Chapter 51
Luna, a few weeks later…
My coach and I enter the chess hall in Stockholm for the World Championship.
The fucking irony.
“I have to go to the restroom. You need anything?” Coach asks.
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
Reaching in my backpack for my headphones, I look up when someone bumps into me.
“Sorry about that,” Wesley says, holding hands with Aspen. They both glance at my uncovered wrist; I no longer hide my scars. “There’s a razor blade hidden in the ladies room behind the first stall. In case you’re stressed about our matchup,” Wesley tells me quietly.
He and Aspen laugh, walking off.
That’s it. I’m destroying him.
I’ve made it to the final round with Wesley. Not having Vince to calculate the odds for my opening move, I search through my mental rooms for the best option. An idea pops in my head. Like the first time I played Wesley, this strategy is either genius or insane.
My coach is probably having a heart attack because we didn’t discuss this, but I move my pawn to 1.e4.
What we did discuss, though, was Coach shoving his way in front of Aspen, blocking Wesley’s view. There’s a commotion, and both Coach and Aspen are escorted out by security for the disruption.
Now that the playing field’s been leveled, I hit the clock, locking in my move.
Let the Wayward Queen attack begin.
Vince
“That tablecloth needs adjusting.” Valentina snaps her fingers, marching around my restaurant in sky-high heels, with the front of the house staff trailing behind her. “Did we not learn our lesson from the soft opening?” That lesson where a man tripped on the tablecloth and threatened to sue, and I had to threaten him out back with my baseball bat.
Valentina approaches me. “Everything appears in order. Do you need anything else? ”
I lace my fingers together and beg, “Stay and run the front of the house full time.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “This was fun, but I have my first non-family event to plan. I’m really excited!”
“Did boss approve that?” Sam asks, appearing out of nowhere.
“Vince, your restaurant already needs fumigating.” Valentina crosses her arms, glaring at him.
“Sam.” I give the underboss a double cheek kiss.
“Why does my brother insist I need a babysitter?” Valentina huffs. “And why couldn’t you have stayed in the car?”
Sam looks bored, picking his nails with a knife. “I could have.”
“Chef, do you have a second?” My sous chef sticks his head out of the kitchen.
“Valentina, I can’t thank you enough for your help.”
“Of course.” She throws her arms around me in a hug.
“Sam.” I nod my head. He gives me a look I can’t interpret as I excuse myself.
“Chef, you wanted a time reminder,” my sous chef tells me.
“Thanks.”
I pull up the World Championship live-stream on my phone. It’s the final, with Luna against Brit Boy.
“ Armageddon, ladies and gentlemen, between the number one player in the world, Wesley Morrell, and the number two player, Luna Barone. The coin toss has gone to Barone, who will play white and receive an extra minute. That means Morrell will play black with the draw odds .”
“Give ‘em hell,” I whisper to Luna for good luck, touching my Curniciello hanging in the window.
The two shake hands, and the game begins.
Luna reaches across the board with her bare arm, and win or lose, I could never be more proud of this girl than I am right now.
Chess pieces fly, and I can barely keep up with what’s happening. Luna jumps out of her chair in excitement, with a stunned Wesley holding his hands on top of his head.
“ I can’t believe what we just witnessed. Barone has defeated Morrell in four moves. Morrell fell for the fork! ”
“ A beginner’s opening trap. I’m stunned into silence. ”
“ Unbelievable .”
“Chef, we need to begin service.”
“Coming.” I call, wiping the tears from my eye.
Luna
Composing myself, I lean across the board with my hand extended, and Wesley and I shake. “Tell your girlfriend the fish fork strikes again,” I whisper.
It’s a blur of paperwork and photographs and reporters’ questions before I’m presented the trophy. The one million grand prize will soon be hitting my bank account, and on the rating board, number 1 is now next to my name and GM designation.
And all I feel is…nothing.
I’m jet lagged. My hair’s nappy. And I’m pissy. A dangerous combination.
I lurk by the dumpster until a cook steps out for a smoke break. The door’s ajar, and I sneak inside. Vince’s back is to me, and I tiptoe behind him, bringing a fork to his jugular.
Spinning around, he grabs my wrist, easily overpowering me, and the fork falls to the floor.
“Luna,” he says softly.
“This was my dream! Everything I’ve ever wanted. And you had to go ruining it by being right!” Hot tears spill down my cheeks.
“Everybody out!” Vince shouts, and I’m just now realizing we have an audience. The kitchen clears out, and he swipes my angry tears with his thumbs. “How was I right, piccola ?”
“I made it to the top, and there’s nothing there. Not without you,” I whisper.
He cradles the back of my neck, pulling me closer. “Luna,” he says my name like a prayer. “Kiss me like you hate me.”
Our lips collide, and I claw at his chest, wanting him closer. He obliges, lifting me by the hips and sitting me on the counter as he devours my mouth. Or maybe it’s me who’s devouring his mouth.
Tongues flicking against each others, it’s wild and passionate and desperate and beautiful. Reckless abandon.
“What?” Vince asks against my lips, and I didn’t realize I spoke out loud.
My cheeks heat as I pull back. “You have new ink.” Examining his right hand, Bella Chaos is written over his thumb, curving into the side of his index finger.
“When I’m cooking, I’ll always be reminded who pushed me to live my dream. The girl who upended my life and clawed out my heart. Ti amo , beautiful chaos.”
“Vince,” I whisper, tugging at his T-shirt. “I need you.”
He shrugs his shirt over his head and tosses it to the counter .
My hands go to his chest, but I pause, noticing something else. His dead wolves have been laser removed from his right arm, replaced by a single yellow rose. “We’re not friends, Vince.”
He grabs my cheeks, cradling my face. “Never could’ve been. I’m far too obsessed with you, cuccidone mio .”
My big love.
He peppers my lips with kisses as he tugs at the hem of my tank top, and I lift my arms as he removes it, tossing it next to his shirt.
“You have new ink,” he says with a smile, kissing the tiny fork next to my Queen tattoo. “Who wouldn’t fall for your trap?”
“You watched the game?” Tears threaten to fall yet again.
“My wayward queen’s come home, and I’m never letting her go.” Vince kisses each and every one of my scars before deftly unhooking my bra. With a devilish smile, he grabs his chef’s knife as he lifts my skirt and pulls my panties away from my body.
The fabric falls to the counter on the slice of his knife, and I gasp.
Laid bare, body and soul, Vince looks at me with so much love it makes me ache. “I’m going to fuck you like I’m obsessed with you, feed you like I cherish you, and marry you like I can’t live without you. In that order.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
I’m his and he’s mine. And that’s it .