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

Most people dated before their engagement, but we were doing everything backward.

Late was better than never, I supposed.

“If you wanted to spend more time with me, mia cara, you only have to say so.” Dante’s drawl slipped back into a velvety cadence.

My cheeks warmed. “That’s not the point.” Not the whole point, anyway. “We’re getting married in a few months, and we haven’t gone on a single real date.”

“We’ve been on dates. We went to the Valhalla gala.”

“That was a social obligation.”

“We went to Bali.”

“That was a family obligation.”

He fell silent.

“Those are my terms. Do you accept?”

His answer came less than two seconds later. “Yes.”

“Great.” I hid my surprise at his ready agreement. “Well…” God, this was awkward. Why was peace so much harder than war? “We can sort out the bedroom logistics later. For now, I need to fix my work problem before I’m blacklisted.”

Trying to find a last-minute venue in Manhattan was like trying to find an earring at the bottom of the Hudson River. Impossible.

But if I wanted to save the Legacy Ball and my career, I needed to find a way to make the impossible possible, fast.

“Is it something that requires you to be in the office?”

“No…” I said cautiously. “Not really.”

I mostly needed to brainstorm alternatives so I could call them on Monday.

“Perfect. Fix it over breakfast.” A smile flickered over Dante’s mouth. “We’re going on our first date.”





CHAPTER 26





Dante





I’d always been in control of my reactions, at least publicly. My grandfather had driven any impulsive displays of emotion out of me since I was a child.

In the words of Enzo Russo, emotion was weakness, and there was no room for weakness in the cutthroat corporate world.

But Vivian. Fuck.

There’d been a moment yesterday when I thought I might lose her. The prospect had unlocked a level of fear I hadn’t experienced since I was five, when I’d watched my parents walk away, thinking I’d never see them again. That they’d vanish into the ether, leaving me with my terrifyingly stern-faced grandfather and a mansion too large to fill.

I’d been right.

I’d eventually lose Vivian too, someway, somehow, but I’d deal with that day when it came.

A strange tightness gripped my chest.

I didn’t know how things would play out after the truth came out, but after last night—after tasting how sweet she was and feeling how perfectly we fit—I knew I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

“Is this what I think it is?” Vivian’s voice dragged me out of my thoughts.

She stared at the retro diner sign above our heads, her expression equal parts intrigued and mystified.

“Moondust Diner.” I shook off my uncharacteristic melancholy and held open the door. “Welcome to the home of the best milkshakes in New York, and my twelve-year-old self’s favorite place in the city.”

I hadn’t visited the diner in years, but the minute I stepped inside the well-worn interior, I was transported back to my pre-teen days. The cracked linoleum tiles, the orange pleather seats, the old jukebox in the corner…it was like the place had been preserved in a time capsule.

A twinge of nostalgia hit me as the hostess guided us to an empty booth.

“Best is a lofty title,” Vivian teased. “You’re setting my expectations sky high.”

“They’ll be met.” Unless the diner changed its recipe, which it had no reason to do. “Trust me.”

“I admit, this isn’t what I expected from our first date.” Vivian’s lips curved into a small smile. “It’s casual. Low key. I’m pleasantly surprised.”

“Hmm.” I flipped through the menu out of habit more than anything else. I already knew what I was going to order. “Should I not mention the private helicopter tour I booked for later, then?”

Her laugh faded when I raised an eyebrow.

“Dante. You didn’t.”

“You’re engaged to a Russo. It’s how we do things. The diner is…” I paused, searching for the right sentiment. “A walk down memory lane. That’s all.”

I was supposed to play tennis with Dominic today, but when Vivian tried to leave that morning, all I’d wanted was for her to stay. A date at the diner had been the first thing that popped into my head.

The helicopter idea came later, and that only took one call to set up.

“I like it. It’s charming.” Vivian gave me a mischievous smile. “Please tell me you took advantage of the jukebox when you were younger. I would kill for a photo of twelve-year-old you drinking a milkshake and dancing.”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but that’s not gonna happen. I’m not a jukebox kinda guy. Not even when I was prepubescent.”

“I’m not surprised, but you could’ve let a girl dream a little longer,” she said with a sigh.

Our server arrived. I stuck with my trusty black-and-white shake while Vivian wavered between the strawberry and peanut butter and chocolate.

I sat back, oddly charmed by the little furrow in her brow as she pored over the menu.