King of Wrath (Kings of Sin #1) by Ana Huang

Unfortunately, he knew me well enough to pick up on the nuances of my non-answer.

His eyes narrowed. The unease in my stomach swirled faster as realization dawned slow and horrified across his face.

“Wait. Are you marrying him because you want to or because your parents want you to?”

I shifted in my seat, suddenly wishing I’d skipped the market today.

I didn’t answer, but my silence told him all he needed to know.

“Dammit, Viv.” Frustration seeped into his voice. “I knew you’d never willingly choose someone like Dante. I looked him up after your text. All those rumors about him and what he’s like…no amount of money in the world is worth it. What the hell were your parents thinking? Besides the fact he’s a billionaire.” An uncharacteristically bitter edge poisoned his words.

“He’s not that bad,” I said, strangely defensive of Dante even though he’d been a jerk during ninety percent of our interactions.

But…the kiss. The breakfast. The story of the Moondust Diner.

They were small things in the grand scheme of our relationship, but they gave me hope.

Dante Russo had a human side. He just didn’t show it often.

“That’s what he wants you to think. Even if he isn’t as bad as the rumors say, do you want to be married to someone who’s already married to his work?”

My mind flashed to Dante’s month-long trip to Europe.

I rubbed my ring again, my insides twisted with frustration. I felt like a bird trapped in a cage of circumstances beyond my control, unable to do anything except sing and look pretty.

Heath leaned forward, his expression intense. “You don’t have to marry him, Viv.”

“Heath—”

“I mean it.” The fierceness of his tone startled me. “You’ve always done what your parents told you to do, but this isn’t about a job or where you go to college. This is about the rest of your life. You’re not a teenager anymore, and you have your own money. You can push back.”

We’d had this conversation before, and it ended the same way every time.

“It’s not about pushing back,” I said. “They’re my family, Heath. I can’t turn my back on them.”

His laugh lacked humor. “I should’ve known you were going to say that.” He leaned back, his gaze heavy on mine. “I haven’t dated anyone since we broke up, you know. Not seriously. My longest relationship after you lasted a month.”

Another pang worked its way through my chest at his low confession.

“Neither have I,” I said quietly. “But I’m engaged now, and this conversation is inappropriate.”

I didn’t like Dante, but I would never cheat on him or disrespect the implicit promise I’d made when I accepted his ring.

Heath painted a tempting picture of a world where I was free to do as I pleased, but that was all it was, a picture. Fantasy, not reality.

In the real world, I had duties and obligations to fulfill. No matter how rude or overbearing Dante was, I had to make my engagement work, one way or another.

There was no other option.

“You should go,” I said. ”I’m sure you have a lot to do before your Monday meeting.”

Heath stared at me for a second before he shook his head.

“Right.” He pushed his chair back and stood. His bitter expression returned, but his voice was soft as he left. “It was good seeing you, Viv. If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”

I watched him walk away, my heart heavy and my thoughts running in a dozen different directions.

So much had happened in the past week it felt like a fever dream.

Dante returning from Europe.

Our kiss and first real conversation together.

Heath showing up out of the blue and asking me to break my engagement.

Dante and I hadn’t discussed our dating history, but what would he say if he found out what happened with Heath today?

No matter his feelings toward me, he didn’t strike me as the type of man who’d respond well to other people interfering in his relationships.

His security team once hospitalized someone who tried to break into his house. The guy wound up in a months-long coma with broken ribs and a shattered kneecap.

Sloane’s voice echoed in my head, followed by an image of coal dark eyes and calloused hands.

A shiver skated down my spine.

I was suddenly glad Dante didn’t take any interest in my comings and goings.

If he did…I had a strong feeling Heath might not make it to see his company’s IPO.





CHAPTER 10





Dante





“Another one bites the dust. Something must be in the water, with the way everyone around me is suddenly getting hitched,” Christian drawled. “How are things with your blushing bride? Blissful, I hope.”

“Cut the crap, Harper, or I’ll throw you out myself,” I growled. My engagement party was insufferable enough without dealing with him.

I was still unsettled from my kiss with Vivian last week, and now I had to make small talk with a bunch of people I didn’t particularly care for.

A wicked smile slashed across Christian’s face. “Not blissful, then.”

In the fourteen years I’d known Christian Harper, not a single one had passed without him inciting me to near murder. It was almost impressive on his part.