Page 9 of Dice & Dekes

I blink a few times. “So, your brilliant idea was to marry off my drunk brother in some secret ceremony? With anElvisimpersonator? You know that Sofia’s parents would lose their shit, right? They’ve been planning that weddingforever.Marco Rossi is Italian to the bone. Just like you. Would you accept that bullshit for your only daughter?”

“What can I say?” Dante lifts both hands and tries to look innocent. “I thought it might take the pressure off.”

I don’t believe this guy. Dante’s always been a meddlesome busybody, but this one might earn him an HR complaint and a shovel to the kneecaps. I’m almost glad his newest scheme went awry, for Sofia’s sake. Knight would marry her in a heartbeat, but Sofia’s really close with her family, and she’d be disappointed if she woke up to find that she’d been blacked out during the vows.

Then again, Sofia’s too smart and responsible to get roped into this, whereas Viktor and I bumbled right into it. Probably because we feel safe around each other. Too safe.

That has to stop.

“For the record, this morning was the first I’d heard of any of this,” Julie informs us. She runs a hand through her silver bob and sighs.

“Okay, well, it was a shitty plan all around, and I want an annulment.”

“You were in the presidential suite last night, I believe,” Dante says. “It’s not that easy to annul a marriage after it’s been consummated.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Gross. Were youstalkingus?”

Dante gives me a look that suggests I may have been dropped on my head as a kid. “Who do you think paid for your suite? And your room service?”

“We didn’t,” Viktor says. He rubs the back of his neck. “We didn’t consummate it. That should make it easier, right?”

Dante places one hand over his heart. “Sorry, kid. What can I say? Whiskey dick happens to the best of us.”

“Don’t talk about his—” Julie cuts herself off with a growl of frustration. “Have our repeated talks with HR taught younothing?”

“What? I was expressing my condolences.” Dante gives a little devil-may-care shrug. “Listen, don’t worry, I’ll figure something out. In the meantime, we’ll keep this quiet.”

For some reason, it hadn’t occurred to me that he would even consider sharing this information. But he has a billion photos of us, right? And I think we kissed… maybe? On camera? At the altar?

Oh my God. I don’t know what’s worse: the idea of my brother finding out about this or our parents. Knight will tease me about it until the day I die, but my Dad will go berserk on Viktor. My dad isnothis biggest fan. Viktor got on his bad side the first time he desecrated my dad’s beloved lawn by setting his unworthy foot on the grass. Imagine how Dad will react if he finds out Viktor desecratedme.

Not that he did. Not that it would be anyone’s business if we’d done anything. Except the government’s, I guess, since apparently we’re going to have to testify that we haven’t done the horizontal tango.

“Promise,” I croak. “Promise me that this conversation never leaves this room.”

“Hey, Knova. Take a breath for me.” Viktor approaches me and rubs my back, between my shoulder blades. My skin prickles like it already recognizes his touch. Did he rub my back last night?

I slap Viktor’s hand away, but not before my body betrays me with a full-body tingle. Ugh. No. No sexy thoughts. We are not doing this. “Promise.”

“I’ll do you one better.” Dante reaches into his desk and pulls out—surprise surprise—an NDA. “I’ll make everyone sign one. This will stay private.”

Viktor’s hand brushes my back again.

My body goes still.

This isn’t supposed to feel good. It isn’t supposed to feelanything.

I sign the NDA like I’m signing a treaty for a war I already lost.

Chapter Two

Viktor

Knova looks ready to crawl out of her own skin at the thought of anyone finding out about our surprise wedding. Luckily, Dante’s going to handle that part.

But her reaction? That’s fine. Totally fine. I’m not taking it personally.

Okay, maybe a little.

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