Consumed By temptation Of Chaos

Chapter; thirteen

— Isabella Vitiello

My dad punched in the code and the massive gates to Uncle Luca and Aria's house slid open. We drove down the long stone path, and I jumped out of the car the second he stopped. Aunt Aria opened the huge marble door with her warm, radiant smile before I could even ring the bell.

"Ah! I'm so glad you're here, right on time. Lunch is ready," she said, wrapping me in a tight hug. When we pulled apart, she gently cupped my face.Mom stepped out of the car right after and crushed her sister in a hug too.

My cousin Valerio's familiar laugh filled the main hall as I walked inside. Greta and Amo were there as well which wasn't surprising, since Aunt Aria had been doing everything she could to make her new daughter-in-law feel welcome.

"Isa, thank God! Finally, some company," Greta said.
She was wearing a delicate pink dress, her hair tied back in a ponytail with a ribbon. She gave me a soft, genuine smile when she saw me, and I smiled back.

"What do you mean finally? I've been giving my blood to entertain you," Valerio said, placing a hand over his heart, pouting in mock offense.
Greta blushed slightly and gave a shy smile.

"I appreciate your company, I just meant... female company. I was starting to feel a little out of place surrounded by all of you," she said softly, shrugging.
Valerio clutched his chest, offended.

"So everything I've done for you means nothing?"

"You spent most of the time talking to yourself," Amo sighed in boredom, lazily tracing circles on Greta's knee where his hand rested.

"Good thing I got here in time to save you from Valerio," I winked at Greta as I dropped onto the cream sofa beside him and nudged his shoulder.

My cousin nudged me back, then gave my head two quick taps in greeting.

"I refuse to believe I'm not considered pleasant company," he grumbled again.

"You are..." Greta hesitated, clearly choosing her words, "lively..."

Amo let out a quiet laugh, and I couldn't hold back my own.
"That was the politest way to say you never shut up," I teased, poking his shoulder.

He exhaled through his nose, narrowing his eyes at his sister-in-law, trying not to laugh.

"I have a lot to offer," Valerio shot back, running a hand through his golden hair. "Not my fault you can't keep up."

"We keep up," I said. "We just choose to ignore you."
This time Greta let out a more open laugh, covering her mouth as if trying to hold it in.

Aria appeared in the living room, hands on her hips.

"Are you all still here? Come on, everything's ready," she said, smoothing the fabric of her lilac silk dress.

With her blonde hair and striking blue eyes, my aunt looked like a doll. Even no longer young, her skin had that porcelain glow. Aria Vitiello looked like she had stepped out of a period romance movie with her breathtaking beauty.

"Finally," Valerio muttered, stretching his tall frame off the couch. He slung an arm over his mother's shoulders she looked tiny next to the men in the family. Honestly, almost everyone did. Valerio had grown a few more inches last summer and was now as tall as Amo and Uncle Luca. I had to tilt my head way up just to talk to him.