CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

DALIA

Luckily I didn't have long to dwell on the heartbreaking words he said to me. I never should've told him I was falling for him. Stupid girl. I knew he didn't feel the same way, but it was fine to not hear those words. Did he have to crush my heart on top of not returning my feelings?

"Why can't I stay here?" I ask, after he insists he's taking me to Domenic's.

"I need to know you're safe, Dalia. I can't be focused on getting Sierra if I'm worried about you."

I sigh as I finish getting dressed, "I don't think you would be worried about me anyway. I'm nothing other than a hole to fill for you, so why would you?"

He finishes buttoning up his shirt and growls at me, "Goddamn, Dalia. Not now. I can't do this with you now."

I nod as I do up my jeans, "I see. So it's Dalia now? No more Wife? I assume this is it then? You're done with me?"

They never tell you heartbreak is actually a physical pain. The crushing in my chest, the aching, and the pure need for what I'll never have again, is almost debilitating.

He doesn't bother answering my damn question; all he says is, "Meet me downstairs. Please be ready to leave in five minutes."

I hold my phone in my hand and seriously consider chucking it at the back of his head, but decide against it. What's wrong with me? I should be happy that he might find his sister still alive. I'm being a selfish whiny bitch, and I just need to stop. So why can't I?

Feeling frustrated with myself, I grab the bag he made me pack, removing myself from his life, and head downstairs to find him.

"Ready?" He asks, his voice coming out husky and filled with emotion. I already know it's not about me, it's about Sierra. I'm sure it's difficult not knowing what kind of shape he'll find her in.

ARIES

Sitting in the back of the car taking her back to Domenic's is harder than I expected it to be. This was always the plan, so why am I finding it harder to catch my breath with every mile closer we get to the house?

Dalia sits beside me, her gaze trained on the world outside the window, she sits tall as I know she's trying hard to keep it together.

She speaks without taking her eyes off the window, "I'm sorry being married to me has been such a hardship."

Her statement confuses the hell out of me, "When did I say it was a hardship?"

Taking a big breath, she says, "You couldn't even wait to get rid of me until after you found her. I get it now, Aries. It was one sided. It really was just sex for you."

I swallow the lump in my throat as I keep up my lie, "I'm sorry, Dalia. Yes, that's all it was for me, but I swear I never meant to hurt you."

The car stops and she opens her door in a hurry, "Dalia, wait. Don't leave like this."

I grab her arm and turn her to me to see tears streaming down her cheeks. Taking her face in my hands, I kiss her slowly at first until I give in to my need, and grab her hair and the kiss turns more demanding. She places both hands on my chest and pushes me away, "No. It's always about what Aries needs. Did you ever even consider what you were doing to me?"

I shake my head no because it's the truth, I didn't.

"I'm happy you're getting your sister back. I want her to be okay but you're a monster, Aries Lombardi. You destroyed one person to save another. That wasn't the way. I hope you can live with your choices, because I know my worth. Don't ever ask me to go backwards, because I won't. Goodbye."

She gets out of the car and suddenly I can't fucking breathe. Her words, ‘you destroyed one person to save another,' are hard hitting, and I can't even say it's untrue. I never meant to destroy her. Did I mean to blackmail her to get the help I needed to find Sierra? Yes, of course I did. There's no denying that, but I didn't mean for things to happen this way.

"Dalia," I say, my voice thick with emotion.

"Aries," she says and shuts the door firmly.

The regret is instant and all consuming.

I can't deal with this right now, but somehow I know, I've just made the biggest mistake of my life. One that can't be fixed. The look in her eyes, the pain in her voice, the words she said, it's all going to haunt me for the rest of my days.

DALIA

I walk into Domenic's house, where I guess it's been arranged that I will stay, until they get Sierra safely away from the traffickers. Giada walks up to the guest room I always sleep in when I stay here, which is often, because I don't like my brothers hovering over me, which is what always seems to happen.

"Are you okay?"

I just shake my head, because I'm definitely not.

Tossing my bag on the bed, I open it to find a large envelope inside.

