Page 10 of Prince of Malice

“Stepbrother,” I correct him. “How do you know him?”

“Oh, everyone knows Luca Valenti. The same way that everyone knows you.” He pauses. “Look, this is all too complicated for me, I’m sorry.” Darius walks off once again, and I know he won’t come back.

My eyes lock back onto Luca.

You just have to ruin everything for me, don’t you? I could have fucked Darius 7 ways tonight and released some of this pent up anger I’m carrying.

I slam my drink down. Barging across the room of people, I make a beeline toward Luca. I won’t let him keep messing up my night.

This time, I’m able to get close enough without him noticing. I pounce toward him and shove him back. “What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss.

“What the hell?” he yells, barely able to keep his footing. “Dom?”

I push toward him again, getting so close to keep him trapped against the wall. “Don’tcall me Dom,” I snarl. “Now, tell me what you’re doing here.”

“Alright, alright. Just relax, Jesus. I go to Valmont,” he rambles. “I got invited by my friend. She’s right over there.” Luca points toward a girl already talking with someone else. “Is that okay? Or are you going to attack me again?”

“You can cut the crap. You know exactly why I did that.” I sneer at him. “Your whole act is getting old.”

“My whole act? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His tone sounds like it's designed to piss me off.

“Oh sure. So you’re telling me that no one’s called you on this before? You’re nothing more than a fake and manipulative dick.”

“You need to calm down,” he murmurs. “You’re going to cause a scene, and from what I’ve heard, that won’t go well here.”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about! You provoke me, and then when I actually do something about it, you make me look like some psycho.”

“You’re the one that said it,” he jokes but cuts his laugh short after seeing my glare.

“Why do you keep turning up, huh? Why can’t you just stay away from me?”

“What? You’re the one who stormed over here. What was wrong with that guy you were talking to?” He laughs. “I can’t exactly blame you if you prefer me. I mean, come on.”

Seeing his smirk makes my face turn red. I wish it were from anger, but I can’t be too sure.

“Oh my god! You’re blushing?” he quips.

“Screw this!” I howl and storm out.

Barging through the crowded room, I hear Luca finally go quiet. I can’t keep putting up with him; I’m sick of it. From now on, if I see him, I’m just going to walk away. I won’t let him get the satisfaction of pushing my buttons.

4

LUCA

Dominic can’t seem to get away from me fast enough. Despite not knowing he was even here, the party feels so much more empty now than it was with him here. I paw around me for the drink that I placed down when he came at me. Throwing back what’s left of it, I stand up straight, getting back to where I was before he shoved me aside.

He really can’t bear being around me, but why?

“You okay, Luca? What the hell was that?” My friend Emilio places a hand on my arm to steady me.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just—” I struggle for theright words. In shock? Mad? Frustrated? Disappointed? “I don’t know…” They’re the only words I can find.

“Who was that guy? Wait, was that him?” Emilio gasps.

“Yep, that’s Dominic Rossi.”

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