Page 301 of Kissing the Villain

Luca shoved me behind him, pressing my chest into his back. My heart beat a million miles per minute as I peeked over his arm to look at the men entering the room. The Knights stood in front of Luca, now with guns in their hands.

“Claudio?” Arlo said as he glared at the man who told me his name was The Carver. “What are you doing here?”

He stepped into the room with armed men at his sides, a gun in his hand. “You haven’t figured it out yet, Arlo? And here I thought you were the smart one in the family.”

My eyes widened at his confession. “What is he talking about?” I asked Luca.

“Claudio is my uncle.”

“No,” I whispered. “He’s The Carver.”

Marcello moved beside me. “What are you talking about?”

“I met him on the boat on our way to the island. He said his friends call him The Carver.”

Marcello’s lips pulled into a thin line. “This is about Dad,” he told Luca.

“And Mom,” Luca added.

“What’s going on?” I muttered.

Marcello dipped his head and whispered, “Uncle Claudio was engaged to our mom before she met my dad.”

I recalled Sonny’s story at the Founders Ball, and a shiver rushed down my arms. “That’s why he bought me? To get back at your dad?”

Marcello nodded. “That would be my guess.”

“Mine too,” Luca confirmed. “I didn’t see this coming.”

“No,” Marcello agreed. “Neither did I.”

Arlo walked down the makeshift aisle with determination. “What gives you the right to show up at my home?”

“You’re keeping my property from me,” Claudio boomed. “I came here to collect.”

Sonny tapped Finn on the shoulder. “Get Mom and Dad out of here.”

“Take my parents, too,” Drake said.

Finn slipped from the group with Cole at his side. They worked on getting our family members out of the room through the side entrance. No one seemed to notice them exiting the space, which was too busy with the main attraction. The Carver wanted to steal me back from Luca, and he wasn’t leaving here without a fight.

“No one is leaving my house,” Arlo said with his gun at his side. “Your issue is with me, Claudio. Let’s settle this like men.”

“Your sons took Alexandrea from my island. I paid thirty million dollars for her, and she is coming home with me.”

Arlo held out his hand, gesturing toward the front of the room. “As you can see, Alexandrea has just married my son. She’s not going anywhere. Even you know the bonds of marriage are unbreakable in our world.”

Claudio clicked his tongue. “I no longer adhere to rules.”

“What is it you want? Revenge for me taking Eva from you?”

“We’re long past that,” Claudio shot back as he approached Arlo. “You killed Eva.”

“I did no such thing,” Arlo snapped.

“She was mine.” Claudio’s face twisted in disgust. “And you ruined her, turned her into your Queen. Forced her to become part of the Knights.”

“She wanted this life, brother. Eva chose me.”

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