Page 55 of The Arianna Arrangement

Ari spluttered. “Um… excuse me? What about mine?”

I turned around as I reached the door and saw my wife hadn’t moved an inch. “It’s frustrating, isn’t it, being left out?” When the realization of what was going on hit her face, I should have felt some satisfaction, but I didn’t. I wasn’t this guy. Well, I didn’t want to be this guy but I was when I had to be. “I want us to be a team, Ari, but we never will be if you continue to leave me out of your plans and then try to distract me with sex to avoid letting me in. I love you, Vita Mia, but I won’t be a doormat. Don’t touch yourself, don’t get yourself off, and I’ll take that as a sign that you want this as much as I do. Otherwise,” I shrugged and turned back towards the door, “I guess we’ll be at a stalemate.”

Ari hadn’t said more than a couple of words to me since I walked out of our bedroom last night. Dinner was quiet, but no one seemed to catch on that there was trouble in paradise. We’d just laid Lucian to rest, and everyone else was too busy watching the tension between Sandro and Valentina to notice anything off with Ari or I.

My dad and uncles, however, had caught on. I saw them giving us side eyes as we emerged from our rooms for breakfast and then headed back to Crestwood.

Ari and I were alone in our vehicle, aside from security. My dad and uncles rode separately, but everyone was coming to my new house when we got back. They wanted to show me the security set up and talk about some business now that I was officially back and done with having to travel to New York.

Well, for now. I’d have to go back for Sandro’s wedding, and if I was a betting man, I’d say he would probably call on me a lot more than we’d anticipated me participating with the Vitale’s.

The car had barely come to a stop in the driveway before Ari was out and marching towards the house.

“Arianna, wait.” She stopped at the command of my father, not used to him telling her what to do. “I want you to meet the guards that are going to be manning the house so you know all of their faces.”

We’d already met the guys at the gate as they let us in. Sean told us their names and made sure we were able to get a good look at them. Now, a couple of other guys came out of the house and a couple came from around the corner.

“Diego and Aaron will be walking the property, keeping an eye out. Cole will also be in rotation for that as well, but he’s off duty right now and since he’s working the night shift, I didn’t want to disrupt his sleep.” Dad turned to the guys that had come out of the house. “This is Jonathan and Eric. They’re the ones that will work in the house, manning the security cameras. Eric is also your head of security. You’ll meet Dustin tonight when he comes in for the night shift.”

“Nice to meet you all.” I shook their hands and stepped back.

“If there is any change to the roster of guards at all, you’ll be notified by Eric before it happens. So if you see someone other than them, they shouldn’t be here and you need to get to the panic room and alert security. I’ll text you all of their contact information so you have it.”

Just as soon as my dad stopped talking, a car whipped in the drive and the front window rolled down to reveal Leyla. “Get in loser, we’re going shopping.”

Ari and Ley loved older movies, and the original Mean Girls was one of their favorites. For the first time since before Lucian’s funeral, a smile crossed Ari’s face and she dashed down the stairs to hop in my sister's ride.

Christain jumped into action, following behind her before she left without him. “Arianna.” My use of her full name had her turning to look at me, irritation written all over her face. “Do not sneak off and ditch your security. He stays where he can see you at all times. Understood?”

A devious grin crossed her face. “Okay. I’m sure he’ll love watching me try on new clothes. Maybe he’ll even help me with new lingerie.”

Leyla cackled from in the car, and as soon as Ari and Christian were in with the doors closed, she peeled out of the driveway.

She was really pushing my buttons right now.

“Trouble in paradise so soon?” Percy, always the shit stirrer, had a big grin on his face.

All of the Givenchy women were strong, independent women, but his wife, Sterling, was probably the most like Ari. She’d been raised under a firm hand but had somehow always kept her fighting spirit.

I sighed and we headed inside to my office. Even though it was my office, my father sat behind the desk, taking over the room like he did everywhere other than in New York. Dropping into the seat across from him, I decided to let them in on my troubles. “She keeps leaving me out of the loop. Doing things behind my back.” Atlas raised an eyebrow, probably getting the wrong impression by my words. “Nothing bad, but if I don’t know what she’s up to, how am I supposed to protect her?”

My dad and uncles all looked between each other before my dad finally spoke. “I won’t get involved in your marital issues, but if you want to vent or tell us things, we will listen. Also, if there are things she’s done she could need protection from, we should know.”

I didn’t want to tell them. I wanted Lucian’s death to be a secret that Ari and I took to our graves. But I also needed to brief them on Remanent and my favor from the Saintless Sons, and that would be difficult if I couldn’t give them a backstory. Plus, I knew they would circle the wagons to protect my wife if push came to shove. That’s what our family did.

So, with a deep sigh, I let it all out.

Chapter 26

Arianna

“Bitch, I’m so glad you’re back. I was worried we wouldn’t have time for a back to school shopping trip.” Leyla smiled at me as she whipped the car into the mall parking lot.

Leyla drove like she was running late for a date with death and I was honestly surprised her family let her drive anywhere. Though, they couldn’t really stop her. My bestie did whatever the fuck she wanted, whenever the fuck she wanted.

I smiled as we stepped out of the car, ready for some retail therapy. “No one is happier about me being back than me.”

Even though I’d done as Tucker said and hadn’t gotten myself off last night, he still hadn’t touched me. After supper we went to bed and… slept. It was anticlimatic as fuck and my ovaries were bluer than my husbands gorgeous eyes.