Aria

Chapter 34

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"How did it happen?" Alessandro's voice radiates through the hall as he faces his younger brothers. Each with their heads down, not knowing where to begin their explanation.

"...It was me, Sandro," Gabe says as he meets his eyes, "I should have run inside with her sooner before the rain even started." His voice carries guilt as he thinks back to his sorellina, shivering in her drenched clothes, yet worried about him. Caring for someone who even he thought didn't deserve any compassion.

"No Gabe, don't blame yourself for this. I should have stayed with her or at least explained where I was going," Leo interjects.

Alessandro watches his brothers subtly argue back and forth to take the blame and eventually sighs, wishing he had some cool strong alcohol to wash out the anger. He had removed alcohol from the house upon hearing of Aria's arrival. He looks outside at the dark sky, raindrops chasing after one another down the window. The once light-grey sky had turned pitch-black.

His attention turns back to Aria, she would have loved to sit by the main window with some warm drink and watch the flashes of light in the sky, feeling happy-

The emotion that worthless man haunting her sleep took away.

How dare he.

Alessandro runs his hand down his jaw and zones back into the conversation. He leans back into his seat and plays the recording from this evening. How did Gabe's car just break down? As he watches the clip he notices a flash in the back forests.

Ting*

He glances up at Matteo and sees his expression darken. Suddenly he stands and slams the phone down, "Damn it." Shoving it to Alessandro, he shows a picture of his sister. It wasn't just an ordinary one, it was from last evening, at the grocery store. A side profile of her following Zeno, the light pink mask in place. 

The nerve.

"Do something Sandro or I swear I'll take her away from here an-"

Gabe grabs onto Matteo's arm to prevent him from breaking something on the desk. He was angry as well but the crashing noise was bound to wake his sorellina.

Matteo cuts himself off as he sees his eldest brother's harsh expression.

He clenches his jaw before yanking his arm away and walking out the door.

The two youngest follow after him as Gabe approaches Alessandro, taking a seat in front of his desk.

"I wish I could have killed that son of a bitch with my own hands."

Alessandro watches as rage takes over his brother's demeanor. Rage and fear.

"How dare he still mess with her."

Gabe turns the laptop to face him as he watches the clip, gripping his hand tightly as it all clicks together.

"And who is the fucker stalking our sister?"