Page 131 of Kissing the Villain

“Maybe you should bring her doctors to Devil’s Creek,” Luca said. “She’s losing it again.”

“Good idea,” I shot back. “Because you could use some therapy.”

“How about you both see a doctor?” Pops suggested. “I think that’s a good idea. Couples counseling.”

“I’ll do it,” I said as I wiggled my eyebrows at Luca. “But only if Luca spills his secrets.”

He sneered at me. “I have nothing to hide.”

“Me neither.”

I clung to Marcello’s side, squeezing his big bicep. He slid his arm behind my back and pulled me closer. With Marcello, I always felt safe. But with Luca, I felt like every nerve ending in my body was on fire. It was an out-of-body experience I’d never had with anyone else. He made me feel alive, but maybe it was just the adrenaline rushing through my veins. The fear and desire laced together.

“Are we done here?” Luca said with his eyes on Pops. “I have another meeting in twenty minutes.”

Pops nodded. “For now.”

50

ALEX

After the meeting ended,I sat on the veranda with the Knights surrounding me. Marcello was on my right, complaining about how I wouldn’t let him leave the wheelchair. He hated feeling helpless, but it was time he let someone take care of him. Sonny was on my left, flirting and trying to steal my attention from Marcello.

We ate family-style, everything from gourmet Kobe beef sliders to skewered steak and lobster rolls. Marcello couldn’t reach the plate at the center of the table without straining. So I leaned forward and grabbed the plate.

When I looked up, the Knights on the other side of the table stared at me. Drake licked his lips, his eyes traveling between my mouth and cleavage. He shoved his hand through his dark hair, sweeping it off his forehead. The tech billionaire always wore expensive suits that clung to his body like armor.

However, I laughed when I noticed a blue T-shirt beneath his unbuttoned Oxford. It had the Superman logo on it. His eyes followed mine, and then he rolled his shoulders like he knew I thought he was a hot nerd.

Cole sat beside Drake, holding my gaze with a look that made my skin sizzle. You could tell Cole had spent his entire life inmilitary school. Arms corded with muscle, he had bands of dark tattoos wrapped around his biceps. He never wore suits, not unless required. Dressed in black cargo pants and a tight T-shirt, he looked drool-worthy.

“What are you two staring at?” I asked them with a taunting smirk.

Drake returned my expression, while Cole just stared at me with fascination. I clutched the plate of burgers and pulled it toward me. I had the attention of every man at the table, which made my skin tingle. The Knights were good-looking, blue-blooded men. It was like their parents had filled out a form and checked off all the right boxes, maybe even offered sacrifices to their gilded gods.

“Why are you all staring at me like I’m your lunch?”

“Might want to fix your shirt,queenie,” Finn Cormac said with a wink.

Sonny’s younger brother looked like him in every way. Tall, handsome, and with the same sun-kissed skin as if he’d spent all day on a yacht. The same wide green irises and surfer blond hair. Except Finn had a little more muscle, broader in the shoulders.

“Or don’t,” Sonny added with laughter in his voice. “I prefer this view.”

“Your nipple is showing,” Drake said.

“Oh, my God.” I stuffed my boob back into my low-cut shirt and shielded my face with my hand.

Marcello reached over and squeezed my boob playfully.

I swatted at his hand and laughed. “Jerk.”

“I can touch you now, can’t I?”

I turned in my chair. “Not if you start with the possessive bullshit like Luca.”

“I’m hungry,” he said, tipping his head at the burgers. “You gonna feed me?”

I pressed my lips together. “What happened to I can do everything by myself?”

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