Page 103 of Unforgiving Queen

“No, but you will be after I kick your ass.”

Proud of myself for such a witty comeback, I laughed until my cheeks hurt. My friends snickered too, shooting mean glares at Dante.

Darius appeared out of nowhere, shaking his head. “You couldn’t beat anyone when sober. So if you plan on kicking his ass, better give up the booze.”

Looking over at him, I smiled softly and leaned in for a hug.

“Ahhh, Darius. My favorite guy.” Amon just stared stonily back at me. “I love your confidence in me, or lack thereof,” I tossed out playfully, aware of those onyx eyes burning into me.

Iwantedhim to experience even an ounce of the pain I’d felt three years ago and every day since.Do something, damn it!But he remained stubbornly immobile, uninterested.

The air pulsed in sync with my heartbeat as I waited… hoped.

Time stretched. His every muscle was tense, the vein in his neck visibly throbbing.

If I could get away with pecking Darius’s cheek without stirring trouble or getting him killed, I totally would. But I couldn’t do that to him. Not to mention that Darius saw me as his baby sister.

“Wild night, huh?” Darius’s voice penetrated through the haze in my brain and brought me to reality. The one where Amon didn’t give a shit whether I married his brother.

I winked at him. “Not wild enough.”

“Who invited you to my rehearsal dinner?” Dante’s voice filtered in, grating on my nerves all over again.

“I did.” I stared up at him, all fire and defiance. Then I turned to look at Amon. “Your people skills suck, Dante. Two brothers, both dickwads. It must run in the family.”

Dante flashed me a cagey smile that was almost terrifying. “You would know, wouldn’t you?”

My heart tripped over its own heartbeat. A tremor rolled through me, slow and painful, because something about Dante’s eyes set me on edge. They reminded me of another set of terrifying eyes.

His father’s.

My chest tightened and suddenly each breath felt like glass cutting through my lungs. The alcohol must have evaporated from the fear that worked overtime, putting every cell on alert, but I didn’t move a muscle.

My friends and sister got so rowdy that Enrico Marchetti and Manuel had to escort them out and take them home. Isla shook her ass, fluttering her eyes at her husband all the way out the door while Manuel kept rolling his, muttering under his breath.

Probably calling them disgusting lovebirds,I snickered to myself.

Once they disappeared from sight, I glanced at Papà, only to see him watching Dante with an unreadable expression. Could he sense an unspoken threat from his desired son-in-law? I could feel it like the alcohol swimming through my bloodstream. The moment Papà announced this wedding arrangement, I felt the imminent destruction.

The blood in my veins froze over.What if he kills me like I killed his father?Warning bounced around in my skull.

“Could your brother give Reina a ride home?” Papà’s voice rang out and fear shot through me. My eyes darted between him and Dante. It took a moment for me to realize he stared at Amon, not his brother. “I have wedding plans to discuss with Dante.”

“Shouldn’t I be part of the wedding discussions?” I asked.

“Considering your wedding dress came in today and it is black, no.” His voice told me it wasn’t up for discussion. “We’ll handle all the wedding arrangements.”

“But—”

“Amon, are you okay to give Reina a ride home?”

“Sure, I’d love to give your daughter a ride.” Amon’s voice was filled with darkness, or maybe it was the promise of retribution. Except he was the one who’d broken me, not the other way around.

“Okay, Reina,” Papà stated calmly, oblivious to the roller coaster of emotions that was giving me whiplash. “Go with Amon. Your grandma and I will be coming to see you first thing in the morning.”

I glanced up at the man who used to fascinate me and saw my downfall staring back.

Tugging me by my elbow, he leaned in close enough to violate my personal space. “Let’s go.”