Page 159 of Villainous Kingpin

Bas nodded, his gaze meeting mine consuming me. “I will,” he vowed. “I swear on my mamma’s life.”

Fuck. I might end up bawling my eyes out today. “Go back to him,” Mom whispered into my ear. Each step I took towards him felt so much more. Fuck, it almost felt like finding my way back to him.

This romantic side of me would be the end of me, I thought wryly.

Servers began bringing the food around. It looked like strictly Italian cuisine. Everyone ate, the slight tension around our table was evident but somehow I didn’t think it had anything to do with Bas and I, and it had everything to do with Mom and Franco DiLustro.

A band started playing and Bas stood, holding out his hand. “Time for our first dance, principessa.” Something about the way he looked at me had my heart flutter and unwillingly, our first dance came to mind.

Different times, different circumstances. And the same song, I realized with a startling realization.

With my heart in my throat and probably stars in my eyes, we headed to the floor. We didn’t say anything, the guests were silent or maybe they faded into the background as he pulled me against his chest.

The holster under his vest pressed against me and our eyes connected.

“I found you,” he murmured, almost softly as the tunes of the first song we danced to under the starry sky over nine months ago filled the backyard of his Hampton home.

The tables were set up in circles around the large dance floor so everyone could get a front row view of the bride and groom. But to me, nobody was there. Just the two of us, like nine months ago.

Our bodies moved together, like we’ve done this a million times.

“Why this song?” I murmured softly.

He bent his head, his lips against my forehead. “Because no matter where you go, Wynter, I’ll follow.”

I wasn’t sure whether it was a threat or a promise. But my heart melted just the same.

* * *

I danced with so many people and smiled so many fake smiles that when Sasha finally came up, I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t have to pretend.

“Hey,” I greeted him, smiling softly. “Where have you been hiding?”

“Staying out of your husband’s reach,” he grumbled. “Either I’ll kill him or he’ll kill me.”

I shook my head. “He won’t.”

As long as I kept my distance from Sasha. Apparently over the last nine months, Bas has become obsessively crazy too.

“Has he hurt you?” His jaw was clenched, his muscles tense.

“No.” It was the truth. Physically he’d never hurt me. “Thank you for-”

My words faltered because I knew it wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

“For not killing him,” he finished for me.

My fingers curled around his bicep. “I love him,” I admitted softly. “Just the thought of living without him shreds me to pieces.”

He sighed. “It has to be something in the water,” he muttered. I frowned and he shook his head, dismissing his weird comment. “I take it as a good sign that his father is not here.”

Memories slammed into me. The foul breath in my face; Gio’s grip as he pushed against me. I shuddered and lowered my eyes, and kept my focus on Sasha’s tie.

Gio DiLustro left a mark.

“Wyn, I swear-” he started to talk and I shoved the past into a corner.

“I’m fine,” I said. “You trained me well. And if I come face-to-face with Gio, I’ll kill him.”