Page 51 of The Arianna Arrangement

He just shrugged. “Had a job to do. Probably wouldn’t have been out in the open if I’d known that not all the families had left yet, but what can you do?”

That was probably all I’d get from the guy, but honestly, it’s not like I wanted or needed more. He was a means to an end. A favor when I needed it the most. “We’re going to hop in the car with my security and head to a nearby diner and chat for a while. I don’t care if we spend the whole time talking about the weather, but we need to be seen doing what I said we were if one of the families decides to check cameras and see if I was telling the truth.”

He tipped his chin up in defiance. “What makes you think I’m going to do what you say? I could hop on my bike and head home and leave you to deal with the fallout of your choices.”

“You wouldn’t because of two reasons. One, there’s honor among thieves. You owe me for saving your life, something that MC’s don’t take lightly. Two, I might not officially be part of the Vitale family, but I’ve gone through the initiation and if you don’t do as I say, I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your skull.” He raised an eyebrow at me but didn’t say a word or move to do as I’d said. “All I would have to do is tell them you killed Don Vitale. They wouldn’t ask too many questions, but the ones they would ask, I’d have answers for.”

His jaw ticked. “You would think the system of anonymity that I’ve set up would be safer for both of us, but I guess somehow I’m at a disadvantage, not knowing you were the buyer, but you knowing I was the dealer.”

I shrugged. “Maybe don’t go around wearing your codename on your chest like a nametag at a class reunion.”

Much to my surprise, the guy laughed. Like, really laughed. “Alright. Fine. I’ll go to the diner with you. But you’re buying me dinner.”

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.”