I stare at it as she says, "It's a few days at most, and then you'll be back with your husband."

Opening the envelope, I spot a wad of cash, a letter, and divorce papers.

Throwing the divorce papers on the floor, I cry, "He wants a divorce."

"What?" She says with a shocked expression, as she looks down at the papers scattered on the floor. Walking over to me, she tries to hug me as her shocked face turns to one of concern. "Don't," I say, because I can't handle her being caring right now.

"Dal, what do you need?"

I laugh because I don't even fucking know the answer to that, "I need to be alone."

She nods, "I'm sorry," and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. What do I need? I need the only man I've ever loved to feel the same way, but of course he doesn't. I sit down on the bed and grab the letter, while I sit crying like a damn brokenhearted teenager.

Dalia,

I'm sorry for everything. I never planned for it to go this way. Yes, I did intend to use you to get what I needed from your brothers. My mother cries every day for her little girl. She has already lost so much and I couldn't bear for her to lose more if I could prevent it. I never expected you to be everything you are. And I never imagined you'd fall for an asshole like me. Take your heart and give it to someone worthwhile. A man who can love you back and give you everything you deserve in life. I don't think you even realize what a pure heart you have. One day I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me. I'm so fucking sorry.

-Aries

My emotions are all over the place. One second I'm so angry, I want to hit him. The next, the agony of never seeing him again knocks the wind out of me. I understand why he married me, why he did what he did. And his poor mother. I get all that, but what I don't get is him saying he's so sorry after telling me I was nothing more than someone to fuck. My head feels like it's going to explode as there's a knock at the bedroom door, and I desperately want to pretend nobody is here, but of course I can't, because they all probably know by now.

"Can I come in, Shorty?"

Damian. That much is obvious, because he's the only one of my brothers to ever call me that.

"Not if you're going to be nice."

He opens the door and steps inside, closing it when he enters, with a sad expression on his face.

"Don't. If you're going to be nice to me, then you have to leave."

Damian chuckles, "You know I can't be mean to my favorite sister."

He comes over and sits on the bed beside me, and I slap his chest, "I'm your only sister."

Taking my hand in his, he says, "If I had a dozen more, you'd still be my favorite."

I wrap my arms around him and he does the same, "Do you want to talk about it? Giada said something about divorce papers."

Obviously I love all my brothers, but my relationship with Damian is different from what I have with the other three. He has always been my soft place to land. I imagine that's why he's the one that's here, instead of the rest of them.

"Tell me what happened?"

I sigh against his chest, "I'm in love with him, Damian. The all consuming, obsessed kind of love, but he doesn't feel the same."

Stroking my hair, he says, "I thought you both said you loved each other."

I groan loudly because this isn't my proudest moment, "I lied. Aries needed me to get you guys to help save his sister. Our marriage was always meant to be temporary. I knew that. I just didn't know he'd be so quick to walk away. He doesn't even have her back yet, and I guess I thought maybe he'd need my help with her. I don't know. I'm an idiot, and thought maybe eventually he'd love me."

Holding me tighter, he growls at me with obvious anger, "Jesus Christ, Dalia. You should've been honest with us. I'm going to fucking gut him."

I snap my head up and look him in the eyes, "Damian, no. I just told you how much I love him. If you hurt him, I'll never survive it."

"Alright. What do you need?"

Why do people keep asking me that? Like I actually know.

"Can I get back to you on that when I figure it out?"

He nods, "Yeah, Shorty, and if you change your mind about killing that bastard, let me know."

I roll my eyes at him because we both know I won't, "Is he alone today?"

"Aries," I add, when he raises an eyebrow in question.

Damian shakes his head, like he's annoyed that I'm even asking about him, "Domenic and Drake are with him, as well as Max's team. He'll be fine. And before you ask, I won't say anything to the others until this is dealt with."

"Thank you," I whisper.

Leaning down, he kisses me on the top of the head, "I have to go make a call. Do you want me to send the girls in?"

I hug him tightly, "No. I really want to be alone."

Damian gets up and walks to the door, "This isn't going to be easy, but your family will get you through it. You can have some alone time, but not too much."