Page 44 of Kissing the Villain

Maybe just a little.

Ignoring the nagging throb at the base of my skull, I spun around and headed toward the balcony. The wind whipped through my hair, blowing strands in my face. Gripping the brick post, I shut my eyes and let the sea glide over my skin.

I tipped my nose up and breathed in its saltiness. My mind drifted to Aiden and the last night I saw him. He looked tired, his blond curls longer than usual. Whatever he was doing for The Serpents kept him out at all hours. Dark circles ringed his blue irises. I knew he was taking pills and confronted him about it. He promised he would stop.

A sharp pain pierced my skull, and I grabbed the side of my head as images flashed before me.

Aiden pulled up the hood on his blue sweatshirt, his back to me. He raised his hand to his ear and mumbled words I couldn’t make out over the crashing water below. He stood where I had kissed Luca for the first time. Too close to the edge.

“Aiden,” I called out. “Please. You don’t have to do this.”

He shoved a hand in his pocket and spun around. Our eyes met, but someone else stared back at me. This version of Aiden gave me the same glare as the cold, ruthless man he had become. He reminded me of Luca and his brothers.

“I’m sorry, Lexie.” His words sounded pained, as if it were killing him to leave. “I don’t have a choice.”

I stepped forward, tears falling from my eyes and sliding down my cheeks.

“We always have a choice.”

“If you didn’t have to marry Luca, you wouldn’t be here.”

He was right, so I didn’t bother to correct him.

“Stay,” I pleaded. “For me.”

He shook his head, and his curls fell into his eyes. We were fraternal twins but looked so much alike and had the same high cheekbones, pale blue eyes, and unruly curly hair. Butmy brother looked as if he’d aged ten years since he met The Serpents.

They ruined the man who held me in his arms when I had nightmares—the same man who’d saved me from the monsters. I needed my twin brother, not the man he was transforming into. How could he save me from the thing he was becoming?

“I can’t do this, Aiden,” I sobbed. “This is killing me. I need you.”

He inched backward toward the edge of the cliff. “It’s the way it has to be, Lexie.”

“No,” I choked out. “There’s another way.”

“You want to believe that.” He took another step backward, so close to the edge. “But this is it. Just let me go. It’s best for all of us.”

“Never.” My chest constricted as I spoke, the word a whisper on my lips. “You’re a part of me. I’m a part of you.” I stretched my hand out and wiggled my fingers. “Come with me, Aid. Please.”

His hand flew out in search of mine. Our fingers brushed, and his skin was rough and callused, hardened by the cruelty of our new world. As I pulled him closer, he lost his footing, stumbled…

When my eyes snapped open, fear flooded my veins, and a bitter chill washed over me like breaking waves. When I looked down, I screamed.

20

LUCA

I was workingfrom my home in Milan when my cell phone rang.

“This better be important, Marcello. I’m preparing for the settlement.”

“Luca, you need to come home.”

I dropped the computer onto the couch and sat up straight. “Did something happen to Alex?”

“Physically, she’s fine. Mentally, no. Alex needs you. She’s not okay.”

“I’ll be home on Saturday. She’s spent the last nine months without me. I think she can survive two more days until I finish this deal.”

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