Her Secrets

88

Thea stood there, her hands hanging to her sides, the gun she used to shoot Elizabeth was in her right hand. Her hair was dishevelled, her lips were parted and her eyes were wide opened as she stared at the crowd of familiar people in front of us.

I glanced at them to find their faces holding the same expressions; shock and horror.

I wouldn't blame them. I mean, they thought she was dead. So they were technically seeing a previously what they thought dead woman standing in front of them— not looking in her best state.

What the fuck happened?

"Athena," she breathed out once her eyes found mine. She ignored the looks she was receiving and walked past Elizabeth's body towards me. Once she was standing in front of me, Sean let go of my hand as Thea wrapped her arms around me. "Oh god, I'm so glad you're okay."

"What are you doing here?" I managed to ask, knowing what was about to come from the De Luca family. Chaos. Possibly.

"I was at your house and these men came looking for you so I stayed hidden," she took a deep breath, "they had guns and I didn't know what to do so I killed them all but questioned one of them, he told me that Elizabeth sent them to set your house on fire and she was planning on killing you tonight. I— I didn't know what else to do so I came here. Screw my safety if you aren't safe. I don't care."

My best friend, people.

"It's fine," I broke the hug, "you're not in danger anymore anyway." My eyes darted to Elizabeth's body before looking back at her with a smile, "looks like you eliminated the threat."

She turned to look at her body as well, her jaw clenching, "she deserved worst."

"Thea?" Blake's voice made her turn her head snap in his direction, her eyes widening for a split second as if she had forgotten where we were.

"I had a better way to reveal this in mind," I whispered to the supposedly dead girl who hummed in response, smiling awkwardly the others as she stood there. "Here goes nothing," I muttered as Sean walked towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist, "first row seats."

"Guys," Blake spoke again, his eyes fixed on Thea, "I think I can see ghosts now." 

I rolled my eyes at that.

Lea groaned, shaking her head, "I swear the stupidity runs in the family."

"A family you're part of, my dearest sister in-law." Blake retorted with a small grin, "and you love us anyway."

Lea ignored Blake, making her way towards Thea as she stood in front of her, "so you're alive."

"Apparently," Thea replied, her eyes flickering to me, "all thanks to Athena." Lea looked at me as well, "and you're my... sister?"

"Sure, yeah." I cleared my throat, avoiding her stare. Damn she could be intimidating when she wanted to be.

"I've always wanted a sister." Lea flashed me a genuine smile. "I'm sorry for— well you know what went down earlier. Welcome to the family, Athena."

Her words made my insides flutter with happiness. I don't think I've ever smiled this wide.

"So you and Sean are for real dating?" Mari— something asked to which both the man in question and I nodded.

"I love how we're all ignoring mommy's body at the doorstep." Sean commented randomly which made me look at the body. I was so tempted to step on it—

"I guess she deserved that," Lea said, no ounce of sadness in her tone, "I'll call someone to get rid of it." Guess she wasn't as attached as we thought.

"—Oh my god," Arabella squealed in excitement before she rushed towards Thea and hugged her tightly. The latter was clearly taken aback but she returned the hug nonetheless. "You're alive! You're actually alive!"

"How?" Lea questioned, "I saw your body. Your throat was—" she made a gesture of cutting someone's throat, "slashed."

"Your body was buried," Arabella broke the hug, "we attended your funeral. We mourned your death."

"I know. I'm sorry—" Thea took a deep breath, "it wasn't safe."

"How?" Antonio asked, tilting his head to the side with curiosity. They all wanted to know how. Well I'm great, that's how. With one last glance at me, Thea began telling them everything.

"Wow," Lea breathed out, her eyes darting from her to me, "that's pretty fucking amazing, "thank you for what you did." She then walked over to Thea and wrapped her arms around her, "welcome back, love. We all missed you so much!"

"I missed you guys too."

Then one by one, they all hugged Thea although Enzo was a little weird while doing so. I guessed he was shy or something. I mean— he wasn't really the whole show affection type so that was understandable. When it was Blake's turn, he stood in front of her and gave her a fake glare, "you missed my wedding. No hugs for you, ghost."

"You're such a child," Thea laughed before hugging him. Blake smiled, hugging her back, "I mourned your death, you know? I ugly cried."

"I can't believe he's married." Sean mumbled under his breath making my lips twitch up. Seriously though, Blake was really young— I suppose he couldn't wait.

"Does Alessio know?" Enzo asked, narrowing his eyes at Thea who shook her head, biting her lips, "not yet."

"We need to tell him." Enzo said almost instantly. I rolled my eyes, "slow down there, bro. We don't need to do anything. Thea is the one who's gonna tell him."

A small smile tugged at Enzo's lips as he looked over at me and nodded, "whatever you say, sis."

"Great," Blake huffed, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room, "just what we needed. Another Romano." He pointed a finger at me and began moving around in the air weirdly, "let me guess, you're into torture, you're real psychotic and you're the heir to some mafia?"

"Sounds about right." Sean replied for me making Lea's brows shot up, "what mafia is she the heir of?"

"French," I responded, nodding in Antonio's direction, "but he's the one who's going to be taking care of it because... yeah. Sean's already spoken to you about it, has he not?"

"Yep," Antonio pursed his lips and nodded as well, "I've got everything prepared and ready. Don't worry, I got this."

"So when and how are you telling the most dangerous guy we know that his girlfriend is alive without him killing you three for hiding it from him all this time?" Ricardo, who was silent this whole time, asked, his eyes going back and forth from me, Sean and Thea.

"About that..." Sean scratched the back of his neck, an innocent smile playing at his lips. I raised my brows at that, "fuck did you do?"