Chapter 16
DAMIAN
The rest of the school year didn’t go as planned. Luca finally took his head out of his ass and realized he was losing Alex to us. His jealousy was taking a nasty turn, making him even more insufferable than usual.
At home, he barked orders, treating us like children instead of his brothers. He hadn’t spoken to Marcello in over a month and refused to acknowledge him.
Luca slammed my locker shut, jaw set hard, his menacing blue eyes fixed on me. “No more, Damian.” His gaze flicked to Bastian with the same intense expression crossing his face like a dark storm cloud. “You too, Bash. She’s mine.”
Alex was in the bathroom, changing into a fresh pair of panties because I ripped them off her during study hall. She liked our little game. She never knew when I would steal her panties or which ones I would reward her with.
I lost my fucking mind every night when I got home, dreaming of how she would feel when I fucked her. But we had a deal. None of us could claim Alex’s virginity without the others present.
“No more what, brother?” Bastian asked, rolling his eyes. “You’re going to have to use your words if you’re trying to make a point.”
“My point,” Luca snapped, “is that Alex is mine. And I don’t want either of you touching her anymore.”
Bastian bared his teeth, snarling at Luca. “Fuck you. Since when do you give a shit about her?”
“I don’t,” he lied. “But I don’t trust either of you not to fuck her. We have a deal, and you’re getting too fucking close to breaking it.”
Luca wouldn’t fuck Alex, even though he wanted her. And if the prick couldn’t have her, then no one could. He had always been like this. A damn baby when he didn’t get his way.
“We keep our promises,” I interjected, not liking his tone or how he spoke to us like idiots. “We won’t fuck Alex. Neither will Marcello.”
Alex sauntered toward us. Blonde curls brushed the tops of her breasts, which were getting bigger. She ate meals with us at school and filled out nicely, her curvy body made for sin.
Made for us.
Luca curled his arm around her, pressing her back to his chest. She relaxed in his arms and peeked up at him, a smile on her lips.
Every girl at Astor Prep craved attention from Luca. He was the most popular person at this school. Though I couldn’t tell you why, since he wasn’t nice to anyone.
Women looked at me the same way. But they were usually smart enough to steer clear of me. They knew my good looks masked the sinister parts of my soul. And while Luca was intimidating, he was not frightening.
Not like me.
“You’re coming with me today after school, Drea.” Luca dipped his head down, his nose brushing her cheek. “I’m taking you to an art gallery in Manhattan.”
“What?” Alex’s eyes widened, and she spun around to face him. “Are you serious?”
He nodded, keeping his gaze on Bastian and me, and winked. “I want to introduce you to a friend of my mother’s. She can help with your art career.”
“Wow,” she mouthed, fanning herself with her hand. “Who are we meeting?”
“Arianna Lacoste.”
“Oh my god. I love her work.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Luca.”
I noticed him stiffen at her closeness, but he didn’t push her away. My brother put his hand on her back, even though he disliked human contact as much as I did.
It was weird seeing him hug Alex.
She was his exception.
Luca gripped Alex’s ass and lifted her feet off the ground, rubbing this rare moment of affection in our faces. He pressed his body against hers, but his attention was on us. He was taking her away from Bastian and me because he could. And because he knew we wouldn’t fight him.
We never did.
Bastian was the only one who ever challenged Luca. And with something as crucial to our family as a marriage, we couldn’t interfere. In the end, either Luca or Marcello had to marry her.
I held up my hands, gesturing that I’d back off. Luca snapped his head toward Bastian, waiting for his nonverbal response.
He nodded, but I could see his chest deflate, his shoulders sinking. Bastian had it bad for Alex. He thought we had a real shot at happiness with her.
We owed everything to the Salvatores. As scared orphans with nowhere to go, our father and brothers welcomed us into their home. So even though it killed both of us to let Alex go, we didn’t have a choice.
Luca wanted her.
And she was his… until she wasn’t anymore.