Page 187 of Kissing the Villain

“Yeah.” She blew out a deep breath. “I’m afraid I can’t trust myself. What if I make the wrong choice?”

“Go with your first instinct. That’s what I do.”

She looked up at me. “I need you, too.”

“I know.”

“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

Before I could respond, the piano music came to a screeching halt. I grabbed Alex’s hand and led her toward the back stairwell.

“Why are we power walking?” Alex muttered.

“Because Bash will flip out if he knows we were listening to him. He gets unnerved about it.”

“He’s really good,” she commented. “Shame he doesn’t play in front of people. I bet he could sell out a concert.”

“Don’t even mention you know about his music.”

She moved her fingers across her lips like she was zipping them shut. “His secret is safe with me.”

Once inside her bedroom, we stripped to our underwear and climbed onto the mattress. We slept like this most nights. Luca knew and didn’t seem to care. His brief moment of jealousy passed after I gave him some assurance. The night we brought Alex to the temple, I promised I wouldn’t let her choose me, even if that was what she wanted.

66

ALEX

With Luca’sbirthday quickly approaching, I had a huge decision to make. The choice seemed impossible, though I knew from the start who would win.

I sat on the back patio with Kali, sipping mimosas as we finished our brunch. Luca was working from his home office while Marcello stood watch, keeping his distance. I’d asked him for some privacy with Kali. Someone was always hovering over me, and I was beginning to feel like I couldn’t breathe in this house.

Marcello stood beside Dom. The two of them spoke in hushed tones, their eyes on the bay. A warm breeze blew off the water, messing up my curls. I tucked them behind my ears and watched Marcello interact with his newest team member. Soon, Marcello would have to leave for a mission. It was only a matter of time. His job took him away from Devil’s Creek more often than Luca’s position at Salvatore Global.

“Who are you going to choose?” Kali asked me.

I turned my head to look at her.

She followed my gaze to the edge of the cliff. “Marcello or Luca?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I confessed, which was the truth.

“Luca’s birthday is this weekend. Bash said they’re planning a game to celebrate his thirtieth.”

“Yeah, Luca mentioned something about a party.”

“This won’t be like any other party you’ve attended at his estate.” She covered her mouth and laughed. “Trust me, girl, this one will be wild.”

“How so?”

“Remember what I told you about over lunch? About the crazy parties?”

I nodded.

“This one will be epic,” she said with certainty.

“I haven’t gotten a present for Luca yet. I wanted to buy him something special, but they won’t let me leave the house.”

“Luca doesn’t want things,” she said with a smile. “He wants you. Put on some sexy lingerie and give him a lap dance. I’m sure he’d be happy with that.”

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