THE WRONG DE LUCA

r finger felt

obligation, sharp and cold, biting into her skin even though it was perfectly sized. She stared down at

Clinking glasses. High heels tapping on marble. Deals whis

most people's homes. He had kissed her hand like a gentleman, smiled li

id onto her finger, her th

e didn't l

e equation. Their engagement was the byproduct of bloodlines and business, old loy

ryone k

er legs like liquid sunlight. Her reflection followed her movements-e

he De Luca empire. But all she felt was an ache. A quiet, creeping ache that had started mo

oke throug

les

er shield. Celeste moved to open the door, and Bianc

anca said, studying her. "Which is ironic, sinc

ittle smile. "Sam

paused. "You're not having

oorframe. "I'm having first,

e marrying-into-a-family-of

ot

his was. We don't get to marry

something more," Celest

feel better, Damiano is loyal. And loya

r. Loyalty, she knew

do the champagne toast. Your dad will have a heart at

lls lined with the silent eyes of generations past. The De Luca man

op of the grand stair

everythin

saw

hed onto his body. He stood near the edge of the room, shadows carving angles into his

like he di

r heart gave a stra

hat?" she

. Then froze. Her champa

nca whispered. "

ha

hat's Julia

a current do

e dead one

t. Rumored to have been killed in

.. he

e dropped. "A

es-storm-grey, unreadable-met Cel

Didn't smile. J

este felt more than she h

wn the stairs. Into the light. Toward

Like the world had tilted just slightly, and

with a kiss on the cheek and a possessive

The most beautiful

one c

te sm

es searche

n was

den was dark, the marble under her feet cold. She clos

n away from thing

es fle

ood in th

d his face. A scar ran across his jaw,

re," she said, but h

nd dangerous. "Ne

"You're suppo

to be something. Do

him. "Why now?

ove a whisper. "Because you'r

eath c

ked into the darkness

nly felt tighter. Like it kn

didn't

ceiling, trying to breathe past the thunder in her chest. Her mind kept replaying that m

rying the w

an who'd been gone for nearly a decade. A ghost raised from

her-in a place she didn't like to admit

and the steady murmur of money moving behind closed doors. She slipped away early, d

xpect to fin

li

ke he owned the air around him,

ou have a hab

ed. "You have a habit

k you're the

umor. "Hardly. But

ite herself. "Why are y

n. "Damiano isn't w

nched. "He's

my mis

is voice. A bitterness s

e me killed," Ju

flinched

the throne. So he arranged a deal with our enemies, sold me ou

d your family

was cleaner. Because the De Lu

heart pounding. "Why ar

ou're smart. Because you already know something doesn't add up.

her head.

u c

y m

isper. "Because he trusts you.

met hi

rst time, she

sn't ab

as abo

leste saw Damian

e garden bloomed with blood-red roses. Celeste sat on the veranda with a porcelain cup of tea she wasn't dri

led to capture-sharpened bone structure, dark eyes that held zero apologies, and a

te wanted

hing a kiss across her cheek like t

e replied, letting

bo

ou," she said, studying his reac

e-something flickere

it. "Julian?" he said, amused. "Don'

s your uncle. He was th

ghter now. "The past is buried,

old me he

's jaw

coldly. "He's alive. That'

acup. "Why would he say

at flash of something

place at the table," Damiano said, too calm.

her hands tremb

I w

o kill

ce dropping. "Don't ask questio

an anything else. Beca

t walk

eleste couldn

because something inside her had changed. Cracked. And

n't saf

castle. She was bedding the mons

Ju

y person who made sense i

he east wing, cigarette hanging from his lips,

nted him,

look at

dn't d

He doesn't see the point in lying an

arms. "And wha

ant what was mine. And I want to take it

loser. "And I

low and dangerous.

oat tig

I need you to watch him. Learn where he keeps

e to spy on

rvive your weddin

. "That's not

War isn't comforting. It's sharp an

e railing beside him. "An

n we find out what kin