Chapter 46

**AUSTIN**

The funeral of Salvatore Scava was simple and many people were present. He was clearly appreciated in the community and so were his children. We heard lots of stories about them and their father. Being there with her at a time like that tells me more about the life she had. I imagine this little dark-haired girl sitting in the corner of a boxing gym with a book while her father trains her brother.
Growing up, it was mostly stories of her brother terrorizing the neighborhood boys to keep them away from her. But there was still one guy who was weird around her brother and looked at Aria in a way that I didn't like.
Fortunately, she didn't really pay attention to him, focusing on Adam, Rosalie, Riley and me. Leila, on the other hand, only had eyes for Cassius, which is normal. I overheard a conversation between her and Aria last night and she plans to tell him everything tonight.

There are only a few people left in the Scava family home and I approach Aria who is sitting with Adam and the guy I don't like.

"Well I'll leave you to yourselves." He says as he stands up as I approach. "It was nice to see you again, Aria." He adds as he runs his hand through his dark hair. He seems to hesitate for a moment. "I would love to see you again sometime. You know in memory of..."

"That won't be possible." I cut him off and Aria glares at me.

She rolls her eyes. "Sorry Nico but I don't think that's fair to my boyfriends. Let's leave the memories where they belong...in the past.” She says nicely.

He nods with red cheeks and leaves to greet Cassius before walking out of the house.

Aria stands up and slaps my arm. "What's wrong with you?"

"So I'm the one with something wrong? We haven't left your side and we haven't done anything to hide the fact that we're clearly related to you.... both of us. He was about to ask you on a romantic date. And in memory of what exactly?" I ask her, raising my eyebrows.

"Are you ever going to stop being jealous?"

"No." I answer flatly and I hear Rosalie and Riley giggle.

She sighs as she crosses her arms. "Okay well since you want to know everything, Nico was my first real boyfriend and he was the one who took my virginity."

"Okay." I say pursing my lips. "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" She asks, behind me.

"To rip his head off." I answer her seriously and a hand grabs my arm. I turn and Adam looks at me, shaking his head. "Just give him a little scare? So he doesn't invite her back?"

"I think he got it." He tells me amused.

It seems like it doesn't affect him but how can I be jealous and he's not.

"Because I trust him. I know she feels the same way about us."

"What the hell? I didn't use the mindlink."

He laughs. "No it's just that I'm starting to get to know you. All I have to do is look at your face." He pats my shoulder and joins Aria.

I turn around and join them too.

Everyone is gone and the girls start to clean up the house. Riley is chatting with Aria but I can't hear what they are saying. I only see Aria's frown and Riley takes her jacket.

"Are you leaving?" I ask her.

"Yes. I have quite a bit of driving to do and I had told David I was coming home tonight."

We all greet her and she leaves the house. Rosalie stays with Aria and discusses the funeral while Adam approaches me.

"It's done." He tells me simply and he doesn't need to go into detail to know what it's all about.

"All right. Everything should unravel quickly."

Out of the corner of my eye I see Leila approach Cassius and she pulls him behind the house. We watch them all walk away and exchange a look. I think we're all curious about how things are going to work out, but Adam is tense and defensive about intervening.

"Well knowing my brother he's not going to believe it. she's going to have to shift or show him her fangs." Says Aria seriously.

"They're going to live forever together and be very happy." Rosalie adds, confident.

"Thanks you just spoiled the ending for me." I say amused to lighten the mood, the girls laugh but Adam still has his eyes on the back door.

As Adam and I are drying the dishes the girls just washed, we hear a car door click, then an engine start and a car pull away. Exactly ten seconds later, the door opens and Leila appears, vulnerable and staring at the floor.

She approaches Adam, who opens his arms and she sinks into them. She doesn't cry, but she remains curled up in her brother's arms for a moment.

"I'll find him and talk to him." Aria says simply before asking for my keys. I agree to drive her wherever she wants and stay in the car as long as it takes, I don't want to let her out of my sight. She finally gives in knowing that this battle is a losing one.

Along the road she gives me directions without telling me where we are going and we end up stopping in front of a gym.

**ARIA**

I haven't been back here in years, but when I saw his car in the parking lot I knew I wasn't wrong. There are a few bunches of flowers in front of the door of the hall and I walk around the building to the back, the stage door as my father called it. This is his first room, the first one he opened. The pictures of the opening are in the living room, dad elegant in his suit and mom to die for in her red dress. This was just before she got pregnant with Cassius, they were young and ambitious. She always supported and encouraged him in his projects. It was here, after his death, that I would come after school to do my homework. Later, I trained here with Cassius who was the only one allowed to fight me. I smile as I think about it, I've gotten older but some things don't change.