Chapter 3
Three
Ashton
How the fuck am I going to get out of marrying Harper?
I’ve never disobeyed a direct order, not from my father and certainly not from Dante. He freaking scares me.
Intimidating is an understatement.
“Sir, you can’t think that me marrying Harper would be a good idea. Luca and Harper will be pining for each other, and it’ll put me in a precarious situation.”
Luca huffs under his breath, and I glare at him.
“They’re sleeping together,” I elaborate, as if that will change things. “For all we know, she could already be pregnant with his child.”
Dante glares at Harper and glances her over.
“Are you carrying his child?”
She looks aghast at the suggestion. “I don’t think so—”
“But she can’t know for certain,” I say, glaring at Harper. I’m trying to give her an out. Doing everything in my power to keep the two of us from being forced to tie the knot.
“I could be pregnant,” Harper says and rests a hand on her stomach. “I mean,” she glances at Luca, “the last time we—”
“We were careful,” Luca growls and steps closer to Harper. “She’s not marrying Ashton. He’s not so much as touching my wife.”
Harper’s breath hitches, and I hide the smile growing on my face as I take a step back, trying to let the two of them sort through this little issue and keep me out of it.
“Your wife,” Dante repeats, rubbing at his jaw. “You still want to marry Harper? After everything she’s done to hurt you?”
“I fully intend on taking her as my wife,” Luca growls and grabs Harper’s hand a bit aggressively. He tugs her closer, and I’ve seen the two of them act in love before, but this is something else.
Possessive.
Heated.
Luca is fueled with a quiet rage destined to be destructive.
Dante is quiet, seizing the moment, deciding on what course of action he wishes to take. “Luca, you will wed Harper at once. Ashton, you will be a witness, and I will handle being the officiant.”