Chapter 76 Homecoming
His hands were like iron around my throat and I clawed at them desperately, my nails scraping against his skin.
"Die, Vitale!" he snarled, but his eyes weren't focused on me.
Black spots danced across my vision. My lungs screamed for air that wouldn't come.
"Giovanni!" I tried to gasp, but no sound came out.
He was crying. Even as he choked me, tears streamed down his face, and his lips were forming words I could barely hear through the roaring in my ears.
"Mama... Papa... they killed them... killed everyone..."
I still couldn’t understand what he was saying and my vision was going dark. My struggles were getting weaker.
With the last of my strength, I reached up and cupped his face in my hands, my touch gentle despite the terror coursing through me.
"Giovanni," I mouthed, there was no air left to make any sound. "It's me."
His eyes flickered, confusion breaking through the nightmare haze.
"It's me," I tried again, my hands trembling against his cheeks. "Arya.”
For a horrible moment, nothing changed. His grip remained tight, and I felt myself fading, the darkness closing in completely.
Then suddenly, I could breathe.
His hands released me and I dropped, hitting the floor hard, choking as air rushed back into my lungs.
I gulped air even as my throat felt like it was on fire with each inhale.
"Cazzo," Giovanni's voice came from above me, rough with horror. "Dio, Arya, I'm so sorry."
He helped me sit up but I flinched instinctively, and I saw him pull back like I'd struck him.
"What…" I croaked, my voice barely a whisper. "What just happened?”
"Don't," he said sharply, standing and putting distance between us. "Don't ask me that."
I blinked, confused. “But-"
"I said don't."
I tried to stand, my legs were shaky, and he moved to help me but stopped himself.
The plane shuddered slightly and I realized we had landed while I was fighting for my life. When did that happen?
"We're home," Giovanni said, turning away from mez "Gather your things."
Before I could say another word, he walked away, already pulling out his phone.
I stood there in the aisle, one hand pressed to my aching throat, trying to process what had just happened.
He almost killed me again. Twice in one week I nearly died, and both times had something to do with him.
But this time had been different. This time, I saw his pain and I wondered.
What had my father done to the De Santis family?
The car ride from the airport was silent. Giovanni sat beside me, his attention fixed on his phone. I kept stealing glances at him, trying to read his expression.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.
“Giovanni.” I called gently.
"Don't give it too much thought," he interrupted without looking up. "I was jet-lagged. It won't happen again."
I scoffed. "That's not what happened, you said things about your family.”
"I said it won't happen again." His tone left no room for argument.
My jaw twitched and I had a handful of witty comebacks but I kept my mouth shut instead, focusing on the moving buildings as we drove down the road.
I had to know. After seeing him like this, I had to know exactly what my father did to him.
After what felt like an eternity, the car finally pulled up to the familiar building.
My heart squeezed at the sight of the entrance. It had been two months since we left for Italy. Two months of chaos and near-death experiences and complicated feelings I didn't want to have.
But this was the closest thing to home I had in this new life.
I climbed out of the car before it had fully stopped, hurrying toward the entrance with an eagerness that surprised me.
The foyer was strangely quiet when I pushed through the door. Usually, there were guards, and the constant bustle of people moving through the house.
Now, there was nothing.
"Hello?" I called out, my damaged voice echoing slightly. "Is anyone home?"
There was still no response. I frowned and stepped in closer, calling out again.
“Hello!”
"SURPRISE!"
People burst from doorways, and behind furniture, all shouting at once. I jumped back, my hand flying to my chest.
Claire appeared first, her face split by an enormous grin. Behind her came Maria, Jasmine and at least a dozen other staff members I recognized.
They were holding flowers, balloons and a banner hung from the staircase reading "WELCOME HOME!"
"You…" My voice cracked as I looked around. "You did this for us?"
"Of course we did!" Claire rushed forward, pressing a bouquet of roses into my hands. "We missed you so much! The house has been so quiet without you."
Maria was next, her eyes shining with tears as she handed me another bouquet. "Welcome home, bambina. We were so worried about you."
"I heard about the masquerade," Jasmine said quietly, moving close enough that the others couldn't hear. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice, tears already spilling down my cheeks.
They surrounded me then, all of them, hugging me and welcoming me back and asking questions about Italy and the honeymoon and whether I tried authentic gelato.
It was overwhelming in the best possible way. These people who had somehow become the closest thing to family I had in this world threw me a surprise welcome home party.
"What about Mr. De Santis?" someone asked. "Should we-“
I turned to gesture toward where Giovanni had been standing, but he was already gone. Retreating upstairs without a word.
"He's probably tired from the flight," Maria said, though I saw concern in her eyes.
"Did something happen?" Claire asked me quietly, her hand on my arm. "You look quite pale."
"It's complicated," I said, my voice still hoarse. "I'll tell you later."
She nodded, squeezing my arm gently, and I was grateful she didn't push.
"So!" Jasmine clapped her hands together, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "Tell us everything! How was Italy? Did Giovanni take you to all the romantic spots?"
"The romantic spots," I repeated, thinking of the pool I drowned in, the club where I escaped to, and the plane where I was nearly strangled. "Right. Very romantic."
But I forced a smile, because these people had gone to so much trouble just to do this for me.
"The gelato was amazing," I said. "I had three cups in twenty minutes and the woman at the shop tried to adopt me."
They laughed, and the tension eased slightly. As they pulled me toward the kitchen, I glanced back at the stairs where Giovanni had disappeared.
He was up there alone, dealing with whatever nightmares plagued him and I was down here, trying to celebrate a homecoming with people that genuinely cared about me.
"Arya?" Claire's voice broke through my thoughts. "You coming?"
"Yeah," I said, turning back to face her smile. "I'm coming."
But as I followed them into the kitchen, I couldn't stop thinking about Giovanni.
What had my father taken from him?
And how was I supposed to feel about being married to a man who saw my father's sins every time he looked at my face?
This wasn't exactly the romantic homecoming everyone seemed to think it was but then again, nothing about this marriage had ever been romantic.
Okay… I’m not saying anything 😶
But I need to know—what do you think really just happened with Giovanni?
Tell me your theories 👀⬇️