Chapter 24
ALEX
As Pops spun me around the dance floor several times, Luca appeared at my side. “I’d like to dance with Alex. Find something else to do, Wellington.”
“Mind your manners, boy.” He moved closer to Luca, her expression intense. “Learn to respect your elders .”
Luca tugged on his tie and cleared his throat, lips pressed into a thin line. “May I dance with your beautiful granddaughter, Mr. Wellington?”
“That’s better.”
I took Luca’s hand, and he moved my arms around his neck. His hard body felt incredible against mine, a fact I tried to ignore as his fingers jabbed my hipbone. We moved to the song’s beat, acting like a couple. Like he wasn’t holding me in his death grip with a forced smile for our rapt audience.
“You’ve spent most of your night with Sonny,” he said midway through the song. “Do you prefer his company over mine?”
“It wasn’t intentional. You were busy with your family.”
His blue eyes met mine. “You will be part of my family, will you not?”
“I don’t know. Will I?”
The question of the hour.
“You are my queen.” His breath ghosted my lips, so close we could have kissed. “It’s time we make it official.”
“Did you have a change of heart since our little chat in your office?”
“We don’t have a choice. This marriage is happening.”
“I feel like Rapunzel,” I quipped. “Stop locking me inside my tower. You can at least take me out so I can find some enjoyment in this nightmare. If you want a wife and a queen, you better start treating me like it.”
He pursed his lips, considering my request. “My schedule is full.”
Anger flared inside me. My skin burned from his touch, and I wanted to push him away. But we had the eye of everyone in the room.
I slid my hand up his chest, feeling his heartbeat with my palm. “Too full for your future wife?”
“That mouth of yours,” he growled, his voice deep and smooth.
Licking my lips, I stared up at my handsome devil. “Maybe you should do something about my mouth.”
Luca rolled his thumb across my bottom lip, smearing my lipstick. “Perhaps I should.”
I knew he would only respect a woman who made him work for it. His cock got hard for mouthy women. To find my brother, I had to play the game. I had to make Luca think I was his.
“Come to my room tonight for a drink.”
I shook my head.
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “You make my cock so fucking hard.”
When the song ended, one of his friends materialized at our side.
Drake Battle was dressed in a black tuxedo and a red and black carnival mask with gold trim around the eyes.
His irises were golden brown and as vibrant and colorful as honey.
Beneath the mask, I could tell he was handsome, with a sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and full lips any woman would want to kiss.
Luca offered my hand to Drake, and he kissed my skin. “Pleasure is all mine, mi regina .”
My queen in Italian.
Drake Battle was the only son of tech billionaire Ethan Battle. They made their money from military contracts and artificial intelligence software. Given the Salvatores’ business, I assumed the Battles supplied them with weapons.
“Play nice,” Luca said, his words aimed at me. “Be careful, Drake. She’s pretty, but this kitty has claws.”
Drake’s face lit up at the promise. “I would expect nothing less from our queen.”
Luca squeezed his shoulder. “Take good care of her.”
The second he turned his back on us, Drake swept me off my feet. For someone his size, he was graceful, which shocked me. He towered over me, his muscular body pressing into mine as his masculine scent filled my nostrils. Drake smelled good, like a mixture of cloves and fresh linen.
“You look like a fairy queen in this dress,” Drake said as he appraised me with hungry eyes. “Absolute perfection.”
He spun me like a ballerina, and in this skimpy outfit, the fabric barely covered my ass.
“Are you ready to take over as Queen of The Devil’s Creek Belles?”
Hell no. That was my grandfather and her snooty friend’s claim to fame.
I scoffed at the idea. “No, thank you. I’ll pass.”
“Blair Wellington is the current president. Only a Wellington can hold the position.”
“I’m not exactly on speaking terms with Blair. And I don’t want her title.”
“It’s the natural order,” he informed me.
“One thing at a time,” I said to shut down the conversation. “My brain is on overload with everything. I’m still adjusting to my situation.”
Drake spun me in a circle. I almost lost my balance, but he grabbed me from behind, and I fell backward into his chest.
I released a deep breath, glancing up at the sexy hunk towering over me. “Wow. That was…”
Drake slid his arm behind my back in one fluid motion and turned me around. “I can teach you.”
“I may take you up on that offer.”
“I’m at your beck and call.” He dipped his hand into his pocket and pressed his business card into my palm. “Call me anytime.”
With my hand on his chest, I felt his heart race beneath my fingers as I gathered my thoughts, trying to still my racing heart. “Hmm… I bet you’re a good time.”
His laughter shook through me. “Wait until Legare .”
What the hell is Legare?
Before I could ask, another man tapped Drake on the shoulder. “It’s my turn, Battle. Stop hogging our queen’s precious time.”
Drake kissed my hand and promised to see me soon.
Then he slipped through the crowd, leaving me with a nameless stranger.
Tall, dark, and gorgeous, the mystery man had spiky white-blond hair and a thin line of hair along his jaw.
His lips were thinner than Drake’s but still kissable and red as if he’d drank blood.
I studied his mask for a long, hard second. He was one of the four men I’d spotted in the corner—one of The Serpents.
We danced silently, without exchanging a single word until the tempo changed. The sleeve of his jacket slid up, drawing my attention to the dark ink on his wrist. It looked like snake scales that dipped beneath his sleeve and wrapped around his long fingers.
“What’s your name, stranger?”
His delicious lips curved into a crooked grin. “You know me.”
“Can’t say I do.”
“Shame,” he taunted with a cruel expression on his handsome face. “And here, I thought we’d made a lasting impression on you.” His warm breath rolled over my earlobe. “I know what you want, why you’re here.”
I gritted my teeth. “You don’t know shit.”
“You know where to find us. My friends call me Morpheus. See ya around, beautiful.”