Page 296 of Kissing the Villain

My nostrils flared at her confession. “Marcello knew before I did?”

Alex got on her knees and placed her hand on my shoulder. “Luca, you promised not to get angry with me.”

I breathed deeply, my eyes on the wall opposite the room. Focusing on the stolen Rembrandt painting, I took a few more breaths to calm myself down.

“Capture the Queen was your idea,” she continued, moving her hand to my thigh. “I thought he was you.”

“Please, Drea. I know you better than you know yourself. You wanted to fuck Marcello for years.”

“I’m attracted to your brother. But I love you.” She hopped onto my lap and straddled me with her sexy thighs. “My heart belongs to you. I’m marrying you.” Alex pressed her lips to mine. “I’m yours, Luca.”

“But there’s a chance you’re carrying my brother’s baby. The deal with The Founders Society…”

“I already talked to Marcello about this. If he’s the father, he’s okay with publicly saying the child is yours.”

“But I would know. So would the Knights. Do you know what this would mean for my son?”

She nodded. “Marcello explained it to me earlier.”

“Then you understand how this will affect us.”

“It would change nothing between us.” Alex sucked my lip into her mouth. “I will still be your wife, your queen. We will have children together, and they will have a claim to the Knights.”

“That’s not how it works,” I explained with irritation. “Marcello’s son would have the first claim to the Knights.”

“He would be my son, too. He would still be a Salvatore. That’s the only thing that matters.”

I hugged her against my chest, breathing in her sweet scent. “You’re right, baby. We’re a family.”

“All of us,” she added. “You, me, this baby, your brothers, the Knights.”

“I don’t want a paternity test.”

She lifted a surprised eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I’d rather not know.”

“What about Marcello? I think he does.”

“I don’t care what he wants.”

“Luca,” she snapped. “Stop being so selfish. He’s your brother. Marcello, let me go so that you could have me.”

“And I saved him from my father,” I fired back without meaning to be so nasty. “You don’t understand the relationship between Marcello and me.”

“Yes, I do. Because Marcello told me everything.” She clutched my shoulders, staring into my eyes. “He told me what you were like as a child, explained why you are so cold and cruel. He made me see past all of your flaws. When I wanted to give up on you, Marcello steered me in your direction. You should thankyour brother for championing you. He loves you more than anyone, Luca. Why can’t you see that? We all do. But you make it so hard for people to love you.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m trying to be more open with you. I have a hard time expressing emotions.”

She snorted with laughter. “No shit.”

“I love you, Drea. I would rather die than live without you.” Her tears wet my cheek as she kissed me. “You know I won’t survive without you. I wouldn’t be here now if I hadn’t gotten you back from Il Circo. I would have jumped off the cliff without a second thought. That’s how much I love you.”

“You’re no Romeo,” she said with laughter. “But I believe you. I love you so much that I can’t breathe when you’re not around. I need to know the paternity of this child. We all deserve to know the truth.”

“I’m afraid,” I admitted.

“I know.” She shoved her fingers through my hair. “I am, too. So is Marcello. I will be a Salvatore. My child will be a Salvatore. Regardless of the outcome, I expect you to raise the child with me. I need you and Marcello in different ways. You understand that, right?”

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