Page 43 of King Of Order

That stung more than I cared to admit.

Maybe she was right. My life didn’t leave room for things like romance or sunsets.

Of late, I’d been consumed with cleaning up all our Calibrese shit. Dealing with our enemies in the shadows, and wrapping up our affairs in Italy that I’d not dated in months, let alone fallen in like with any woman.

The thought of playing pretend in such a sacred role felt off.

However, I’d be a fool to deny the opportunity.

I needed to get that close to her brothers—her father.

This fake engagement would give me a seat at their table, a chance to learn their moves, their secrets. And Chiara? She was my way in.

‘Va bene,’ I rasped after a long pause. ‘I’ll do it. But remember, this is business. Nothing else.’

She nodded, her relief almost imperceptible. ‘Of course. Strictly professional.’

Yeah right.I’d be a dupe to believe it would stay that way.

Things like this had a habit of getting messy, but I’d play along for now.

‘So, how will this arrangement work? They’ll dig, you know.’

‘We’ll have to fabricate a history—photos of our love story and engagement. We’ll require them all updated and backdatedon my private Instagram. You might also need to move into my visitor’s apartment or here with me.’

I raised a brow. ‘You came up with that, now?’

She nodded. ‘I’ve learned to think fast in my world.’

‘How do you propose gathering said evidence?’ I smirked.

‘We can make our shit up right now, in my backyard,’ she said, tapping her phone.

I sucked my teeth. ‘Color me skeptical.’

‘It’s the only way my shallow, vapid brothers will believe me if I make it appear similar to what their empty-headed and botoxed girlfriends do for their socials. Only a few images. It’s all it’ll take. I’ll even upload them with software that can backdate them online.’

‘You’re a trip,’ I mused at her, scoffing in disbelief.

She puckered her mouth and gave me a self-satisfied look.

Which also happened to be sexy as all hell.

She had me.

‘Make it happen,’ I growled.

She reached a hand out to me.

I slid mine into it, and we shook it to firm up our deal.

My eyes locking with hers, I pushed a tongue in my cheek, still unsure.

Her pursing lips curled in a pout that sent a jolt straight to my cock.

Fuck me.

‘Ready.’

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