War for Love: A New Battle Rages

CH 20: Late Night Tea

**Gia's POV**

Things have been a little tense in the house. Particularly between Jeremiah and Joel. Even though Jeremiah and I have been married for a few months now, and the family seems to accept me and treat me like one of them, I am constantly out of the loop. Like they don't trust me yet. It is starting to feel like I am the center of the issues going on in the house. It is a very unsettling feeling. There isn't anything that stands out to me that I could have done to cause such tension, and how do I fix something when I don't know what is going on. My stress levels are going through the roof. I want to talk to my husband about it, but I don't want to make things any harder on him.

I've been feeling restless, exhausted, and like my brain has been scrambled. Alessandra tried to teach me how to meditate, but no luck. s*x with Jeremiah has helped relax me in so many ways, but once the lights go off, I'm left with my thoughts and worries. My mind goes in circles, replaying everything from the last couple of weeks. What happened? I tossed and turned. Jeremiah squirmed in his sleep, and I felt guilty for possibly disturbing him. He has finally gotten back on track with his place in their family businesses and future investments. I watched him sleep soundly for a few more moments before finally getting up from bed. Sometimes, hot tea helps me calm my nerves. Jeremiah asked the staff to keep some of my favorites in stock in the cupboard.

I was near the bottom of the steps when hushed whispers stopped me in my tracks. "No, that's unacceptable." I need to see the proof. Physical proof." It was Joel on the phone in the kitchen. It must be three in the morning. "How do I go to my brother with just rumors of a conspiracy? There has to be something. Emails, text messages. Hack their phones and accounts, I don't care." My heart sank. Did this have something to do with Jeremiah? Me? I should go back upstairs. I should mind my business. "Gia doesn't love my brother, this is all a f*****g scam I fell into for them to finally be the head of the Italian Mob. I won't let her or her father take everything we have built! Get me the proof before it's too late."

It was quiet for a while. I almost went back upstairs. Almost. With my shoulders squared and my chin high, I walked into the kitchen. I didn't try to pretend I heard nothing. I didn't even attempt to mask the hurt on my face. When Joel's eyes met mine, I could see the realization cross his face. But his emotions were indecipherable. He was too calm, but his eyes searching, almost worried. Mostly... waiting.

"My mother always called me her worry wart." I showed the little bubbles on my fingers that have been bothering me. "When I stress or worry, I get these little things that itch and irritate the hell out of me." I moved around the kitchen, grabbing the kettle, filling it with water and placing it on the stove. All the while, I felt my brother-in-law's eyes on me. "Tea sometimes helps when I can't sleep. It calms me. I used to make my own blends back home." I sat on the other side of the island, resting my arms on the table and sighing. "You can relax, Joel. Yes, I heard everything. While I am deeply hurt," my voice cracked and I cleared my throat. "I can understand why you would investigate and be suspicious of me rather than just ask me to my face."

"Are you planning on f*****g over my family?" His voice was harsher than I was prepared for, and by the coldness in his voice, nothing I said was going to make him trust me over a cup of tea. "What is going on in your family and their businesses, and why does it so coincidentally line up to when you started asking for a bigger role in the family?"

The tea kettle started to whistle, so I stood slowly and walked over to the stove. Joel watched every move very carefully. After I fixed my tea, I sat back down in my place. I was going to face this head on. "Did you know I was a virgin when I married your brother?" Maybe it was an overshare, but I needed to make him understand me when I said this. "My father saw it as a business opportunity to keep me pure until he could broker a deal that benefited the family. I was never allowed to date or have a crush. I missed prom. I had never even been kissed before your brother." I steeped my tea, just talking. "Growing up, every class I took, every language I learned, even my degrees were all carefully crafted to padden my 'marriage portfolio'. I was beaten when I didn't act a certain way, shunned when my grades weren't to my father's standards. I can't even recall a time my father hugged me. I can't even ride a bike," I chuckled.

I sipped my tea. I could see Joel was growing impatient. He wanted answers, but I honestly couldn't tell him anything. I didn't know what was going on. I'm sure he knew more than me at this point. "I was molded to be obedient, clueless, and just accept that I'm nothing other than a pawn in whatever game my father is playing. The only problem is... I don't know the game."

"You're lying, Rossi." He spat at me. Jeremiah will do anything for his family, anything for me. But I can now see Joel is the hellhound you don't want on your tail. He would rip me to pieces right now if he knew without a doubt I would hurt them.

"I wish I was so I could tell you everything. Because the mold that my father created me in, you and your family broke it, and I am molding into something better. Into me. I'm molding into a Moretti." He stepped back, shocked by my words. "This marriage... I didn't know what would come of it. But I can honestly say, I never expected this. I never would have dreamed that I was going to marry into a loving family. That I would fall in love and also be so loved by you all." I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. "Well, maybe not loved by all of you." I smiled jokingly over my cup. I saw Joel try not to crack a smile. "You don't have to trust me, but I'm asking that you have a little more respect for me by coming to me directly if you want to know something about me. If you can trust one thing, I ask that you trust when I say: I will never choose the family I came from over the family that has loved and accepted me. I'll always choose Jeremiah. I'll always choose you. You are my family."

Joel was quiet. Considering my words, going over them again and again in his mind. "Your family is about to lose everything. Something is going on in their finances. There is so much I am unburying. I hope I never find anything buried about you, Gia." His eyes were so pained and lost. "I love seeing Jeremiah happy. He is in love with you to a magnitude I can't even understand. I envy him, honestly. To see my stone-hearted brother so free. I want that for him. I want it for me too. Please don't hurt him."

"I would never hurt him. I would never hurt this family. If there is anything I can do to prove my loyalty to you, to Jeremiah. I'll do it. Even if it means watching my family home burn to the ground, and walking away from them forever. Whatever trouble they are in, has nothing to do with me." It was harsh but it was the truth.

"You know family means everything. By extension, your family is our family and we should help." Joel looked like he hasn't been sleeping. Like the weight of holding up this family is finally crushing him.

"They burned that bridge when they disowned me for standing up to their abuse. They made their choice. I'm happy with mine." I put my cup in the sink and smiled sadly. "Goodnight, Joel. I wish you peace in your dreams, since reality will not let you rest fairly."

"Goodnight, Gia Moretti."

The way he used my married name felt like progress. Maybe even acceptance. I crawled into bed next to the love of my life, finally feeling my mind clear, my heart less heavy. For the first night in weeks, I slept peacefully.