belonging to my uncles. Why is everyone here? I swear this family is too fucking close to each other sometimes.
I walk inside and it’s utter chaos, loud, and not what I want to be trapped into dealing with right now. I make a right turn and jog upstairs before anyone can see that I’m here. Cara’s bedroom door is open.
Peeking my head inside, I find her sitting on her bed. “Hey, how was school?” I ask her.
“It was okay. Lots of pretentious rich girls like Zara said there would be.”
“You’re a rich girl too. Don’t let them intimidate you.”
“I’m a De Bellis. They all look scared of me as soon as they hear my name.”
“Good, as they should be,” I tell her.
“Where have you been? Didn’t you hear? There’s a family gathering happening today.”
“Any idea why?”
“Nope, I haven’t ventured down yet.”
“You two need to get downstairs and say hello to everyone. Don’t think I don’t know you’re hiding away up here,” my mum says, stopping in Cara’s doorway.
“I just got home,” I tell her.
“I know,” Mum replies. “Downstairs, now. Both of you.”
“Be right there,” Cara says.
I nod, but don’t bother responding.
When my mum’s footsteps die off, Cara looks at me. “They’re all going to ask why I’m back.”
“You know you should just tell them. They’re not going to think any differently of you, Cara.”
“Yes they are,” she says.
“I don’t and I know,” I remind her.
“It’s not the same. I could murder the Pope and you’d help me bury the body. You’re my ride or die, Ares.”
“Always.” I smile. “I’m going to get changed.”
Shutting myself in my room, I pull out my phone and text Zara.
Me:
How are you?
Zara:
I’m good. You don’t need to check up on me every five minutes.
Me:
All the family is here. It’s loud and I’d rather be talking to you than any of them.
Zara:
I have to go. My mum has guests over too. I’m expected to play the role at their dinner party.
Me:
What role?
Zara:
The perfect daughter, the one who doesn’t run off and marry a mafia prince.
Me:
You want to?
Zara:
Want to what?
Me:
Run off and marry a mafia prince. You’re eighteen soon. We could make that happen.
Zara:
Are you proposing to me, Ares?
Fuck, is that what I just did? I didn’t think that through at all.
Me:
Just here to grant your wishes, P.
Zara:
I want a proper wedding when I get married. And a proper romantic proposal when I’m older.
Me:
Noted.
“Heard you had fun at the distillery the other day,” Aurelio says as he hands me a glass filled with Cinque.
“If that’s your idea of fun, sure.” I shrug.
Aurelio is my Uncle Gio’s oldest son and is set to take over as boss one day. Which means he’ll be my boss one day.
“I heard you got your ass handed to you by some billionaire in Vegas.” I smirk at him. Because knowing my cousin, the fact the news of his Vegas trip got back to me already and that he got his ass beat by some rich guy is going to piss him off.
“Where the fuck did you hear that?” he grunts.
“Roman,” I tell him.
“Roman has a big fucking mouth. I heard you’re shacking up with little Zara McKinley. Bit above your paygrade there, little cousin,” Aurelio says.
“Roman does have a big fucking mouth,” I grumble.
“You sure you want to get involved with a McKinley?”
“What’s wrong with Zara?” I glare at my cousin, daring him to say one negative thing about the girl.
“Nothing, other than the fact she’s in the public eye a lot. That’s not great for our family,” he says.
“I know.” I don’t care, though.
I don’t say that part, because it’s not as if I don’t care about my family. I do. I just don’t care that Zara’s life doesn’t exactly fit with mine. I’ll figure it out. We’ll figure it out. We’re young and have so much time to work out the realities of what it will be like for us to be together.
“It’s not as if the family doesn’t make the news every now and again,” I tell my cousin. “The Cinque brand is worldwide. We’re not out of the public eye either.”
“Yeah, but we’re not on their level of wealth.”
“So it’s a money thing? Does her money intimidate you?” I counter.
“No.” Aurelio laughs. “But she will never need you for anything. She’s going to be able to do everything on her own.”
He’s wrong. Money can’t buy the stuff Zara needs me for.
“I don’t need a woman to need me. What the fuck is wrong with you?
It’s the twenty-first century. Women don’t need to depend on a man.
Is that how you see Daniella, waiting to find a husband to support her and give her everything she needs?
” I throw the question back at him, using his sister as an example.
“Fuck no. Not like that. It’s just… different. Forget I said anything.”
“Don’t worry, I will. Thanks for the drink.” I walk out of the living room and head outside. Sitting on the top step of the back veranda. Sometimes my cousins are fucking stupid for how smart they’re supposed to be.
The sun is just going down. It’s not cool yet, but also not hot out. I bring the glass to my lips and take a sip, savouring the clean smoothness of the whiskey going down my throat.
“How’d the appointment go?” My dad sits down next to me.
“I think it will be good for her,” I tell him.
“How are you?” he asks.
“I’m not the one with issues.”
“No, you’re the one carrying the burden of trying to fix someone else’s issues, Ares. That can take a toll on a person.”
“I’m fine. Caring about her isn’t a hardship.”
“Good.”
“Her father forbade her from talking to me,” I say.
“He what? I never liked that fucking asshole,” Dad grunts.
“What asshole?” Uncle Marcel steps out on to the veranda.
“Your best mate, Dom,” Dad explains.
“What he do now?”
“Forbade Zara from talking to Ares. He should be glad she’s got fucking good taste in men,” Dad says.
“You and Zara?” Uncle Marcel steps down to the second step and turns to glare at me.
“Me and Zara.” I nod.
“You can’t fuck with her, Ares. You’re either all in, or you’re not in at all. She’s family.”
“I’m not sure how many times I need to remind you that I’m your family. Flesh and blood and everything.” I smirk. “Isn’t it me you should be sticking up for here?”
I’m joking. I don’t hate that Zara has people in her corner. I wish they all weren’t so fucking blind to her problems, though. Maybe if they weren’t, she would have got help a long time ago.
“I’m always on your team, Ares. I’ll have a word with Dom and see if I can get him to calm down a bit. It’s not easy for him to let go of his girls.”
“I get that. But friend or not, no one is going to look down on my son,” Dad says.
“It’s okay. Zara isn’t exactly following orders.” I chuckle. She isn’t a fan of following orders from anyone.