Chapter 11
AXEL
"You're doing it wrong."
I look up from my tie. Luca is standing in front of the mirror, struggling with his own.
"Says the man who's making a bigger mess than I am," I point out.
He looks at my reflection and grins. "Fair point."
We're both in our tuxedos, designer, expensive, and uncomfortable as hell. The gala starts in thirty minutes, and neither of us can figure out how to tie a proper bow tie.
"You'd think," Luca grumbles, yanking his tie loose again, "after all these years, we'd have mastered this."
"You'd think." I give up on mine, let it hang loose around my neck. "When did we become the kind of men who attend charity galas?"
"When we needed to launder money and look respectable doing it." He laughs. "Remember Istanbul? We wore jeans and leather jackets. Broke into that Gala like we owned the place."
"And nearly got killed doing it."
"But we didn't." His expression sobers. "Because you took the fall for me."
Here we go.
"Luca you don’t—"
"I could never thank you properly, brother. Seven years, Axel. You gave me seven years of your life. Seven years that could have crippled your empire.
I don't know what to say to that. Don't know how to tell him that those seven years are nothing compared to what I feel now, watching his daughter engaged to my son.
"You would've done the same," I say finally.
"Maybe. But I didn't, you did." He meets my eyes in the mirror. "You're a better man than most, Axel Santego."
If only you knew.
If only he knew I'm obsessed with his daughter. That I got her pregnant. That I'm counting down the days until this nightmare ends so I can figure out how to fix it.
If there’s any way to fix it.
"We should focus on these ties," I say, changing the subject. "Before we're late to our own fucking event."
"Right." He turns back to the mirror and frowns. "How the hell does this even work?"
The door opens.
“Dad, are you here?” Aurora walks in.
And my brain stops functioning.
Whoa.
She's wearing emerald green, a gown that hugs every curve, off the shoulder, a slit up the thigh that makes my mouth go dry. Her hair's swept up, exposing her neck. Diamond earrings catch the light.
She's devastating.
Fuck.
"Aurora!" Luca beams. "Perfect timing. We're both hopeless at this."
She smiles beautifully, not the fake one she uses around Leo. "Let me guess. The ties again?"
"How'd you know?"
"Because you've never been able to tie a bow tie in your life, Dad."
She crosses to him first. I watch her hands work, deft and sure, transforming the mess into something elegant. She's close enough that I can smell her perfume, soft, floral, and expensive, which makes me want to bury my face in her neck.
Stop it, Axel.
"There." She steps back. "Perfect."
Luca examines himself in the mirror. "Thank you, my Princess." He kisses her forehead.
"Don't." She chuckles. “I’m a big girl now.”
“You will always be my little Princess.”
Something flickers in Aurora's eyes. Pain, maybe. Or regret.
"Thanks, Dad."
"Your turn," Aurora says, looking at me.
Oh no. Oh shit.
She crosses to where I'm standing, and suddenly the room feels too small.
"May I?" She gestures to my tie and takes another step forward.
I take a step back before stopping myself and clearing my throat. “Y-Yeah. Please."
She steps close.
Fuck, she’s too close.
I can feel the heat of her, see the pulse in her throat. Her hands reach for my tie, and when her fingers brush my collar, electricity shoots through me.
This is torture.
She's focused on the tie, not looking at me. But I can see everything, the way her breath hitches slightly, the flush creeping up her neck, the way her fingers tremble just barely.
She feels it too.
"Hold still," she murmurs.
I freeze. Let her work. Watch her face as she concentrates, the tiny furrow between her brows, the way she bites her lower lip.
I want to kiss her.
Right here, right now, with her father three feet away. I want to grab her face and kiss her until she forgets about Leo, about this engagement, about everything except me.
Her hands smooth down my lapels. Linger there longer than necessary.
"Done," she whispers.
Our eyes meet.
The air between us ignites.
I see everything in her gaze, the same hunger, the same desperation, the same impossible want that's eating me alive.
One move. One move and I could—
"I need to make a few calls before we head to the event."
He's gone before either of us can respond.
And then we’re alone.
Aurora steps back quickly, putting distance between us. But she's breathing hard, and I can see her hands shaking. She turns to walk away.
"Aurora, wait—"
She stops, takes a breath, and turns to look at me. “Yes?”
I pull a small box from my jacket pocket and walk over to her.
"W-What's that?" she asks.
"Something I brought for you." I open it. Inside is a diamond necklace, a delicate chain, and a pendant shaped like my family crest. "It belonged to my mother. She wore it. My sister wore it. It's tradition. The women in the Santego family wear it."
Her eyes widen. "Axel, I can't—"
"You're going to be family." The words taste wrong, but I push forward. "You should have it."
"I'm marrying Leo, not you."
"I know." I step closer. "You're still going to be a Santego woman."
She stares at the necklace. I see the war happening behind her eyes.
"Turn around," I say quietly.
"Axel—"
"Please."
She turns.
