Page 73 of Kissing the Villain

I wasn’t sure why she was spilling her guts to a stranger, which made me uneasy. Did Luca put her up to this? He loved playing games.

“Devil’s Creek must have been a big change for you,” I said to switch the subject. “It’s nothing like California.”

“I’m not a fan of Connecticut. It’s too cold here. I miss the sunshine and the beaches back home.”

“I miss a lot of things about Brooklyn.” I popped a fry into my mouth and chewed. “I was in the middle of a chapel restoration with my mentor before I moved to Devil’s Creek.”

“Your paintings remind me of Evangeline Franco. I see the same beautiful sadness in them.”

A smile pulled at my mouth. “She inspired a lot of my art.”

“Look,” Kali whispered, her eyes darting around the crowded restaurant. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but be careful. The women in the Salvatores’ lives seem to die or mysteriously disappear. Death surrounds them.”

“Why, what happened?”

Kali shook her head with a sickened look on her face. “For starters, they covered up Evangeline’s suicide. She overdosed on pills.”

“But I thought she…” I struggled to find the right words. “Are you sure?”

“Strange things happen in this town.” Kali clicked her tongue. “People go missing and never come back. Some die from fatal accidents. Others overdose on drugs. Watch your back, girl.”

31

ALEX

I woke with a jolt,once again in the arms of my fierce protector. Marcello shook my shoulder, staring down at me with piercing blue eyes.

I covered my mouth and yawned. “Did you stay with me?”

He shifted his weight, rocking me to the side as he leaned against the headboard. “Yes.”

I rolled my head onto his chest and looked up at him. “I don’t remember having any nightmares.”

“That’s because you didn’t have any.”

“You must be my lucky charm.” I curled up against him, and he hugged me. “You may need to sleep in my bed forever to keep the nightmares away.”

His callused fingers tapped my shoulder. “It’s time to get up, princess.”

I glanced out the windows, and the sun had yet to rise. Maybe this was a dream because no one in their right mind would get up this early without a cause.

“No, go back to sleep,” I told him. “It’s not even light outside.”

Marcello ran his long fingers up and down my back, and his gentle touch almost coaxed me back to sleep. “Open your eyes, beautiful. I want to show you something.”

“What time is it?”

“Five fifteen.”

“Gross,” I groaned. “Are you a masochist?”

He laughed. “Yeah, I guess so. Now get your pretty ass out of this bed.”

Marcello slipped his fingers between mine, and sparks danced along my skin.

“What do you want to show me?” I asked.

“Someplace I think you’ll like.”

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