CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ARIES

I watch Dalia as she kneels between her parents' graves. Much like my family, the De Lucas have a family plot. They purchased a fairly large area of the cemetery and had it dedicated to their family. There's a large headstone, with their family name as well as a quote, "Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family." - Anthony Brandt. Of course it's written in Italian.

I'm keeping my distance to not intrude on her time with her parents. However, I refuse to give too much distance. It's my job to protect her now, especially since I took her gun away. As long as she's my wife, I'll make sure she's safe. Once our marriage is dissolved, of course, that job will revert back to her asshole brothers.

On our way here I stopped at the florist, as she requested to buy dahlias for her mother. Apparently, that was their thing when she was alive. The story was that after four boys her parents never expected to have a girl. When they found out they were indeed expecting a little girl, they couldn't decide on a name. Her father took her very pregnant mother on a walk through a nursery, and the second she saw the dahlias she declared that would be their final child's name, although without the ‘h.'

I turn my head away from her slightly, so she doesn't think I'm listening to her. Of course, I am, but I don't want her to have that information.

"So apparently, I got married."

Obviously they don't speak back, so I keep listening to her one sided conversation.

"We're not in love or anything. He needs my help to find his sister and is convinced this is the only way Domenic will help him. His name is Aries. Aries thinks his fourteen year old sister has been trafficked. As much as I hate lying to Dom, I know you'd understand, especially you, Mom. I could never leave this little girl in the horrible situation she's in."

She sighs loudly.

"You remember how bad it was for us, mom. She's young. So I hope you'll forgive me for lying to Dom about the nature of my marriage. I don't understand why he refused to help but I intend to find out, because he's a better man than that."

Fuck. This is not information I want her to have. If I thought she hated me before that was nothing. Once Domenic tells her why he wouldn't help with Sierra, she'll never forgive me. I could've not only saved her, but her mother. Had I made different choices she would still have her mother. Ultimately it was my father's decision, but I never attempted to sway him. It wasn't even a conversation we had. I don't give a flying fuck about the De Lucas. My father felt the exact same way, which is likely why he told their father to go fuck himself. They are all self serving assholes. However, as I stare at the youngest of their family, a beautiful woman inside and out, the guilt is heavy. I didn't care back then because I didn't even know her. She was eight, I had no clue that one day I'd end up married to her, even temporarily. This will never be anything real between us, but I do wish I could go back and give her back her parents. Especially her mother. The way she cleans her mother's headstone, as she talks to the ground, makes it clear that they had a special bond. And watching her die the way she did had to be excruciating.

"So he's my fake husband. I mean, we're actually married so maybe he's not my fake husband. But it's not real."

She sighs again before continuing, I'm sorry. I know how you both felt about divorce, but there's no other way. Once he finds his sister, he won't have a use for me and we will divorce. I hope you'll forgive me. I want you to be proud of me, but I know I haven't given you much to be proud of.

I scratch my head in confusion because is that really what she thinks? That her parents aren't proud of the person she has become? The truth is that the fact that she fucking survived that shit is something to be proud of on its own. And she helps women who have been through what she has. Dalia De Luca is a truly beautiful fucking soul, and it would appear that she has no clue.

She confuses me, but no more than I do myself. Why do I have a sudden urge to rush over to her and take her into my arms and tell her how goddamn perfect she is? I shut it down because I can't allow this squeezing feeling in my chest to continue. It's dangerous. I remind myself once again, we'll find Sierra and then I'll let her go. Forget about her and move on.

DALIA

I kiss the ground above both of their graves, feeling sad to leave as always.

"I love you, mamma. I love you, papa. I'll see you next week."

I inhale the scent of the blue dahlias we bought for my mother, and let the scent envelop me. It's my favorite memory of her. It didn't matter what was happening in life, they always made her happy. It never failed, they always brought a smile to her face. The memories of the last time I saw her alive come crashing down on me.

I'm chained to the floor like an animal that nobody cares about. They finished hurting mamma, and brought her back and chained her beside me. We're both naked because we stay that way. Whores don't get clothes they said, not long after they took us. I don't understand what that means, but I don't like not having something covering me. It's cold and wet wherever we are.

"Dalia, look at me."

