Page 53 of The Darkest Prince

One year later…

I’m gettingsick of waiting. Tired of not having my girl and Bash. The need to consume them is stronger than my desire to kill. It has been seeping into my skin, clawing at my insides and making my black heart even blacker.

I needthem.

After the night I almost fucked Alex, Bash and I got into a fistfight with Luca over it. We all walked away with cuts and bruises. And the next day, we agreed we couldn’t allow a woman to separate us.

So I didn’t see Alex again.

I kept my distance when I went to Providence to check on her. A few times, I caught men sniffing around by her apartment and introduced them to my hunting knife.

Bash is with me this time.

We got a tip that some Russian scumbag was searching for the heirs to the Wellington fortune. So far, I haven’t seen anyone who doesn’t live in her building coming and going all day. We have a list of every student and have done our homework.

“Time for a break.” Bash pushes off from the brick wall. “I’m starving. Call Marcello and ask him to take over while we eat.”

Marcello assists with Alex’s surveillance since he opted out of college. He stayed in Devil’s Creek to help our father run Alpha Command, a team of mercenaries who work for Salvatore Global off the books.

I reach into my pocket and text Marcello. He responds immediately and says he has eyes on Alex. If only she knew how much of her we can see daily. She’d probably be mortified to know we have cameras everywhere. We read all of her texts, listen to all of her phone calls, and intercept every email.

But it’s for her protection.

She’s been sheltered for most of her life and is too trusting of people. Look at how easily she trusted us, and we’re fucking snakes. But at least we give a damn about her.

I have killed for her.

I would doanythingfor her.

Bash pats me on the back, shoving me down the street toward his car. “Before we leave, I want to see her. Even if it’s only for a minute. I don’t care what we promised Luca.”

I nod. “Luca’s not here. What he doesn’t know won’t kill him.”

We get into his Porsche and drive to an Italian restaurant in downtown Providence. They’re booked solid for the night, but all it takes is mentioning our father’s name, and we get a table at the back of the restaurant.

Being a Salvatore opens doors. Our father goes way back with the owner, who is connected to the Sicilian Mafia.

I get into the booth beside Bash and scan the menu, already knowing what I want to order. The waitress arrives, and we send her away to grab a bottle of their best red wine while Bash takes his sweet-ass time deciding on what to eat.

“Just pick something.”

I tap the platinum and onyx ring on the table beside his hand. The black chips form a serpent that represents the Salvatore crest. Our father gave them to us when we became Knights. I’d never seen him look so proud.

“You pick.” Bastian hands me the menu. “I’m sick of making decisions.”

He’s annoyed with his grandfather, who called before we left to spy on Alex. We were having a good day until the old man had to give his two cents about Bash and his life.

Nothing is ever good enough. It doesn’t matter that Bash has straight As and will make a good CEO of Atlantic Airlines after we graduate. Bastian could turn water into wine, and Fitzy would say,Is that all you can do?

I put my hand on top of his. “Don’t worry about that old bastard. He’s only trying to fuck with your head.”

Bastian’s nostrils flare. “I fucking hate him. I wish he would die already and stay the fuck out of my business.”

“He’ll probably live forever just to torture you,” I joke, but he doesn’t find it funny.

The waitress arrives with our wine and pours us a glass. She flashes a smile at us, staring like she’s wondering how we would look naked. I know I’m good-looking. It’s not like I don’t own a mirror. But I only want one woman—and this girl is not Alex.

Not even close.

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