Page 5 of Surprise Pregnancy for Villain

I shudder inside. Outside, I force a smile.

“No compliments for me?” he asks, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“That suit looks sharp on you,” I offer. “Your tailor is a miracle worker.”

Daddy groans.

Lucca’s mouth turns up with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I love that you have a sense of humor, darling.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to yell that I’m not his darling, but Daddy cuts in. “Shall we? The guests are waiting, and I have a business meeting in twenty minutes.”

My body stiffens as Lucca slips his arm through mine, and we enter the grand ballroom to cheers and whistles. After the obligatory introductions, I’m free to circulate about the room. All I want to do is find a quiet corner in which to disappear for an hour. I text Katie to apologize and ask her to come back around nine o’clock instead. This time, I give her the security code for the underground parking garage. A Borelli doesn’t make the same mistake twice.

“Nicki!” a voice calls, and I look up to see my cousin Carmen waving to me from one of the bar stations. I quickly join her and order a glass of white wine. Although I’m going to turn 21 next year, I’m still technically and legally not allowed to drink, but since it’s a private party,myparty, no one cares. Certainly, no one’s going to tell on me. Luckily, the Satellite Club is one of a few bars around that allows 18 to 20s in as long as they don’t drink; that is, as long as they don’t getcaughtdrinking.

“Carmen! How nice to see you,” I say, quickly taking a gulp of wine to calm my nerves.

“Great to see you, too. Let’s grab a seat so we can talk.” She leads the way to a comfy couch against the back wall.

“So, how’s the blushing bride to be?” she asks, smirking. She knows I don’t want to marry Lucca. She doesn’t know the entire reason, though.

“Furious,” I say. “I can’t believe Daddy is making me go through with this.”

“It’s the price you pay for being part of this family,” she says. “Lucca’s not that bad looking, really. A few more drinks, and he’ll look even better.”

“Not enough wine in Italy to make him look good to me,” I say, hoisting my glass and taking another sip. “I’d rather be kidnapped and held hostage than marry him.”

Carmen scoffs. “Well, you’d better get that ransom money ready girl. Knowing Uncle Gio, there’s nothing on this earth that will stop this wedding.”

Oh, we’ll see about that.

“Ooh… here comes your fiancé.” She motions behind me with a jerk of her chin.

I cringe, but don’t turn to look. I pull out my phone and start scrolling. Maybe he’ll divert course. But no luck. I feel the weight of his body as he sits down next to me. “There you are, my future wife,” he says in that nasally tone, which grates on my nerves.“You’ve been scarce since they introduced our entrance. I don’t take too kindly to being ignored.”

I keep doing just that, my attention on the screen in my hand.

Carmen rises. “I’ll get us a refill,” she says, collecting our glasses. I throw her a panicked look. How dare she leave me alone with him? She mouths,‘I’ll be right back. Relax’.

Lucca moves a little closer until our thighs are touching. The smell of his cologne is so overpowering I can barely breathe. “Look at me, Nicoletta.”

“Nope,” I reply, still fussing with my phone.

“I said,look at me,” he hisses.

“And I said no,” I hiss back. “I’m not your wife, Lucca.”

“Not yet…”

A chill runs up the back of my neck. “I’m not obligated to obey you.”

“As I said, not yet.” He brushes a lock of my hair aside. “Soon.”

Over my dead body. “Well,soonis not today. You have no business touching me without my permission.”

Lucca scoffs. “Mhmm. I’m going to enjoy this.”

The unexpected amusement in his tone makes me finally glance around at him. “Enjoy what?”

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