Page 292 of Kissing the Villain

“We have a madman who wants to kidnap me on my wedding day coming to Devil’s Creek. I can’t have a kid right now.”

“You don’t always get to choose.”

I bit my cheek, thinking about how to handle this situation. Luca had enough on his plate. So did I. We were not ready to have children after everything we had gone through in the past year.

“We can run to the drugstore,” Kali offered. “On our way into town for your dress fitting.”

“Marcello’s driving us. He’ll know we’re up to something.”

“Tell him the truth,” she suggested. “You guys are friends. I’m sure he won’t care.”

“Marcello will tell Luca. I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re the Queen of the Knights. He will respect your wishes.”

I removed my cell phone from my pocket and texted Marcello, who appeared in the doorway a minute later, dressed to perfection in a dark suit with a navy blue silk tie. He wore his black hair styled but messy, a look that made me want to run my fingers through his hair.

“I need you to do something for me,” I said as I stepped toward Marcello. “And you can’t tell Luca until I’m sure.”

He pursed his lips.

“Please, Marcello.” I slipped my fingers between his and stroked his skin. “I need a favor.”

“You chose Luca,” he said, but it wasn’t with anger or irritation. Just stating a fact. “You can’t keep secrets from him.”

“I’ve been sick.”

He nodded. “I know. I lost my appetite at breakfast.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “I think I’m pregnant.”

“I suspected as much.” Marcello ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “How long has it been since your last period?”

“I don’t know. I started feeling dizzy after I came back from Atlantic City.”

“Could it be mine?”

My mouth fell open as his words sliced into my chest. “I don’t know.”

“Oh, my God,” Kali squealed behind me. “Luca will flip the fuck out if you’re pregnant with Marcello’s baby.”

I turned to face her. “And if I am, it would be Luca's fault for playing Capture the Queen with me.”

“Kali, get out,” Marcello ordered. “I need to talk to Alex alone.”

She bobbed her blonde head. “Sure, I’ll wait in the hallway.”

Marcello shut the door behind her, then caged me against the vanity with his chest pressing into mine. “Are you sure about this?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I need to take a test. I haven’t had my period for a while.”

“Fuck,” he groaned.

“We were only together once.”

“It only takes one time to make a baby, Alex. I thought you were taking your pills.”

“I did. Like clockwork. But then, I got kidnapped.” I clutched his thick bicep, and he glanced down at me with those sad, blueirises that made my heart ache. “Take me to the drugstore on our way to the dress fitting, and don’t tell Luca. Not until I know for sure. He has enough shit to worry about.”

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