I lift the necklace, fasten it around her neck. My fingers brush her skin, and she shivers. I let my hands linger on her shoulders, just for a second.
Just long enough to memorize the feel of her.
She turns back to face me, touching the pendant. "It's beautiful."
"It suits you."
We're too close again. Close enough that I could lean down, capture her mouth, taste her like I've been dying to for weeks.
Her eyes drop to my lips.
She wants it too.
"Axel—" she breathes.
The door bursts open.
Leo barges in, grinning. "Time to go! The cars are—" He stops. Looks between us. "What's going on here?"
"Nothing," Aurora says quickly. "Your father was just—"
"Giving her the family heirloom." I keep my voice neutral. "Since she's joining the Santego family."
Leo's eyes narrow, but he buys it. "Nice. Looks good on you, babe." He grabs Aurora's hand. "Come on. We should get going."
She lets him pull her away, throwing one last glance at me over her shoulder.
I'm left standing in the empty room, tie perfectly straight, heart hammering.
I think for the thousandth time.
What have I done by arranging this marriage?
The gala is exactly what I expected: glittering chandeliers, champagne fountains, men in tuxedos, and women in designer gowns. Politicians rubbing elbows with mafia bosses, everyone pretending this is about charity instead of money laundering.
The ballroom's packed. A string quartet plays in the corner. Waiters circulate with trays of expensive hors d'oeuvres and drinks.
And Aurora.
God, Aurora.
She's standing with Leo near the entrance, greeting guests. That emerald gown catches every light, making her look like royalty. The necklace —my mother's necklace—rests against her skin.
Mine.
Leo's touching her constantly. Hand on her waist. Arm around her shoulders. Showing her off like a trophy he won.
I grab a whiskey from a passing waiter. Drain it. Grab another.
"Boss," Viktor appears at my elbow. "You might want to slow down."
"I'm fine."
"You're on your fourth drink in twenty minutes."
"Still fine."
He follows my gaze to Aurora. "You're staring, boss."
"I know."
"People are going to notice."
"I don’t fucking care." And right now, I really don’t.
Viktor sighs. "This is a bad idea."
"Everything about this situation is a bad idea, Viktor. I accepted this temporary accommodation so that I can buy time to figure a way out of this mess. But right now, there seems to be none, other than taking her, starting a war with my greatest ally, and burning every bridge with my own son."
The quartet shifts to a waltz. Couples move to the dance floor.
Leo leads Aurora out. Puts his hand on her waist and starts moving her through the steps.
She's stiff. Uncomfortable. Trying to maintain space between them while he pulls her closer.
I drain my whiskey. Set the glass down.
"Boss," Viktor warns. "Whatever you're thinking—"
"I'm cutting in."
"That's exactly what I was afraid of."
I don't care. Can't care. Can't stand here one more second watching Leo's hands on her.
I cross the dance floor.
"Mind if I cut in?" I don't wait for an answer. Just step between them.
Leo blinks. "Dad, we're in the middle of—"
"You don't mind, do you?"
It's not a question and I make sure he sees it in my eyes.
Leo steps back, confused but obedient. "Uh, sure. I'll get us drinks."
He walks away.
I pull Aurora into my arms.
Finally.
She fits against me perfectly. One hand in mine, the other on my shoulder. My hand on her waist, feeling the heat of her skin through silk.
We start moving.
Neither of us speaks.
We don't need to.
Everything we can't say is in the way she's looking at me. In the way my hand tightens on her waist. In the way she steps closer, until there's barely any space between us.
The music swells. We turn, glide, move as one.
Her scent surrounds me. Warm. Intoxicating.
This is what I've been missing.
Not just the sex. Not just the desire.
This. Her in my arms. Moving with me. Fitting against me like she was made for this.
She's looking up at me through her lashes. Not saying anything, but her eyes are saying everything.
I miss you.
I want you.
This is killing me too.
My thumb strokes her waist. Just once. Just enough to make her breath catch.
Her hand tightens on my shoulder.
We're dancing slower now. Not keeping time with the music anymore, just swaying.
I could kiss her. Right here, in front of everyone. Claim her. Tell Luca the truth and deal with the damned consequences with her by my side.
Her lips part slightly.
She'd let me.
The thought is dangerous. Tempting. Impossible.
The music ends.
Reality crashes back.
We're standing in the middle of the dance floor, holding each other, and people are watching.
I step back and reluctantly release her.
"Thank you for the dance," I say formally.
"Y-You're welcome." Her voice is barely a whisper.
I turn and walk away before I do something unforgivable like grab her and kiss her and burn everything down just to have her.
Viktor's waiting at the bar, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That was—"
"Don't."
"—incredibly obvious."
"I said don't."
He hands me another whiskey. "You're playing with fire, boss."
"I know."
"This is going to end badly."
"I know that too."
But as I watch Aurora across the room, Leo's hands on her again, that fake smile back in place, I realize I’m not sure I care.