Page 98 of Wicked Prince

He gives me a mischievous smirk. "Well, I guess there has to be some benefit to going to bed with the devil."

Everything that happened yesterday seems like it was a blur. Like it might as well have happened last week.

But Lorenzo's warning does come back to me.

"This is going to sound strange, but there's something I need to ask you," I begin. He listens curiously, so I decide to continue. "How much do you know about Stefan?"

A knowing look comes into his gaze. "Let me guess. Lorenzo gave you the lecture, too?"

"He talked to you?" I cry in disbelief.

"He was worried," says Anthony. "I was going to tell you earlier. I just haven't had the chance. But yeah."

I groan. Curiosity gets the better of me, though. "Do you think there's any truth to it?"

"I wasn't sure," he admits, uncharacteristically sober. "So I had a friend of the family look into it. I can't say whether it's true that Stefan killed his girlfriend, but I can say everything Lorenzo said about the rumors is true. It was pretty big news in Italy."

I swallow hard. Somehow, I was hoping he would be able to reassure me it was all complete bullshit and that Lorenzo was either making it up or just peddling unfounded gossip.

"Oh."

"That doesn't mean it's true," Anthony says. "Just because people say something…"

"Yeah," I murmur. Somehow, it's a hollow reassurance. I'm not sure why it even hits me as hard as it does.

"This one," Anthony announces after a moment of silence, holding up a black dress. "If you really want to make Lorenzo suffer."

I can't help but smile as I take it from him. "Well… Maybe just a little."

ChapterThirty-Eight

AMELIA

At eight o'clock on the dot, I go outside and find Stefan waiting for me at the curb in his shiny new rental. I can imagine he probably has five cars like it back home, but despite being a loaded Mafia prince, he's a pretty sweet guy. And as he jumps out and goes around for my door, I can't help but smile.

It's hard to believe the rumors, even after talking with Anthony. Maybe it's just wishful thinking.

"Wow," he says, looking over me in that way that somehow manages to be appreciative without outright ogling. "I amdefinitelygoing to be the most envied guy at the party tonight."

It's definitely flattering that a guy like him would be interested in me, especially since every other straight guy on campus acts like I'm untouchable.

Except for Lorenzo, who's more than willing to touch me—as long as it's in private and there's no chance of anyone else knowing.

If I were a spiteful bitch—and if I wasn't pregnant with another guy's baby—I would probably date him, if only to give Lorenzo a taste of his own medicine.

But the truth is, I could never lead Stefan on like that. No matter what people say, the version of him I know is like a big, innocent puppy, and I don't want him to be hurt. Of course, letting him down easy is going to be another matter.

His words make me blush for some reason. "You're a master of flattery, you know that?"

"It's not flattery if it's the truth," he counters, taking my hand to help me into the car.

Once we get onto the road, he looks over at me. "So, about last night... I hope I didn't make things weird or put you on the spot or anything."

I blink in confusion for a moment. "How would you have?"

"By telling your parents I'm going to transfer," he explains.

"Oh, that," I say with a small laugh. "No, not at all. If anything, they'll probably be off my case for a while. Considering they give me all the credit."

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