Her face was composed, if a bit pinched at my tone. I was trying to keep my tone flat and even, but I suddenly wasn’t sure if I was pulling it off. I had no trouble with everyone else in the room, including my own husband, but this woman’s presence unnerved me to no end. Guess I could be dying tonight. Yay me.
In a controlled voice she responded back, “Of course. And do call me Aria.”
I was wondering if she didn’t really want me to call her that any more than I wanted her to call me by my first name so casually, but here we were.
She continued, “I haven’t seen you at a gathering in some time. Why is that?”
I shifted uneasily.
But then I heard a soft, but sweet tone come up beside her. “Back off cuz. She’s good people.”
I turned to the man who had approached us. He was extremely handsome, but looked like a player. He had beautifully tanned skin, sparkling green eyes, which looked unusual for an Italian like us. His hair was longer on top, and was slicked back tonight, perfectly. A little too perfect. He had a smirk on his face as he draped his arm across Aria’s shoulders. Wow, this man was brave. Putting his hands on Maximo Ruiz’s wife so casually in public. Though Maximo probably wouldn’t bother to try to say anything if Aria was anything like the rumors said of her.
“I’m Lorenzo Dominguez. Aria’s cousin. Nice to finally meet you in person, Sophie.” He smiled warmly at me, and nodded ever so slightly.
He turned and leaned in to whisper something to Aria, making her eyes begin to gleam at me.
Oh good grief. Here we go. She’s going to kill me. Well, it's been nice to be alive. Wait. No it hasn’t.
Aria spoke up next. “Ah. You are the one behind the Soulsecrets username.”
My eyes widened as I looked from her to Lorenzo. How did they know about my second, secret social media persona?
Lorenzo leaned in close and dropped his voice, “Nice to finally meet you in person ‘Soulsecrets’. I’m Geronimo.”
Oh my goodness! He is the hacker that I had been engaging with and helping me with my social media security for my second account. He walked around from Aria and came up to me, putting his arm around my shoulders, and squeezed.
Aria had a big grin on her face. “You’re right Lorenzo. She is definitely good people.”
Next thing I know, my sister is standing off to the side facing Aria, with her back slightly to me and Lorenzo. She attempted to greet Aria, but Aria shut that down real quick. Not only did she proceed to publicly call her out for sleeping with her husband, but told her in no uncertain terms not to approach me again. I was grateful for meeting Aria Ruiz tonight.
After my sister walked away, like her ass was on fire, I told Aria and Lorenzo about some of the basics of what I had experienced with my father and sister. None of the beatings, per se, but the behavior of me being the unwanted and unseen daughter.
Lorenzo had grunted and muttered, “I know there’s more to your story then you’re telling us, but we’ll leave it at that.”
I had looked at him, as he looked down at me, and smiled softly. “You are in our circle now, Sophie. No one will hurt you again.”
I felt myself flush.
Aria grinned wickedly. “I wouldn’t mind if they tried. Would give me something to do.” She winked at me, causing a laugh to bubble up out of me.
Lorenzo spoke up softly before Maximo and Dominic reached us. “Welcome to the family, Sophie.”
And for the first time in a very long time, I felt like I belonged.
Chapter 5
Dom’s POV
After the night of the gala, Sophie and I went back to the same avoidance routine. Not for a lack of trying on my part. I attempted to “run into her” at random moments when I thought I could get her with her guard down. But her wall was impenetrable. At least, by me. I would overhear her talking unguardedly with Mrs. Fancelli occasionally, when I would just happen to walk into the kitchen. She would lock down hard, her expression blank as usual, her body rigid. She had apparently mastered that wall well at her childhood home.
I had learned she had also become quite comfortable with the estate’s head gardener, Felipe. He was an older gentleman, in his early sixties. I would catch her talking and laughing with him while she watched him work around one of the flower beds near the lounge area on the open patio. Felipe would tease her and she would respond back in kind.
I was still trying to determine if she was hiding something from me, had her own plans for not fighting more with the arrangement. But I had an opportunity present itself that would allow for me to find out more of my wife’s intentions. Or so I hoped.
A month after the gala, I called Marco to my office. I had a mission for him, that would include my wife. Marco sauntered in as he usually did and stood alert.
“Yes Boss?”
