Page 128 of Sinful Sacrifice

Luca shakes his head. “Nah, I stay far away from you Cavallaro sisters. If your father even catches a whiff of me with Isabella, he’ll immediately attempt to draft a marriage contract.”

It’s wild. Not too long ago, most of these men wanted to kill each other.

Insert Gigi, a woman, to tame them.

To end the war.

The power of a damn woman.

Damien snatches my glass, settles it on the table, and captures my hand. “Come on. You owe me a dance.”

Owe him?

I hear Genesis mutter something along the lines of, “Bad idea,” as Damien hauls me away.

“Are you nuts?” I ask while he pulls me into the building and through the crowd. “People will tell Cernach.”

The orchestra plays a rendition of a song I recognize but can’t put a name to. Right before we reach the dance floor, Damien cuts a right to the stone staircase. If it wasn’t for him leading the way, I’d lose my balance from the lack of light. He doesn’t stop until we’re outside on a balcony overlooking the courtyard.

Releasing my hand, he spins me around to face the now-empty altar. “That could’ve been us,” he says in what sounds like agony.

I tremble when he shoves the weight of his chest against my back and holds me in place.

His mouth lowers to my ear. “We could’ve had this a year ago. The ceremony. The vows. The fucking first dance. I had it in my calendar, remember?” A sneer joins his tone, an attempt to hide the pain in his voice. “The day I ask Pippa to marry me.”

I shut my eyes, a tear falling down my cheek, remembering that morning.

How I’d declared I needed a year, and he made a show of scheduling it on his phone.

“You gave it up. Gave us up.” He raises his hand to my neck, giving it a squeeze before stroking the skin. “You walked away out of stubbornness.” He scoffs. “You think you didn’t let Cernach win by leaving me? He didn’t win just that fight with you, Pippa. He won the goddamn war.”

More tears slip down my cheeks.

Heartbreak rises through my entire body as I gulp down sobs.

Regret pours through me like it’s somehow joined my blood.

I did this.

I ruined us.

And now, there’s no way to fix it.

I grip his arm on my chest. “I made a mistake, Damien.”

“A mistake that can’t be changed,” he spits.

“I asked Cernach to change the contract and let us marry instead, but he said no.”

“Why would he? You wronged him, and he’ll make us pay for it.”

Staring ahead, I take in the beauty of the lit-up courtyard and people celebrating this moment of love. I’ll never have this with the man I love.

“Had you not destroyed us, there’d be a ring on your finger,” he continues, his voice thick with emotion. “Our life might’ve been chaotic at times, but we’d be happy.” He lifts his hand to my chin, holding it firmly. “Look at it. Look at what we could’ve had.”

“I’m sorry,” I say around swallows.

Around sobs.

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