Page 52 of Sinner's Perdition

“Then I hope it involves your pussy.” He has zero self-preservation instincts. I huff, unsettled by the thought.

“Never.”

“Tonight.”

I am ready to attack him when the car parks and the driver opens the door for us.

“Never,” I say through gritted teeth while he smirks.

“Always.”

He grips my hand and eyes locked, the world around disappears. There is no wonder everyone buys the lies.

Chapter 14

The driver parks in front of the location of the reception—an iconic building, a mixture of historic charm and contemporary elegance. Inside the spectacular ballroom, chandeliers drip down from the ceiling. Candles and floral arrangements decorate the lined-up tables. Cheers greet us when we enter. Wrapping my hands around her waist, we dance to a slow song. The feeling of her in my arms both pacifies me and ignites a raw possessiveness in me. But the second the song stops, she bolts.

Run, but I will always catch you.

She’s my wife. Mine. Finally.

As the evening progresses, I watch Chiara dancing with her father as my brother and my cousin flank me. Even through the mass of people, our eyes find each other’s. The way she challenges me makes me feel alive but also has me questioning my sanity.

“When is the honeymoon?” my cousin asks.

The moment I trust her. “I am busy.”

“Come on, man, you can trust us.”

“You forget I have other things on the line as well.”

And right on cue, Cameron appears and slaps me on the back.

“Congratulations or my condolences. Take your pick.”

“The latter one,” both my brother and cousin say in unison, and all three grin. Fucking assholes.

“I’m out,” my brother says when Chiara’s sister rounds the corner to the bathroom.

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

He salutes me with a shit-eating grin.

Alone with Cameron, we eye Kieran and Aurora on the dance floor.

“Did you believe they would be like this?” I ask.

“To be honest, I expected things to go smoother, but . . .”

“So, your master plan got fucked up?”

“Look at them. It was just a small detour,” he says, pride coloring every syllable.

“Kieran said what makes it work is communication. Compromise.”

We stare at each other blankly. Obviously, neither one of us understands the concept.

With every hour that passes, my annoyance and need grow exponentially. While my wife plasters a fake smile and talks to everyone except me. I am about to lose my shit with every new person either congratulating me or wanting to engage me in conversation. I can’t wait for this night to end. Chiara is surrounded by the women in my family, all of them asking where we will go for our honeymoon.

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