I turn to her, the chains rattling as I move, she lifts her arms and cradles my face, "Listen to me, baby. I need you to hold on. Papa and your brothers will come for you. You hold on. Do not let these bastards win. You are a beautiful girl, Dalia, with a bright future ahead of you. This experience does not define you. It's a tiny blip in the beautiful picture that is your life. Promise me, this will not destroy you."

I nod silently and she shakes her head at me, "Say it. I need to hear your words."

"This will not destroy me. I promise you."

She smiles a pained smile, "You have a good memory. Please take back a message for me."

I nod again as I try to focus, so I don't mess up what her words are.

"Domenic was my giant baby, that I was sure was trying to kill me as I gave birth to him, but he gave me life that day. Drake, the always difficult boy, taught me the most defiant boys have the biggest hearts. He will hate to hear that about himself but it's true. Damian is the spitting image of your father in every way. He reminds me everyday when your father is away at work why my life has been so happy. My sweet boy, Dante, is also a reminder of that fact. I often wonder if he should be working with your father, because he's a good soul. Your father saved me from a situation not entirely different from this one. He saved me and made me whole. He is a great man in a bad world. Please make him continue to serve the hungry at the meal kitchen. Tell them all they are the reason my life was so complete. Their love made everything worthwhile.

My sweet Dalia. My only girl. I wanted a little girl the entire time. I hoped and I prayed and kept being gifted boys. That was okay, because my boys were perfect. You, baby girl, are the completion of the perfect family. The first time I held you, I knew we'd have an unbreakable bond. The kind that even death cannot separate. The greatest joy is being a mother, and I pray that I will get to watch you step into that role. Cherish every moment. Take nothing for granted. One day when you meet the man you give yourself to, hold on baby, it won't be easy but it will be worth it."

"Mamma? I don't understand."

"I love you, Dalia. Forever and always. I'll see you again, sweet girl."

The confusion swirls in my head as she breathes out loudly, collapses, and at only eight years old, I know. Mamma is gone. They stole her from me. Laying down I place my head against her and cry, because today is the worst day of my life. "Mamma," I scream, "Come back."

Of course she won't. I'm young, but I know dead people never come back, except in Mamma's stories. I lost not only my mamma but my best friend. If I survive this, I will never be okay again.

ARIES

I watch as Dalia collapses onto the hard ground with a piercing scream, followed by gut wrenching sobs. For a moment, I worry that she's been shot by someone I can't see. Rushing over to her, I take her trembling body in my arms and race back to the car with her in my arms, pulled tight against my chest. My driver gives me a concerned look, but darts his eyes away when I flash him a stern glare, "Don't look at my fucking wife."

He knows better than to argue, so he opens the back door, "I apologize, Boss."

I slide in and kiss her face, as she clutches onto me with a firm grip of my shirt. The heaviness in my chest catches me off guard because again, I wasn't supposed to care, but I do. Watching her experience this level of pain is gut-wrenching. I barely know this woman, but I'd do anything to make it stop, to undo what's been done to her. There's one thought that keeps cycling through my brain, ‘ how often does she go through this.'

"It's going to be okay, Dalia. I've got you."

She falls asleep in my arms on the way back to my house, the only noise coming from her is the occasional hiccup from crying. I continue cradling her with one arm, while stroking her hair with my free hand for the entire forty-five minute drive to my house. Like a baby, she stirs when the car stops moving, I kiss her on her forehead as she stares at me with confusion, "What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure. You were at the cemetery and you were fine until you weren't. You collapsed and were crying."

She holds her hands over her face like she's mortified, "I'm so sorry you saw that. Sometimes I still have intense flashbacks, and I usually pass out eventually."

Andre opens the door and I shimmy out of the car, never letting Dalia out of my arms, "Bring the bags inside and set them inside in the foyer. You don't come further than that, now that I have a wife."

He nods, "Of course, Boss."

Dalia giggles in my arms, "He could come in before but can't now?"

I growl at her, "That's right. Nobody comes near my wife."

As Andre opens the door to my house, she laughs, "Aries. I do have the ability to walk."

Narrowing my gaze at her, as I walk her through the house to the stairs to my bedroom, I say, "Not if you keep talking back, you won't."

"What?" She gasps, making me laugh.

"Where are we going?" she asks as she glances around, but I don't stop until I get her into the ensuite bathroom, "Tomorrow we see your brothers. Tonight, I will take care of you."

Dalia reaches up and touches my forehead, "Hmm, no fever. I thought for sure this sweet behavior was due to an illness. A severe illness."