Page 69 of Savage Empire

Hecan’tbe serious.

“Oh fuck you, you’re the only one who thinks marrying you is a golden opportunity, you conceded dickhead.”

His eyes roll. “Not the opportunity to marry me,micina.Do keep up.”

“You motherfuck?—”

“A secret engagement benefits both of us,” he interrupts.

Where on earth is he possibly going with this? Where does he get these wild ideas?

“How the fuck do you figure that?”

“Easily,” Apollo insists. “No one is supposed to know, so your life won’t be affected. Yordan won’t know, and you can continue to pretend you despise me.”

“I’m not pretending.”

He disregards my jibe and continues explaining his hairbrained scheme. “And if my father believes we’re attached, he won’t try to set me up with someone else. All my free time can continue to be devoted to mentoring Yordan, which I know you want for him. You can dislike me all you want, but you can’t deny that I’m good for him.”

I breathe out, digesting his reasoning. I hate that it’s not entirely ridiculous.

“And what happens when we’re actually expected to marry?”

“Engagements end all the time.” He shrugs again. “We’ll end it amicably and continue to associate as we do now. No one will question it for fear of being rude. There’s no real downside to this, Rayna. Unless you consider having to remain single and celibate a downside.”

“Single and celibate?” I echo, arching a doubtful brow. “What isthatsupposed to mean?”

“You can’t be seen with another man while rumors of our engagement are out there, Rayna. Surely you know that.”

“And I’m sure the same doesn’t go for you, does it?” I scoff.

“I assure you, I won’t be seen romantically with other men.”

Scowling, I snap. “Fuck off. You know what I mean.”

“I haven’t been with a woman in months, and I have no plan to change that. I understand you think I’m the devil incarnate but I wouldn’t embarrass you by sleeping around while we’re attached, even in rumor.”

I can’t pretend that doesn’t surprise me.

Months without a woman warming his bed? As a mafia heir with a handsome face and a stacked bank account? It seems almost unheard of.

Feeling slightly crazy, I guzzle down the rest of my glass in an entirely improper manner. “I’m going to need something stronger than this to cope with the fact that I’m about to agree to your ridiculous idea.”

“How about another glass instead?” He raises a brow. “We still have a dinner to get through, after all. You seem like you’re a bit of a light weight.”

“Fine,” I agree stiffly. “But if you ever kiss me to shut me up again, I’ll punch you in the dick.”

He chuckles, looking far too amused. “You’d prefer I kiss you with a different motivation instead?”

“Don’t push your luck.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,micina.”

Two full glasses of wine later, dinner is in full swing. Yordan is fully in his element, making hearty conversation with everyone surrounding him. Me on the other hand, I’m feeling flush and uncomfortable, cowering under the weight of scattered gazes.

I’ve exchanged polite chatter with Elio, Leon, and Apollo, but mostly made myself invisible to others. Jade has also been attempting to be welcoming, but her babies are keeping her quite busy. Her little boy is being passed around the table like a hot potato, and her daughter is snuggled into her lap like a sleepy little princess.

I can’t hide how awkward I feel, nor how unsettled I am to be sharing a table with…some of the guests. My long-held resentment for the Moretti family isn’t something I’ve been able to fully tackle since growing closer to them. The fact that they’ve been so kind only makes it more difficult.