Page 21 of Kissing the Villain

“I haven’t changed my mind about you, Salvatore. You’re no good for my sister.”

“I don’t care what you think about me.” I extended my right hand. “Do we have a deal?”

He shook my hand.

“Aiden,” Alex protested. “What are you doing?”

“Like I can keep you away from him, anyway. C’mon, Lexie. You’re the only one who doesn’t see how this will end.”

She tucked her bottom lip into her mouth, making a pouty face that made me want to kiss the expression from her lips.

I offered my hand.

Her fingers slipped between mine. “If anything happens to him, I will kill you myself.”

I lifted her onto my lap. “Drink up, baby girl. Your brother has some business to attend to while we catch up.”

Glaring at me, Alex sipped her Cosmo.

I pointed behind the bar. “Aiden, I’d like you to meet a few of my friends. This is Hades.” I motioned to the tall man with thick, black hair and colored tattoos from his neck down. Then, I nodded at the man beside him, who had dark brown hair, tons of muscle, and even more ink. “And this is Morpheus.”

Hades tipped his beer to Aiden. “You have our attention. Make it count.”

I tapped Aiden on the shoulder. “Get arrested, and you’re on your own. And if you fail their tests, you’re also on your own. Unless you want to reconsider becoming a Knight.”

His nose crinkled at the thought of becoming one of The Devil’s Knights. It was his birthright, even though he acknowledged none of the money, privilege, or power that came with being a Wellington. He was the only male heir to a massive fortune, and with that came many responsibilities, none of which he cared to assume.

I had been a member of the secret society since my first year of college and was about to take my father’s place as the Grand Master. Once that happened, I needed a queen. The Knights had long awaited a new queen, and with Alex at my side and her brother sure to fail, I knew I would have everything I wanted soon enough.

Alex downed the rest of her drink, promising to see Aiden at home. Once outside the rundown bar, I helped Alex into the passenger seat of my Aston Martin Vantage.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” she said. “I’m not kidding, Luca. If anything happens to Aiden because of you or The Serpents, I will slit your throat.”

I flashed an evil grin. “That’s my girl.”

“I’m not your girl.”

“Yes, you are.”

She was always mine, even when she was too stubborn to admit it to herself.

10

ALEX

Aiden was missing.One month after his introduction to The Serpents, he left the house, promising to return by morning—and then vanished.

My calls went straight to voicemail. All of my text messages went unanswered. Even Luca was avoiding me, which only made me more suspicious.

According to the security cameras on Founders Way, Aiden was last seen at the Salvatore Estate. My grandfather said he had called the police.

Aiden was a bit of a wild card. He often floated from one thing to the next, letting life and his moods guide the way.

But he would never leave me.

So, I drove to Luca’s home and pulled up at the gate. Dozens of armed guards dressed in black suits surrounded the fortress on the sea.

“Alexandrea Wellington here to see Luca Salvatore,” I said to the man approaching my open window.

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