25. Chapter 24
Arianna
When I looked in the mirror, I was glad that Leyla had picked out my dress for today and not my mother. Perks of being a Givenchy now.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. I knew Ashley had a say in it too, or it probably would have been a party dress instead of something tasteful but stylish. My father’s funeral wasn’t exactly a sad affair for most of us.
The bottom layer was a plain black silk spaghetti strap dress that fell to my knees, but on top of it was a layer of black lace that came all the way up to my neck and had long sleeves.
Simple black heels on my feet, sunglasses on my eyes so it looked like I was trying to cover my tears and I was ready to go.
All of the Givenchy men were waiting in the foyer when I arrived, dressed in black suits. Tucker pulled me to him and pressed a kiss to my temple. “You ready?”
I gave him a nod and we headed out to the cars. Alessandro and my mother would arrive together, and I would arrive with the Givenchy’s since I was now part of their family. “Where’s Sandro and my mother?”
Zephyr nodded towards the door. “They’re already in their car.”
The drive to the church was silent, but I took comfort in Tucker’s hand in mine.
Today would be exhausting, trying to act appropriately upset, but not so upset that it showed weakness.
Add that in with the fact that Valentina Accardi would be there, making her first appearance as my brother’s fiancée, I knew that I was going to need the man that had become my rock.
When the car stopped in front of the church, Tucker and I got out at the same time as Sandro and my mother. The four of us would walk in together, then the others would start coming in.
My mother, of course, had gone completely over the top.
She wore a satin black dress that fell mid-calf, that had a cape of sorts on the back of it that came around to the front, barely showing her arms. Arms that were covered finger to elbow in black satin gloves.
To top it all off, there was a huge black hat on her head with a black veil covering her face.
When Sandro’s eyes met mine, I knew we were thinking the same thing. This woman was the queen of drama.
The sanctuary was empty other than the coffin at the front of the aisle holding my father.
It was an open casket funeral so that everyone could pay their respects, and probably make sure he was actually dead.
You would think that seeing the man that raised me laying there, knowing I was the reason he was there, would have affected me.
You would think that I would have felt at least a modicum of guilt.
But I didn’t.
I was the woman he’d raised me to be. Cold-hearted and unaffected.
People started filing in and we stood at the front of the church accepting condolences for what felt like forever. Tucker’s arm stayed glued to my waist the whole time, much like Sandro’s did to Valentina’s once she’d arrived.
I had to give it to the girl. She’d been told about her engagement less than twenty-four hours ago, an engagement to a man she hated, but there she stood, looking every bit the heartbroken future daughter-in-law.
When the service started, I was glad to be able to take our seats.
Everyone’s eyes would now be on the pastor and casket and off of me.
The priest spoke of my father as if he were a clergyman instead of the head of a crime family.
Tucker squeezed my shoulder and I bit my cheek to keep from laughing when the man said my father was looking down on us today.
If anything, he was looking up. If there actually was heaven and hell, there was no doubt to anyone in this room which one my father would be in.
The graveside service wasn’t any better.
Thankfully, the priest didn’t talk for long, but as soon as my mom sat a rose on top of the casket, she fell to the ground in hysterics.
Sandro’s jaw ticked, and that’s all it took for Marco to head to my mother, pick her up off the ground, and whisper in her ear. Probably a threat.
Finally, it was time to head back to the estate.
Only one more night to survive, then we could go back to Crestwood.
I was sitting off in the corner of the grand hall where we were hosting the bereavement cocktail hour when Valentina decided to sit next to me and ruin the peace I’d found. “Arianna. I would say it’s good to see you, but I don’t much care for lying.”
This bitch. “Then please, feel free to get the fuck out of my space. You came to me, after all.” She rolled her eyes and huffed as she crossed her arms and leaned back. “Careful, Tina, your mask is slipping and people can see.”
Valentina hated being called Tina, which was why I’d always addressed her that way.
Two could play her bitchy game. She must have believed what I said though because she uncrossed her arms and sat up straight again.
