Page 6 of Sinful Wrath

“No.”

Lucia glares at me

“I wasn’t your daddy’s first choice for a husband, so it took a little time for him to come around to the idea of a replacement. We didn’t want to mention anything to you until we had finalized it all.”

“And he chose you?” Her eyes flick over me again.

My arms flex, my muscles straining against the tight material of my shirt. “Who was the first choice?”

“My oldest brother, Alexei.”

Her eyes widen and a soft flush appears on her cheeks.

“Oh, I like him,” she purrs, flicking her long hair over her shoulder. “I’ve seen his picture in the paper. He’sveryhandsome.”

“Too bad he’s fucking married,” I growl. “And so is Dimitri.”

“You’rethird? Wow, nice to see I get the sloppy leftovers when it comes to the Koslovs.”

I say nothing. My temper is starting to rise, but I can’t afford to say something that I might come to regret.

Thankfully, a young waiter appears to clear away our plates. “Your usual dessert, Miss Conti?”

Lucia’s rich brown eyes light up as she turns her attention to the waiter.

I ball my hands into fists as she licks her lips and offers him a sweet smile as she pushes her chest out, which has the poor kid practically drooling.

Is she always like this? If so, This needs to stop.

I can’t be having her flirt with every guy she comes across.

Even if this isn’t a conventional marriage, she’s still going to have to abide by some rules. If she’s linked to my name, I can’t have her face blasted over the front page of the tabloids every other day. She’ll not only put a target on her back, but on my family’s as well.

I have a responsibility to keep them safe, and I’m not going to risk them because of some entitled brat who doesn’t like hearing the word no.

This might be more effort than it’s worth. But there’s no way I can back out, not after the shit that went down with Dimitri last year.

“No, thank you, Elio. I think tonight we’re going to have the tiramisu to share,” she says in that sultry tone.

“I don’t eat dessert.” My patience is starting to thin.

“Of course, you don’t.” She rolls her eyes. “More for me, then.”

Once Elio leaves, Lucia leans forward, resting her arms on the table as she watches me carefully.

“Something wrong?” The corners of her lips twitch. When she catches me looking, her tongue darts out to wet her lower lip.

“No.”

“Hmm…” Her eyes narrow. “So, did you bring me an engagement ring or what?”

I frown. “Excuse me?”

“We’re getting married, right?”

“Unfortunately.” I’m past caring.

I’ve sat through almost an hour of this dinner, and I have a mountain of work to do back at the office. The sooner I can be free of Lucia, the better.

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