Page 7 of Heir of Darkness

Valerio’s face fell in an instant. “Which classes?”

“I’m not telling you,” she said, acting innocent. “I deserve some eye candy this semester. Don’t you agree?”

“Are you trying to make me jealous?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.

Luna shrugged. “I’m not trying to do anything.”

“Let me remind you that I have nothing to be jealous of. You’re going to be my wife. With one bullet in those little boys’ heads, they’ll be taken care of. Wiped from the face of the planet,” Valerio said. His voice was darker, the banter completely gone.

Luna clenched her jaw. “I want a copy of that contract.”

“Why?” he asked. “Eager to fulfill it?”

“I’m going to find a loophole in it,” she said. “I know there has to be one in there somewhere.”

Valerio’s eyes narrowed for a moment before his face switched back to being emotionless. It was strange how often he was able to change his facial expression. It was even stranger how he was able to choose when he showed emotion and when he didn’t.

“Good luck with that,” he said. He leaned in, placing a kiss on her cheek. Luna’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. Her cheek tingled from where his lips had touched her, and for a tiny second, she imagined what they would feel like on her lips. She blamed the shock and exhaustion on that.

He pushed away, turning to leave before he stopped mid-step. “Oh, feel free to buy a couple more of those smutty books you like. My card is on your account; you might as well get used to using our money.”

Rage blossomed through her. She swore she could feel steam escaping out of her ears. She needed to find a way to expel the devil, and quickly, before his claws sunk deeper into her.

THREE

VALERIO

As the oldestson and heir to the Vitali Empire, Valerio always got everything he wanted while growing up. His mother had tried to teach him to be a gentle, loving, compassionate boy. Her death when he was nine years old meant that he was left to his father’s reins. Cesare made sure Valerio was ruthless, unforgiving, and emotionless. It was a liability to feel emotions; it showed others there was a weakness to exploit.

Valerio was a monster. He could admit that much. Still, part of him considered himself Luna’s hero—he saved her from some freak her father would have arranged for her to marry. For her, he was willing to look deep into his soul for the things his mother had taught him about how to treat someone you loved.

He didn’t even need to attend school. Hell, he was already done with any and all studies he would ever need while he was in Italy. But as long as a certain brunette lingered on campus for another year or two, he had to keep an eye out.

She was his fiancée after all.

Arranged marriages were how connections were made in their world. It was the strongest contract any family could create. Maybe it was something about loyalty and the kind that only stemmed from family. Valerio wasn’t sure. He just knewthat when the offer fell—or more like was forced—into his hands, to marry Luna, there wasn’t a single thought about it. He signed without a second to waste.

Most people would have killed for their daughter to have a chance to marry Valerio Vitali and benefit from what it meant to have attachments to the Vitali family. He could have had a multimillion-dollar deal in place just to marry some wealthy asshole's daughter, but he chose Luna. He didn’t want money, land, or part of their businesses. Just her.

The contract was written, signatures signed, and it was filed away.

There was only one small issue with the contract. If either died, the contract would be void. Death was truly the only way out and Valerio didn’t doubt Luna would be willing to stab him to death if she found out.

Once they were married, the contract wouldn’t matter. They would have the marriage certificate tying them together instead.

Valerio threw his head back, leaning in his desk chair. He ran a hand down his face. Why the hell did she have to be so stubborn?

Wasn’t that what attracted him to her in the first place?

“Who wants to go out tonight?” Dante asked, slamming the door of Valerio’s office open. With loud steps he made his way to the couch, slumping down on it as he lit up a cigarette.

Valerio snapped out of his daze.

Allister followed in after Dante. “I thought you would have been done after last night.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Last night was just a warm-up for the rest of the semester,” he said, puffing out a cloud of smoke.

Valerio shook his head. “I’m praying your liver gives up on you soon.”

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