“I might not like you, but you’re the only person that can understand what I’m going through right now, and I needed someone to vent to. ”
I might not have liked the woman either, but I could understand what it was like to have the men in your life make your decisions for you. She was also going to be my sister-in-law soon, so we might as well try to figure our shit out for the good of the family.
“Not here. The walls have ears. Follow me.” I stood and headed to where Tucker was talking to his father and uncles. When I approached he smiled, pulling me to his side and pressing a kiss to my temple. “I’m going to head upstairs for a little bit.”
His brow furrowed. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, leaning closer to whisper in his ear. “Valentina and I need somewhere to talk in private.”
Tucker gave me a nod and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “Of course. Christian will be out in the hall, with other security if you need anything.” His eyes flicked to Valentina, then back to mine.
I was more than capable of handling this bitch if need be, but since we’d agreed I wouldn’t murder anyone again without consulting him first, I chose to take it as a reminder of that agreement instead of him insulting my abilities.
Neither one of us said a word until we were in mine and Tucker’s room with the door closed. “Let’s sit on the couches.” I gestured for her to lead the way. “There are devices in here that deactivate any cameras and mics so it’s safe to talk in here.”
She grinned and leaned back on the couch getting comfortable.
“I might have to invest in some of those myself. But… Why are you concerned? Your brother’s in charge now, not your father.
I’d think that would make you feel safer.
” Valentina fidgeted with her necklace. “The twins assured me Alessandro isn’t like our fathers. Were they wrong?”
Her eyes held so much vulnerability when she looked up at me that I almost forgot all the shit between us.
“They’re not wrong. Sandro is a good man.
But he just took over the family. We all know that there are bumps in the road when power changes hands.
It will take him a little time to make sure all the guys that were uber loyal to my father are just as loyal to him. ”
She nodded and looked back down at her hands.
“Makes sense.” We sat in silence for a bit before she finally sighed and got to it.
“I don’t think I can do this. I mean, I always knew I’d have to marry whoever my father chose for me, and from what L swears, Sandro will be a good husband.
It’s probably more than I could have asked for.
But now that it’s reality,” her eyes met mine and I saw tears pooling there, “I’m fucking terrified. How do you make it look so easy?”
I bit my tongue to keep the bitchy remark inside.
“Our situations are fairly different because I’ve known I’d marry Tuck since I was nine.
I’ve spent the last three years living in Crestwood getting to fall in love with him.
I’ve seen the side of him others don’t get to see.
But all you know of my brother is the asshole he was to you, and the image he shows the world.
And honestly, it’s probably going to be hard to get to know him because he’s in a shitty spot right now, having to make sure all his men stay loyal and no other family decides to get any crazy ideas. ”
She chuckled but there was no humor in it. “I’ll be expected to fuck him on the wedding night and probably every night after until I’m pregnant. How am I supposed to do that with someone I don’t even know?”
“At least he won’t demand that your consummation be witnessed.” Her wide eyes snapped back to mine. “Yeah. My father wanted it witnessed. Even demanded verification that he came inside me.”
“Holy fuck. He really was a sick son of a bitch.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. I don’t know that anyone is really sad he’s gone. Well, except for his lackeys that benefited from his ways.”
“I’m not a virgin.” She let out a deep breath like that secret had been weighing her down.
“Does anyone else know that?”
She shook her head. Telling me that was a dangerous move for her.
If I outed her secret, her entire world would come crumbling down.
My brother could reject the contract, and her father wouldn’t be able to find a better one.
It could lead to her being married off to one of her father’s sickest men as punishment for taking away her precious hymen.
Men seriously pissed me the fuck off sometimes.
It was that thought that made me decide to drop this hatred I had for her, and instead of ruining her life, I was going to make an ally.
“Everyone thinks I might be pregnant since my father was demanding an heir and Tuck had to cum in me in front of people on our wedding night. But I took a Plan B pill on the way to our honeymoon and he’s been using condoms since.
” When her eyes connected with mine, I shrugged.
“We’re about to be sisters. You’re going to be a Vitale. That means we have each other's backs.”