Page 39 of Kissing the Villain

I inspected my hands with a casual shrug, then wiped them down the front of my new dress to annoy her. “A simple hello would have sufficed,Mother.”

The smug bitch rolled her eyes and took a drag of her cigarette. Perched on a white leather couch that looked as stiff as its occupant, Blair Wellington—my grandmonster from hell—pursed her lips. Her eyes lifted from my hands to my face with a disapproving look.

She had raised my mother with impossible standards that no human could achieve, so it was no surprise that she ran away. I hated Blair with a passion and avoided her at all costs.

“Founders take pride in their appearances,” Blair said. “You would be wise to remember that. We can’t have you embarrassing us in front of our peers.”

“Leave the poor girl alone.” My grandfather yelled from the sofa. “She has enough to worry about without the two of you jumping down her throat. Go find something to entertain yourselves with until dinner.”

He tipped the snifter in his hand to his mouth and winked at me.

Thanks, Pops.

“I’m going to freshen up,” Blair announced.

Mom took a puff of her cigarette and focused on me as she blew out the smoke. “I’ll join you.”

Later, bitches.

They left the sitting room, heels clacking on the tiled floor as they stormed down the hallway. I let out a sigh of relief. The last twenty-four hours had been hell. I didn’t need a lecture from my grandmonster or my absentee mother. They could save their advice for someone who cared. And for someone they cared about.

Pops shook his head, annoyed. “Don’t listen to them. They’re snobs.”

I crossed the room and launched myself into his arms. “Pops,” I whispered, seeking comfort in his warm embrace.

He patted my back in a soothing, circular motion. “How are you holding up?”

I settled on the cushion beside him and shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

Pops sipped his brandy, one eyebrow raised. “How are the Salvatores treating you?”

“Marcello took me shopping today.”

He nodded in approval. “Marcello’s a good man.”

“You think so?”

“I would have preferred you married Marcello over Luca.”

“He’s not much better,” I pointed out. “Marcello takes orders from Luca. They won’t even let me sleep by myself. Last night,Marcello shared a bed with me. Someone is watching me every second.”

“I’ll talk to Arlo.” Pops shoved a curl behind my ear, his face twisted with emotions. “You won’t have to live this way for long.”

He sighed, his eyes drifting to the Roman sculpture on the opposite side of the room. “I’m sorry.”

My shoulders slumped against the couch. “I thought we were free of them.”

“Luca needs an heir.” He sipped from a glass of scotch. “Arlo is blackmailing me into doing what he wants.”

“Why is it so important Luca has an heir with me?”

“Luca is about to become the leader of The Devil’s Knights.”

“It’s a secret society, right?”

He nodded. “Things are different for people like us. We don’t have as much say in our lives as others. Marriage is about power in our world, not love. I know it’s hard for you to understand this concept, but I didn’t marry Blair for love.”

“It shows.”

---