AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t really know what you’re capable of.”
Those words spear right through my heart, nearly piercing my soul. I screwed up big time with Stella, and I may have been envious of my brother, but to hurt my own blood? “I would never…”
“You’re going to steal my throne then?”
“Yes! If that’s what it takes.” I grit my teeth and try to shove down the rage. “I swear I’m only doing this for you,fratellino. Have I been jealous of you for the majority of our lives? Fuck, yes. But this isn’t about that. You’re about to be married.” I hazard a glance at Stella. I’ve given her every reason to hate me, but in this moment, I don’t see the loathing I expect. It spurs me on, inflating air into my sagging lungs. I knew he’d hate me for this, but he would just have to get over it. “You both have bounties on your heads. Manhattan isn’t safe for either of you. I know you, Luca. You’d never run, so I’m doing it for you. Take a few months off, enjoy your engagement. Fuck your fiancée in peace and quiet before reality rolls in. I’ll take care of the Red Dragons and when you come back, I promise your throne will be waiting.”
“Sei un pezzo di merda, Dante.” Yeah, maybe I am a piece of shit, but the hint of a smile curls my brother’s lip, and for a blessed instant, I’m relieved. He’ll forgive me for this, just like he’s forgiven me for all my sins. “You didn’t have to drug us, youimbecile.”
“Um, yeah, he probably did.” Stella grins at her fiancé and wraps her slender arm around his waist. Somehow, they keep each other upright. “No way you’d be going this easily if it wasn’t for the sedatives.”
A loopy smile parts my brother’s lips. “Perhaps.”
I take a wary step closer, still not certain my brother won’t pull out a gun and shoot me in the face for betraying him. “Now let Tony take you to the car before you pass out, and we have to carry your heavy asses.”
“Where are you sending us?” Stella asks.
I glance around the garage filled with my men. I’ve known most of these guys for years, but I didn’t trust anyone with my brother’s life. “You’ll find out when you get there. Just do me a favor and stay put, okay?”
“It better be nice,” Luca mutters.
“Only the best for the king.” I throw my brother a smirk. “Oh, and Ma will be meeting up with you shortly. She was much easier to convince.”
“Mamma knew about this?”
“More or less.”
“She didn’t know you were forcing us.”
I nod, my gaze chasing to the floor. I’m not sure if it’s the drugs or something else, but the hard set of Luca’s jaw softens. I hate it when he looks at me like that. Like maybe I’m not only the heartless monster everyone assumes I am.
He stumbles closer and wraps his arm around my back. He sways against me, but somehow remains standing. As I hug Luca, I glance at Stella over his shoulder. “Take care of my little brother.”
“Till death do us part.” She rewards me with a smile I know I don’t deserve after the shit I put her through. “And you keep an eye on Rose for me, okay?”
“Rose?” I choke out.
“Yeah, you know, my best friend who has terrible taste in men?”
Ah, yes, that one. True assessment. “Umhmm,” I mutter as Luca steps back to lean against the car again.
Stella sinks into his embrace. “If that crazy guy gives her more trouble, will you help her out?”
I nod slowly. “Sure, Stella, I’ll watch out for her.”
“Thanks.”
He presses a kiss to hisamore’s lips, and the vast chasm in my chest deepens. I look away, but my brother’s voice forces my gaze back up. “Dante, you know what King Industries means to me.” His unfocused eyes dance across my face.
“I do.”
He presses his lips together, dark brows furrowing. “I know it’ll be in good hands.”
I swallow hard, unexpected emotion thickening my throat. I expected cursing, a fight, endless vows of retribution, but this—I never expected this.
“Prove to everyone how much you deserve your birthright,fratello.” Luca flashes me a smile, a genuine one he typically only reserves for Stella. “And don’t die.”
A rueful chuckle slides out. “Same to you.”
