Page 15 of Forever Fake

I hang up on him, not in the mood for stupid questions. I’ll deal with his problem later, after dinner with Ginevra.

And Roman’s going to help me because he sent Kozlov my way. I swear my best friend’s going soft since he married the eldest Pontrelli girl. He and Kozlov are brothers-in-law by marriage, and he treats the young Bratvapakhanlike family.

Shit, I just realized thatI’llbe joining that family when I wed the youngest Pontrelli—even temporarily. Roman’s going to give me hell for marrying her, then dig my grave when I divorce her, supposedly breaking her heart. For a fleeting second, I consider letting him in on this game Gin and I are playing, then dismiss the idea. No one can know the truth. Not even Roman.

CHAPTER 8

Ginevra

Once upon a time I thought it would be romantic to be kidnapped and fall in love—nope. I was wrong. Not that I’m being kidnapped exactly, and I’m certainly not falling in love with Mr. Baron. How could I? The guy’s not only blackmailing me, but he sits across the table and literally scowls at everyone in the restaurant. He might look pretty on the outside, aside from the deep crease between his eyebrows, but his insides are rancid. He’s murdered women and children.

I was fourteen when he took away my best friend and her entire family. Viviana had two older sisters, the same ages as mine, and the six of us were close. Our world was turned upside down when the Marino family disappeared one night, never to be heard from again. The fifth pillar of the mafia families just… gone.

Now I’m sitting at dinner with the man responsible.

I smile at our server, letting her know that she’s done nothing wrong despite Blake’s expression. “I’ll have the chicken, please. Thank you.”

She offers me a quick grin and a nod before taking our order to the kitchen.

I turn my full attention on Blake, who continues to glower at the dining room. Reaching out, I touch his fingers and he twitches, his bright, steely gaze locking on mine.

“What are you doing?” he demands.

“Acting.” I take his hand in mine. “That’s why you brought me here, right? So we can look like a couple in public?” My casual tone belies the twisting of my stomach. I can’t help that he makes me nervous. I mean, Ishouldbe nervous, right?

Besides becoming his fake wife, I don’t know what he has in store for me.

He sits back in his chair, but doesn’t remove his hand from mine. “Actually, I brought you here to discuss terms, specifics of our agreement. I figure we should date for one month before announcing our engagement, then we can have a quick late summer wedding. It’ll be a whirlwind romantic affair. Do you think you can handle that?”

I lift a haughty brow. “Canyou?”

He interlaces his fingers with mine and gives them a squeeze. Our body language is in complete contrast to the topic we’re discussing—business, strategy, how to fool everyone in our lives into thinking this relationship is real. While on the outside we look like every other couple enjoying dinner atSpadesthis evening.

I’m pretty sure this is the same restaurant where Roman proposed to my sister Sophia after they talked terms. What is it about this place?

“I can handle anything thrown at me,” Blake says. The arrogance in his tone has me rolling my eyes. “Let’s talk rules.”

Before I can respond, he’s listing off the rules we’re playing by—or at least the oneshe’splaying by.

“One, no falling in love or catching feelings for one another.” His gaze roams my face.

“No worries there.” I flash him a dazzling smile, but the bite of my words still hit their mark.

He gives me a slight glare, but continues. “When the time is appropriate, you will move in with me. My step-mother has a sharp eye and in order to pull this off we must live together. She’ll?—”

“As roommates, right? You don’t expect… anything more. Do you?” I really should have asked about this before agreeing to fake marry him, especially with the way his hands roamed my body at his house last night. We both know he didn’t need to do that to find his figurine.

Unexpectedly, a flush warms my body. The slow, sensual way he searched my body still makes my skin tingle. No man has ever touched me like that before. It was so sensuous.

Blake lifts my hand to his lips. His warm breath caresses my fingers. “I expect fidelity. You won’t be sleeping around on me.”

“And how about you? Are you going to be faithful to me as well?”

“Absolutely. I can’t risk getting caught with another woman by my step-mother, and she will be the most difficult to convince. I won’t do anything to put my goal in jeopardy. However… I don’t expect someone with your reputation to be celibate for an entire year. I’m sure we can come to an arrangement that fits both of our needs.” Blake’s heated gaze never leaves my eyes.

Myreputation?

I shouldn’t be angry considering that I purposely crafted and fed this reputation he’s talking about. But I’m fucking livid that he sees me as an easy lay. A slut. Does he think I’m going to be his own personal whore? Heat creeps from my chest up to my ears. With my free hand, I toss my hair over my shoulder.

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