Page 5 of Wicked Villain

But what can I do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I’ve been preserved. Kept a virgin for him to enjoy. It was part of the deal my father made with his. Sure, the deal was made for Gabrielle, but the principle applied to me, too.

My father would provide untouched daughters to the family who could provide him with the most beneficial alliance. The Bellandis offered the most profitable resources of all the families in the Syndicate. The deal was so sweet my father had me pretend to be my dead sister to secure it.

They wanted the perfect twin. That was Gabrielle. Perfect in every way.

I just happened to be wearing her face.

Danillo releases me. Then he drops the sneer and straightens the invisible crease in his jacket.

Bastardo. He can go fuck himself.

A cough slips past my lips, betraying me. Still, I gather myself, taking shallow breaths.

I’ve had years to get used to him, but he always manages to catch me off guard.

Things are bad now. I can’t begin to imagine what it will be like when I’m living with him.

Papa knows what Danillo is like. Gabrielle used to tell him all the time. But Papa thinks nothing of it, because the two of them are just as awful as each other.

Psychopaths. They’re both psychos, and I have the unfortunate pleasure of living amongst them.

What am I going to do?

If I go to live with Danillo now, there’ll be nothing left of me by the wedding.

“Let’s go.” He grabs my arm and shoves me toward the door. I almost trip over my own feet but quickly right myself. The last thing I want to do is fall in front of him.

We step out onto the landing and proceed toward the wide staircase. Excited voices from our guests reach us the moment we descend the stairs.

“Make sure you smile when you see everyone,” Danillo mumbles.

I don’t answer. I don’t have to. He knows I’m going to smile. He knows I’m going to do exactly what I’m told because he holds the power.

The first group of guests to greet us at the foot of the stairs consists of Greta and Gio Carveli. They are among my parents’ closest friends and actually nice people.

Seeing them gives me a moment of reprieve, and when I smile for them, it’s actually genuine.

Greta marvels at Danillo and compliments my dress, then she tells me how beautiful I look and how beautiful Danillo and I look together. Gio does the same, pulls me in for a hug, and we give each other the customary kiss on each cheek.

When he gives me a warm fatherly smile, I almost break.

Why in hell couldn’t I be marrying into their family?

They have five sons. Five grown men who are considerably decent by mafia standards. But according to my father, the Carvelis don’t quite meet the mark. Even though they’re worth several million.

Papa is trying to hit the multi-billion-dollar mark to expand his empire. We own assets and property all over the world. Assets and property that require upkeep and investments to keep being valuable.

That’s where the Bellandis come in. With their combined resources, they’d both have no problem achieving the multi-billion-dollar goal.

The Carvelis accompany us into the grand hall. Below the frescoed ceiling and crystal chandeliers, the room stretches almost endlessly. I’ve always loved this room and admired how the warm light hits the gilded columns and glossy black floor. Tonight, tables covered in white linen adorn the sidelines of the hall and a raised dais waits at the far end. That’s for Papa to give his speech.

When the guests spot us, they applaud. All around me are people admiring us and smiling our way. Excited to celebrate the newest couple in the alliance.

Danillo and I must look like we’re happy together. Can anyone see that we’re not? That I’m not?

I find my mother standing next to my father and Danillo’s parents at the head table.