His Queen

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

D A N T E    P O V

Couldn't be near Arabella with what she had told me. I'm shocked beyond words for what she had done. She had taken my grandfather's life and still had the nerve to marry me. I can't bear to look at her, plus she lost our baby. That's my fault, the reason she lost our baby. It's a blessing with what is going on at the moment.

Called a meeting with my father to explain to him what Arabella had told me. My uncle Alberto is the one behind the feud, having the family in turmoil for losing the Don. How the hell could he do that to his own father? If it weren't for my father banishing him, this family would have died off.

Glance at my father, shake my head. Thinking about the words I should use to tell him. "Dad. Arabella did something that I can't even begin to believe." He gazes at me, sits straight. "Dante, she is a Queen, and she's young. You need to give her time to fit in." Listening to my father is not going to help with what I have to say.

Stood to slide my hands in my pockets. "It's worse than you think. She's the one who killed your father." He shakes his head. He says nothing but stands to pour us a drink. He passes me the glass. "Dante, you have much to learn." He pats me on the shoulder. "This is not new to me. I did some digging and found out Alberto had hired hit men to take our father's life, but they wouldn't do it. He thought Arabella was weak and coaxed her. He groomed your wife to do his dirty work." Not sure why my father didn't tell me he already knew.

Down my drink to place the glass on the table. "Son. Arabella is not scared to face her fears. Lord knows she's one fiery hot-headed woman. You have a rare woman that is willing to put her life on the line to seek out the rats in this family." "She is rare and full of vengeance, but she did the unthinkable," I said. He places his glass on the table. Places both hands on each of my shoulders. "Dante, son. You are powerful, but you also have a weakness. You hesitate." Frown at him.

He smiles. "You need to build trust with your wife. Treat her like a Queen, and if she does step out of line, punish her, but do it in a soft caring way. You will find she will obey you and respect you more." Rub my stubbled jaw. "I went too far the last time I punished her. She's in the hospital not able to feel from her waist down. She lost our baby from my actions." My father hugs me, patting me on the back. "You will have other chances to have children, but you got to keep your rage under control. And don't blame her for what happened to your grandfather. That is all down to Alberto. He is the one who is to blame." Thought my father would have taken off to find Arabella to blow her brains out. We have another drink before I leave.

*****

Head to the hospital to see how Arabella is doing. I'm angry with myself for what I did, but I'm still conflicted with how my grandfather had been shot in cold blood. Could not forgive her for what she had done.

Stood by the door took a deep breath before I opened the door. Glance over at the bed to see Arabella. She places the pillow over her face. "Go away." She spits. "I've spoken to my father, and he gave me some advice." She holds the pillow over her face, humming to herself. "Arabella!" Yell at her. Grab the pillow and yank it from her hands. Her eyes are closed. Pin her hands to the bed, her head moving side to side.

Just need her to look at me. "Arabella, please look at me." She shakes her head. "Tell me what my punishment is?" She asks. Sit on the edge of the bed. Let her hands go, she opens her eyes. "My father already knew that you were the one who pulled the trigger. He blames Alberto for grooming you." Her stare is not one I had seen before. "So, what is to become of me?" Shrug my shoulders. Stand to slide my hands in my trouser pockets. "Do we trust each other?" She shakes her head to my question. "Dante, there's never been any trust between us." She's honest. "Do you suppose we could trust each other in time?" She closes her eyes. When she opens them, I could see the fear deeply embedded.