Page 269 of Kissing the Villain

“After the wedding, Blair will vacate her seat as president of the Devil’s Creek Belles to Alexandrea.”

My grandmother pursed her lips and then forced a smile.

“As for the dowry, Alexandrea’s shares in Wellington Pharmaceuticals will transfer to Luca.”

My mouth dropped.

What shares? Was this guilt money for my mother killing Evangeline Franco?

“To the start of a brilliant partnership between the founding families.” Arlo raised a glass, drawing everyone’s attention to the head of the table. “To Luca and Alexandrea.”

98

LUCA

Alex glaredat me as if I’d just killed her dog. Her mouth twisted into an angry snarl, her top lip quivering.

“What the hell is your dad talking about?” Alex asked me under her breath.

“It’s nothing,” I assured her. “Just formalities.”

“Save the bullshit for someone who believes it,” she hissed. “You promised not to lie.”

“I didn’t lie. The dowry never even came up.”

Maybe I should have mentioned the Wellington dowry before the engagement dinner, but I’d never found the right way to tell Alex that marrying her made me an even richer man.

It wasn’t uncommon for people in our world to marry for money and power. She understood the ways of our people. Despite that, I didn’t want her to think I had only asked her to marry me because of the money. Not like I needed the bonus her grandfather would have to fork over on our wedding day. It wasn’t about the shares in Wellington Pharmaceuticals or the cash and properties I would gain.

Alex’s brother would inherit Carl Wellington’s holdings upon his death. The dowry was Alex’s share of the pot. I never plannedto keep it to myself. Whatever money I received from Carl Wellington would go into a trust for our children.

Her gaze shifted to her family, who sat across the table from us. Carl chatted with my father while my adoptive brothers sat in complete silence. Aiden talked to Marcello, the two of them speaking in hushed tones. Marcello had taken a liking to Aiden over the past year. He wasn’t as bad as we had initially thought and had become a decent soldier in our corrupt army.

None of us liked Scarlett or Blair. They were both fucking dead to me. In due time, Scarlett would pay for my mother’s death.

My cell phone dinged with a new message. Marcello, Bastian, and Damian’s phones blared throughout the dining room. I swiped the phone from my inside pocket and read the text message from Drake Battle.

We got Kurti. Safehouse on 5th.

I glanced at Bastian and Damian, who pushed their chairs out of the table and excused themselves. Marcello followed suit, dipped his head to whisper in Aiden’s ear, and then the four left the ballroom without a word.

I shot up from the table, and Alex tugged on my suit jacket sleeve.

“What’s going on?”

“Drake found Kurti.”

Alex pushed her palm to the table and rose to her full height. “I’m going.”

“Stay here,” I whispered against the shell of her ear. “You’re safer in the house.”

“No.” Alex gritted her teeth. “You promised me revenge.”

She was right. I shouldn’t have agreed to let her anywhere near Cal Kurti. She needed to get the anger out of her system,and if letting her take a few jabs at Cal would make her feel better, then I had to let her come with us, even if the trip could put her life in danger.

“You need to change. Grab Marcello and head upstairs.” I tapped her on the back. “I need to talk to my dad before we leave.”

Alex did as I instructed. She exited the dining room without a word. Carl didn’t bat an eyelash as half of the room cleared out. He knew we were still looking for the Albanians and wanted revenge for Alex as much as the rest of us.

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