Page 102 of Heir of Darkness

“I can’t say that he was on my list, but life is full of surprises,” he said.

“I wish we were running off to some honeymoon afterwards,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Somewhere tropical, where clothes aren’t necessary.”

“If you want a private island, all you have to do is ask,” he said, his voice now low and seductive. “But I do have something planned.”

“Does it include leaving this house?”

“Only if you’re a good girl,” he said.

Her cheeks flared red. “I thought I already was your good girl.”

“You are.” He kissed her, letting it linger. “You’re my perfect fucking good girl.”

It had been too many long fucking weeks at this point. And sure, they could have fucked anytime in the past week, but why not save it for their wedding? The idea was smart five days ago when they decided on it. Now, it was fucking torture.

“I need to talk to your asshole fiancé,” Finn said, interrupting their moment.

Luna rolled her eyes. As if out of instinct, Valerio’s hands clenched up into fists. She was there in no time unclenching them for him. “Sure. I’m going to go check in with Gianna.”

She got up, leaving him with a lingering look as she walked away. Valerio crossed his arms, waiting for Finn to begin. “Start talking, I have shit to do.”

“Can we go somewhere private?” he asked.

Valerio clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the dramatics. “Sure.”

They moved out into the hallway, away from the chaos and Gianna’s yelling from the living room. Valerio wanted to remind himself that this was Luna’s brother, that he shouldn’t have had his guard up the way he did, but he never trusted Finn. He never had a reason to. From the moment they had been born, they had been groomed to hate each other. Valerio marrying his sister was an attempt to soothe out that hatred, but after generations, it seemed impossible to do.

“So, what was so important you had to pull me away from Luna?” he asked, leaning against the wall. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to object to the wedding now.”

“I don’t think it would make a difference either way,” Finn said. “She has big plans for what our future can look like.”

“And you don’t agree with them?” Valerio raised his brow.

Finn snorted. “Don’t tell me you actually think there is a world where we don’t hate each other. It would never happen.”

“Why?”

“Because you love your name and I love mine. We exist far better in a world where we don’t find the need to work together,” Finn said. “I’ll coexist for the sake of Luna, but anything else is off the table for me.”

“I always knew you were a fucking idiot. I just didn’t know the extent of it,” Valerio said, shaking his head sarcastically. “Remind me again why you’re staying in my house?”

Finn clenched his jaw. “I came to support my sister.”

“You could have texted or called, not sat in the hospital waiting room,” he pointed out. “I wonder if it has anything to do with your fear that your father might turn on you the same way he turned on Luna.”

Finn shrugged. “I’m protecting myself. She was almost killed, you were almost killed. It seems like I’m next in line.”

“You’re his perfect little loyal heir. Why would he want you killed?”

“Why did yours want you dead?” Finn asked.

It was silent. He stared at him, trying to figure out who the hell he was. “If you suspect your father wants you dead, why not get rid of him first? Why are you so against Luna’s plans?”

“Because as fucking horrible as he is, I can’t find myself willing to put a bullet in him. At the end of the day, he’s still my father.” Finn’s voice was just over a whisper, as if he were scared to admit it not only to Valerio, but to himself as well. It looked like he had a weakness too, the same one that kept him up at night.

How fucking tragic, Valerio had so much in common with someone he hated so badly.

“Then it’s a good thing I’m willing to do it for Luna myself,” Valerio said, pushing himself off the wall. He stopped for a moment. “If you need a real reason to hate me, you’ll have it. I’ll be the one murdering your father, not a Kingsley, not Luna—me, a Vitali. I’ll give your sister the justice she deserves. Hell, I’ll even give you the justice you deserve but you’re too much of a fucking coward to go out and get yourself.” He shook his head. “It’s a shame you don’t want to work together in the future. You could have genuinely been a good asset if you didn’t let it all go to waste.”

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