Page 280 of Kissing the Villain

I lay my head on his chest. “Do I have to take over for my grandmother?”

He nodded. “It’s your birthright as it’s mine to be the leader of The Devil’s Knights.”

“Is it safe to leave the estate?”

“We’re going to the marina. I think we can make it there and back without getting shot.”

I tapped his shoulder and groaned. “Don’t make jokes about getting shot.”

“I will be with you at all times. So will the Knights. Cal Kurti and his men are dead. Marcello sent a team to Albania to finish his father and the rest of their associates.”

“I’m worried about The Carver,” I choked out.

“He’s waiting until our wedding to take you,” he said confidently.

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“It’s what I would do. My father and brothers agree. You’re safe with us.”

“I don’t doubt your skills.” Sinking my teeth into my lip, I fisted the sheets between my fingers. “It’s just…”

Luca ran his fingers through my messy hair. “You can’t spend the rest of your life worrying. Trust me. We have until the wedding.”

“Is this really what you want to remember on our wedding day? Maybe we should move the date back until after you find The Carver.”

“I won’t let our enemies destroy our wedding,” he promised, his tone severe. “But you need to understand this is our only chance of eliminating the threat against us.”

I had always put my faith in Luca, so I nodded.

“Okay. But if our perfect day is a nightmare, we’ll elope in the Mediterranean.”

“It won’t come to that.” He tapped my ass, a smirk in place. “Get your sexy ass in the shower. Help Kali and the Belles prepare for tonight’s event.”

I kissed his lips. “So bossy.”

“You love it when I boss you around.” Luca carried me into the bathroom. “Tonight is a night you will never forget, my queen.”

“And why is that?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said with a wink.

102

ALEX

I hated stuffy,catered events that required me to mingle with the WASPs of Devil’s Creek. A few of my grandfather’s friends stopped at our table with their wives. We engaged in the obligatory boring conversations.

Everyone in our inner circle was in attendance for the Founders’ Ball. I wondered if The Carver would make an appearance. Would he wait until the wedding to steal me from Luca? And why did he even care about winning me in an auction? There were dozens of women listed for sale at theIl Circoauction. He could have easily replaced me.

As I swept through the room on Luca’s arm, I offered stories to entertain the women, leaving out the corrupt truths about my life. The Salvatores and the Wellingtons were among the honorees. All the founding families sat at the front of the room at a long banquet table. Aiden was across the room, flirting and drinking with local girls.

My mother drank flutes of champagne as if Prohibition had started in the morning. Occasionally, her eyes darted across the room to Arlo.

I swiped a glass of champagne from a server’s tray and took a sip. Downing the first glass in one gulp, I licked my lips as the sweetness hit my tongue.

Savanna Cormac approached me, dressed in a black, silky gown, her blond hair pinned into a curled updo. She sipped from a glass of champagne as she stopped beside me. We spoke about the Devil’s Creek Belles and the future of the women’s group. I expressed my lack of desire to lead them, but she assured me I would be better than Blair.

Sonny strolled up to us with a sexy smirk. Dressed in a bespoke suit that fit his muscular body like a glove, he slid his arm behind my back, pushing my hip into his side. “Is my mother boring you with stories about the Belles?”

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