CHAPTER 59 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
THERE IS NOT ONE SHRED of nervousness within me. I thought facing my father after what happened would be uncomfortable, but there isn’t a piece of Arianna Galvatore left now. I am Arianna Bateman - a different person.
The hold everyone once had of me, how they controlled my every move, each of my thoughts, even my guilt - no longer exists on this earth. And I’m glad about that.
I didn’t know what to expect when Red told me Papà had requested a meeting - and a meeting with me, not him. But whatever I expected wasn’t this.
I stand at Red’s side in my father’s office facing the man I’ve spent my life trying to make proud. My mother is here too. I haven’t heard from or seen since I left, and I barely recognize her.
The raised dais my father seats his desk on to give the illusion of extra height and power no longer works. All I see is two old, broken and shriveled people.
No one speaks, so I guess it will be me. “I am here at your request, so what is it you wish to see me about?”
Papà clears his throat, looks at me and then at Red. He motions to a metal chest in the corner of the room. “I suppose I should thank you for returning my son’s body to bury him, but I don’t feel much like thanking you at present.”
I don’t frown, and neither does Red, but my eyes move to the chest. Matteo is in there?
Perhaps I should recoil with this knowledge, but I don’t. I feel nothing, not even when my mother starts quietly sobbing.
“I can’t claim to be responsible for returning his body, Mr Galvatore,” Red replies coldly. “I wouldn’t have bothered.”
Papà flinches at this, and my mother’s sobs grow louder.
“The property where Matteo and Luca set up their pureblood order was empty and cleared when we last checked. However, it was not cleared by us.” I fold my arms, the action deflecting the tiny pool of guilt prodding at my mother’s anguish. “Do you know who else could have returned the body to you?”
“Have you no shame, Arianna?” My mother suddenly comes to life and stares at me with haunted eyes. “You allowed your brother - my beautiful son to be murdered and then ask if we know who returned him in order to further your husband’s firm? It had to be you or rather, your him.”
She spits the words, but there’s nothing she can say to make me regret a thing. She’s also wrong.
“Vittoria.” Papà lays his hand on my mother’s arm to silence her.
“Red has already told you that we did not return Matteo’s body. What is difficult to understand?”
Papà shakes his head. “Your mother... She hasn’t taken this well.”
He runs his hand over his chin, and I notice his usual impeccable, cleanly shaved face is peppered with patchy gray stubble. He’s aged overnight.
He raises his eyes, the default harshness replaced with exhaustion.
“I did what you asked and canceled the wedding. Although I expected that there...” His eyes track to the metal chest. “...there would be an altercation... well, it’s still difficult.
If you were not behind returning Matteo to us, then I can only think it must be other members of this. .. this ‘order’.”
“The order that you not do not believe in or refuse to admit you’re part of?”
“Arianna!” Red’s hand is on my arm, but I won’t be quietened. Not this time.
“I’m sure you’re aware that when we returned from seeing you the other day, we then had to rescue Maria from Matteo?
” I bark, ignoring my mother’s head snapping up at my words.
“She was drugged and tethered the same way I was, but unfortunately for you, she’s safe now and won’t be partaking in your pureblood scheme. ”
Red’s grip on my arm tightens, and it’s only when I focus on my father I realize why.
A lone tear runs down the length of his weathered face. “I wasn’t involved in Matteo’s ‘vision’,” Papà speaks quietly, his voice choked. “Had I known...”
“You did know because I told you! Believing what I said might have been a start! If you’d believed me, then...”
“I understand Matteo had to die.” Papà’s gaze shifts to Red.
“I know you had to kill my son, Mr Bateman. I wish there was not the need but appreciate it was unavoidable. I regret my son’s actions.
Had I known...” He clears his throat. “I also regret that I cannot help you with who these other members may be as I do not know them.”
Red nods. “I’ve wanted to kill your son for a very long time, Mr Galvatore, however, it was not me.”
My heart thumps. Red is handing me the accolade if I want to take it? And I do. “It was me who killed Matteo, Papà. I killed him.”
My mother’s intake of breath overshadows that of my father’s. There’s a moment of silence before he speaks.
“It seems I have underestimated you on many levels, bambolotta, and for that, I am sorry. But I am not sorry for what I’m about to do now.”
I sense Red’s hand move to flank his inside pocket where his pistol sits. Has my own father arranged this meeting as a means of setting up our execution?
I force myself not to look over my shoulder for men bursting through the door, their guns aimed at our heads. Instead, my eyes lock on Papà as he picks up a piece of thick paper from his desk and holds it out.
“What is that?” My voice wavers, betraying my retreating panic.
“This...” He unfolds the paper and holds it up to me.
“...states that my business is now yours. I have signed it over to you, Arianna. I am done here, and therefore, I would like you to take my remaining men, whatever is left of my empire and anything else you need and put it to whatever use you require to ensure no pureblood sect operates under my banner. Or anyone else’s, come to think of it. ”