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I knew who was responsible.
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ALEX
I staredat the bouquets surrounding my mother’s casket, desperate for the funeral to end. How do you honor the life of a woman you hated? Not even my grandfather had a kind word to say about his daughter.
He stood at the pulpit and gave a bullshit speech after assisting the Salvatores with the murder of his daughter. Pops had supplied the Salvatores with the drug my mother used to kill Evangeline Franco.
Mommy Dearest had it coming to her. She killed a legend and ruined the lives of the Salvatores. All so she could satiate her jealousy and greed. My mom deserved to rot in Hell.
Arlo had insisted on a Catholic funeral mass, even though we never went to church. I hadn’t been inside a church since I’d received Communion. It surprised me that the place didn’t burst into flames with so many sinners gathered under one roof.
Before the funeral ended, I shot up from the front pew, sick of wearing these heels, this dress, tired of pretending to give a shit. I rushed through a side door on the right of the church. Of course, Luca followed me.
I snapped my head in his direction. “I’m relieved.” I blew out a deep breath. “Does that make me a shitty person?”
“No.” He sat beside me on the steps. “She was a horrible person. Your mother deserved worse than what she got.”
I nodded. “My dad’s going home after the funeral. At least I won’t have to see him again.”
Luca held me in his strong arms, wrapping me in his heavenly scent. I rested my head on his chest and sighed.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“For what?”
I glanced up at him. “I know you did this.”
“You are a part of me, Alexandrea Wellington.” He slipped his fingers through my hair. “When someone hurts you, they hurt me.”
“My mother hurt you, too.”
“She hurt many people,” he whispered.
“I love you, Luca.”
He smiled, and then he kissed me.
A few daysafter the funeral, I walked through the Wellington Architecture and Design front doors with Marcello. The company now belonged to Aiden and me, which was my grandfather’s plan from the start.
The front desk and even the waiting area were vacant. Aiden was meeting me at the office to learn about the business. It didn’t thrill him to take over for our parents. But I wouldn’t have much time after the wedding to assume my new position at the Franco Foundation.
I’d only worked with my parents to help further my art career. Some projects I’d done for their clients had appeared in magazines. So, it was a win-win for both of us.
My stomach churned as we strolled down the main hallway. It was too quiet. Where were the assistants and architects they hired? I poked my head into the offices, with papers scattered on the desks and floors as if someone had gone through every cabinet and drawer.
I glanced over at Marcello, who poked his head into the offices. We had spent little time together since I returned to Devil’s Creek. Luca had claimed his possession of me, keeping me primarily to himself. I hadn’t woken up from many nightmares after the night he climbed into Luca’s bed with us. And when I awoke from one, Luca was at my side, rocking me back to sleep.
“Aiden,” I called out.
I heard a rustling from my office, and then Aiden’s blond head popped out the door.
“Where is everyone?” I asked him.
“I don’t know where the rest of the staff is hiding. I’ve been alone all morning.” He hugged me. “It’s always been just the two of us. That will never change.”
“We have a new family,” I pointed out, nodding at Marcello, who stood at my side like a good bodyguard.