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“Good. Then I’ll have my lawyers amend the contract and have it sent to you to review so it’s ready for the wedding.”

“Excellent.” I clap my hands together with a grin, then hold my right one out to shake on it with the three men.

Nico squeezes mine harder than the others. “Mia will always be a Carfano. She may be taking your last name, but she’ll always be a Carfano and carry our protection.”

“She’ll be protected by me,” I inform him, offended that he thinks otherwise. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“You better not.”

He lets go of my hand and I stand. “Well, if there’s nothing else for today, then I should go. I have a fitting at my tailor for a new tux.”

“I gave the wedding planner your information, but here’s her card so you can reach out with any questions.”

“Thanks.” Pocketing the card he hands me, I walk out of there and can’t help but look to see if Mia is still sitting in the room next door.

She’s going to be a handful, and I can’t fucking wait until she’s my wife.

It's going to be a long two weeks until I see my lovely, angry bride-to-be again. I’ll give her these two weeks to come to terms with it all, but once my ring is on her finger, all bets are off.

Chapter 7

Mia

2 weeks later…

I can’t believe I’m getting married today.

I’m marrying a man I’ve spent the past two weeks trying not to think about outside the parameters of hatred and anger.

Of course, I’ve failed miserably every time my head hit the pillow at night. During the day wasn’t much easier, but there’s something about the honesty that’s found in those moments in the dark when you’re trying to shut your brain off and all it does is run through everything you want to forget.

I haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep in weeks, my mind reeling with ‘what ifs’ and questions, and wondering how I’m going to survive this marriage.

What if I never went out that night? Would I have a clean hatred for him rather than a mix of hate and desire?

What if Kat and Dante weren’t already in love with one another when she was supposed to marry Santino? Does he still want her? Did he ever want her like he’s claiming he wants me?

What if I just made a run for it?

What if I refused to marry him at the alter?

What if I marry him and everything he thinks will happen, does?

What if I end up liking being married to him?

Santino knew it was me that night in the club and he still…

I shake my head clear of the memory. No, I can’t think about it. Because if I do, then I’m only going to find myself worked up with no outlet.

Fuck him.

I’ll bet he thinks he was so clever in tricking me. He played the part of my sexy stranger so perfectly, too.

Arrogant asshole.

From the moment I was able to regain my composure and walk out of that conference room two weeks ago, I’ve been on the phone with the wedding planner, making sure I get everything I want, sparing no expense. If my family insists we need this arrangement, then I’m going to make sure they get a good dent in their profits from this deal by throwing my dream wedding.

I’d like to think if I was truly in love, I wouldn’t care about all the details and I’d just want to be married to the love of my life, like when Kat and Dante got married. Not that a big wedding doesn’t mean you’re not in love. Hell, Leo and Abri’s wedding was in a fucking castle with hundreds of people in attendance.

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