Page 302 of Kissing the Villain

“Talk about history repeating itself,” I muttered as I looked up at Marcello.

He nodded in agreement.

“I came for Eva’s replacement,” Claudio said in a firm tone. “If you hand over the girl, no harm will come to anyone.” He raised the guns in his hands. “Fight me, and you will all die.”

They were about ten feet apart, their shoulders squared like they were about to duel. With his back to us, I couldn’t see Arlo’s face. But I knew he would never let The Carver take me. No one in this room would let us leave without a fight.

“Dad,” Luca shouted to warn his father as Arlo raised his weapon. “No.”

It was too late.

Claudio dodged Arlo’s bullet, then shot Arlo in the chest. The Knights gasped as Arlo staggered backward, grabbing his chest. He raised his gun, but Claudio closed the distance. He swatted at his hand, and Arlo fell to the ground.

Claudio shot Arlo twice more for good measure, then stepped over his dead body like he was a piece of trash. The room erupted into chaos. Men from the invited crime families shot at Claudio, and the armed men followed him. Claudio strolled down the aisle, firing at everyone in his way, undeterred by the madness surrounding him.

“Watch her,” Luca said to Marcello and stormed down the aisle.

“Luca, no,” I yelled. “Get back here!”

He ignored my protests, his gun raised, and shot at the men at the back of the room. Luca shot his uncle in the shoulder, attempting to fire off as many rounds as possible until he ran out of bullets. The Knights assisted their leader as Marcello guarded me.

“Marcello, do something.” I tugged on his arm and tried to push him down the aisle, but he was too big and strong.

He lifted me in his arms and headed toward the side entrance, ducking flying bullets as he ran across the room like Iweighed nothing. As he pulled open the door, I heard Luca shout as if he were in pain.

“Put me down,” I told Marcello. “Luca’s hurt.”

Marcello angled his body so I could see the room. Tears spilled from my eyes as Luca clutched his shoulder, blood seeping through his white dress shirt.

“Luca,” I yelled.

His eyes found mine for a moment, and then Drake caught him before he fell. Sonny aimed at Claudio’s head and plunged a bullet into his skull. Some of his men retreated after he dropped to the ground.

“Marcello, please.” I yanked on his hand to free myself.

Once the gunfire died down, he lowered me to the floor. I rushed across the room, past the Knights, hopping over dead bodies to get to Luca.

Drake laid him on the tile on his back. Pops was at his side, barking orders at the Knights, telling them which supplies he needed. The Salvatores had more medical equipment than a hospital at the estate.

I sat on the floor beside my husband. “No, no, no.” I squeezed his hand. “You’re not allowed to die on me, Luca. Not on our wedding day.”

Arlo was dead on the floor by his brother.

Finn winced in pain as he slumped into a chair on the right side of the aisle. Sonny and Callum were at his sides. Only a handful of the Knights looked unscathed.

Luca pressed his bloody hand to my cheek, his voice trembling along with his body. “I’ve never loved anyone or anything as much as I love you, Drea. You saved me, baby girl.” He closed his eyes momentarily as if struggling to keep them open. “When I’m gone, I want you to remember me. If the child is mine, I want you to tell him stories about me. I hope you makeme the hero in all of them, even though we both know I was the villain.”

I cried so hard my chest ached. “No, Luca. You will tell him yourself. Stay with me. Keep your eyes open for me.”

“Get our marriage annulled. Marry Marcello,” he told me. “He loves you. Even if the baby isn’t his, he will care for you and give you a better life than I ever could.”

“I don’t want a life without you, Luca.” I curled up beside him on the floor, still holding his hand. “I need you. This baby needs you. I can’t live without you.”

“You gave me peace in times of war.” His grip slipped on my hand. “It’s okay, baby. Let go.”

Then his eyes snapped shut.

109

---