Page 281 of Kissing the Villain

I shook my head. “No, just girl talk.”

“Nothing you want to hear,” Savanna said to her son with a smile. “If you’ll excuse me, I must say hello to Patrice. That old hag will hunt me down if I don’t acknowledge her.”

She disappeared in a flash, moving through the crowd like a wraith.

“You need to turn that frown upside down,” Sonny said with a playful smile. “Everyone is watching.”

“Society parties are not my thing,” I confessed.

Sonny offered me his arm. “Dance with me.”

“Isn’t that Drake’s job?” I joked.

“You’re mine for now, Little Wellington.” His eyes traveled over my dress, scanning every inch of my body. “You look gorgeous. Like a queen. All you need is a crown.”

I smiled up at him. “Do I get one at my ceremony?”

“Luca hasn’t told you.”

I shook my head. “I think he’s waiting until that night to go into detail.”

“It doesn’t have to be so ceremonial.” Sonny waggled his eyebrows. “You remember what we did last time in the temple?”He winked. “For one night, you belong to all of us. I’m looking forward to the ceremony.”

“Why is this such a big deal?”

“Most Knights don’t get the chance to worship the new queen. There are hundreds of Knights spread throughout the country. Only the highest-ranking members take part.”

With my wedding slowly approaching, Luca’s father had already transferred his power as the Grand Master of the Knights. We only had a few more days before completing the ceremony with the Knights. I would officially become their Queen.

“Will it be like last time?” I asked him.

“The ceremony?” Sonny nodded. “Yes, the same Knights as before. I’m hoping you choose me again.”

“Like I would ever let the Knights cast you aside.”

“What about the others?”

“I have no intention of letting any of you go,” I assured him. “Has that happened in the past? Did a Queen even cast out a Knight?”

“Yes. Evangeline refused to choose one of Luca’s uncles. Because of that, he lost his trust fund and was banished from our world.”

My mouth widened in shock. “Why would she do that to him?”

“Because Claudio Salvatore disapproved of Arlo and Evangeline’s marriage. They were engaged before Arlo stole her from his brother.”

“If I had chosen Marcello over Luca, I wouldn’t have done that to Luca.”

He nodded. “That’s why Luca let you choose without forcing your hand. It wasn’t like that with Claudio and Evangeline. He was abusive and possessive. She couldn’t wait to get away fromhim. Arlo is a bad man, but he was good to his wife. He saved her from a life of misery.”

We finished our champagne, and Sonny took the glass from my hand, setting our empty drinks on the bar. He led me toward the band playing at the front of the room. Sonny said something to the bassist and pulled me onto the dance floor.

“What are you up to?”

“It’s a surprise. You’ll see, Little Wellington.”

Sonny slipped his fingers between mine and spun me a few times. A sly grin crossed his lips as a Tango beat filled the room. “Are you ready to show these stiffs why it’s called the forbidden dance?”

I chuckled. “You’re so bad.”

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