Until Her - Ami Van Page 0,76

missed that sound and every other sound she makes. Her halo glows around her and he wants nothing more than to thrive in that light.

“Excuse me?” Matteo asks Stella.

He pays attention to the conversation and sees the ugly scowl of irritation on Isabella’s face.

Stella laughs innocently before placing an arm around Derrick’s larger one.

Rory and Chase both stand tall behind the couple in unity. It’s a fucking sight for sure. To see the two younger Kings step up and stand strong in their places.

“I’m kidding,” Stella says. “We all know there’s no leash long enough for that one. By the way, Adam, you’re being rude. Why don’t you introduce your special guest to our friends and Matteo?”

“Special guest?” Matteo asks with slight hesitation.

“Mm-hmm,” Stella answers.

Stella’s up to something. He knows that look and he’s willing to play along, no matter where she intends to lead him. Any other place has to be better than the level of hell they’re all stuck in.

Besides, she got Ariana to come here. To be right by his side, where his angel belongs.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Stella didn’t mention this part to her when she convinced her to come tonight. She wasn’t told she’d be face to face with both Isabella and Cristian. Now she’s put in the spotlight too.

She isn’t sure what to do or say but Stella slightly nods, giving the encouragement that she desperately needs. And Adam is standing right next to her. She’d been hiding from these two evil souls for months now. Stella’s right. It’s time to stand up for herself.

Fuck the debt! She’s paid that a thousand times over and she’s sure of it.

“Ah…but we’ve already all met,” she says to the circle, praying her voice doesn’t betray her confidence. “Don Romano, you might have overlooked me when I lived at the Romanos’ estate.”

“Did you now?” Matteo smirks with interest. “How could I have overlooked such a beautiful young lady? Where did my brother hide you?”

“Very easy to do when said young lady is always on her hands and knees, Uncle.” It’s Cristian who speaks this time.

It stings to hear the way he implies something completely different from the truth and they both know it.

Adam brushes his hand against her arm. She’s still fuming and hurt with what he’s done but admits that his touch is comforting and he yields to its security. She’s been so lost without him this past couple of weeks. Until Stella showed up today to drag her here, she didn’t think she had the will to look at him again.

“Ariana Giallo,” Adam introduces her.

How disgusting is it that the man doesn’t even know her name when she’s served him food and drinks countless times when he visited his brother. She’s but a flea to these people.

Still, there’s pride in the way Adam says her full name and it makes her stupid heart flutter. It flutters for the man that’s hurt her just as deeply as the people he swore to protect her from.

“Ariana has been staying with us,” Stella cuts in when Matteo doesn’t speak.

Matteo’s eyes turn into mere slits, looking between Derrick and Adam. He even drifts his gaze to Chase and Rory as well with more hope in his eyes than necessary. If he only knew how much those two despised Isabella.

“Well, I must make the rounds,” Matteo says before he turns on his heel and leaves the group.

Isabella is the first to speak once the man is out of earshot.

“You must have a death wish, Ari,” Isabella says with a sickening sneer.

“Don’t call me that,” she hisses back, unafraid any longer. “You haven’t earned that privilege.”

This is the first time she’s ever defied Isabella in any way in her entire existence and the look on Isabella’s face speaks volumes. It brings a sweet sense of satisfying pleasure, a sense of empowerment that she’s never felt before.

“Must be the same death wish you had when you put your disgusting paws on my husband, bitch,” Stella says icily.

Damn! If only she had the kind of steel and strength that Stella does. How she envies the younger woman for that. But she’s learning and she’s learning quickly.

Isabella smirks at Stella before openly ogling Derrick shamelessly.

“You?” Isabella says to Stella with her disgusting cackle. “You think to take silly Ari under your wing. This is the big leagues, my dear. You’re playing with fire. Be a good little housewife and stay in your lane. Kings need their Queens.”

Isabella has some height on Stella and she stands