Page 69 of Unforgiving Queen

I was getting tired of Dante saying her name if the red spots in my vision were any indication.

A dark smile pulled on the corners of my lips. “Dante, I’ve seen your crazy.” I gave my head a shake so the red mist wouldn’t drench my vision. “But you haven’t seen mine.” Nothing fucked with your brain as much as losing the only thing that mattered. “End. This. Now.”

I moved to leave, but Dante had to have the last word.

“I’ll discuss this with my fiancée.”

I turned on my heel and braced myself, then punched him straight in the face, making him just a little less pretty. Gasps and horrified shrieks traveled through the air but neither one of us paid it any mind, our gazes locked. Blood dripped from his nose and lip, and tomorrow, he’d have one hell of a shiner.

“Cancel this engagement, or you’ll see exactly how the world burns whenIgo fucking crazy,” I bit out.

25

REINA

Istared after the last model as she made her way out of the building.

“Most of the designs I showcased sold out,” I said, though all enthusiasm was missing from my voice. “I only have a few left.”

A round of squeals and congratulations followed, my friends and sister gushing over the night’s success.

“We should celebrate,” Phoenix exclaimed.

“Yes, let’s go dancing,” Isla agreed.

I wasn’t in the mood. Not after the news I had gotten from Papà. It ruined my entire evening and dampened my success.

“If you say no, I’m going to scream,” Raven announced, her tone exasperated. “I have to get laid tonight.”

Athena sighed. “Please tell me it has nothing to do with those men who were walking, talking sex—hmm, I mean, red flags.”

Raven just rolled her eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t,” she snickered. “I could literally see you shopping for your next man meal as you strutted around.”

“Oh, and you weren’t?” Isla said, calling Athena out.

She cocked an eyebrow. “I’m a romantic, not a saint.”

“She’s a hopeless romantic with a dirty mind,” Raven drawled.

“And a pretty sarcastic mouth,” Phoenix added.

“Dirty mouth too,” Isla added.

“It must be exhausting being a hopeless romantic with a dirty mind and sarcastic mouth,” I pointed out, smiling while my mind whirled in a hundred different directions. Did Grandma know all those years ago that it was Dante Leone who Papà arranged my marriage to? She’d told me of his plans, but could she have known it was him? Did she agree with this? It seemed unlikely, but it was difficult to say with certainty.

“So are we on or not?” Athena asked.

I blinked, confused. “On for what?”

All of them rolled their eyes. “A night out. Dancing.”

I rolled my shoulders, trying to relieve the stress. “Yes, let’s do it. You go ahead. I’m going to clean up the last few things, then I’ll join you. Marchetti did me a solid, so I want to leave the venue in the same condition as I found it.”

A round of cheers and “attagirl” followed as the girls slipped on their shawls and left the venue. Phoenix stayed behind.

“What’s bothering you?” Leave it to my sister to read me like a book. “I saw you talking with him.”