SA

everything below glimmered—the string of lights, lanterns and candles of the wedding venue. Everythin

and was as cold and monstrous as those Mafiosos a

, though. I figured with the state of mind he was in, he would want a frie

zer, tossed it to the side, and tried to peek down at the ven

more men like him. Adonis and Bella had not been married for eight years. They had only met three months ago. And they sure as hell did not have

“Don’t do it. You may not see anyone down there,

k they can, though, with all th

chances.” I sighed. “Destroying m

ladder and smirked. “I doubt y

ing to her, it was his way of trying to claim ownership of her. Stupid of Bella to think Adonis would not claim ownership of her at some point. Men in our world were dominati

o Luciano ten years ago after Bella’s mother had faked their deaths. She did not want to be

to deal with if I get caught here,

tittered. “What would ha

cigar between his fingers wafted to my nose in the

rs of lecture on how everyone around m

w chuckle. “Tha

on on his face, I added, “I’m just kidding. Everyone loves me and the oth

told me you

n a world as terse as ours. I was the girl who broke the rules—that rule being getting married before hitting twenty—among many other things, and now no man wanted me. Many though

denying it a

im. He cocked a brow. I wanted to see the colour of his eyes right about this mom

cigar, I turned back to him, only to find him staring at me. “What?” He took a

t not until they were married or their

lfully you smoke and still ma

mpliment I’ve... No, the one about my hair being soft as a

worse, but I'm just tellin

mmediately, offering him

ips lightly brushing against my finger. A fleeting current shot thro

Marlboro in age

?” He nodded, and I said, “I have people around me who liv

f the terrace. “Don’t be too flattered. I figured since

you?” He did not answer. “I didn’t ask

igh. There were clear signs of guilt and pain in his eyes. For a quic

ered to me. With the way he had suffered ove

loved Adonis. Bella had confessed how badly she had tried to love Luciano back when she had no ot

t look when I see it. Even from miles away. Car

“I was thinking about you?” His eyes snapped up to mine,

e my fiancé betraye

“She didn’t

of my people.” His Adam’s apple bobb

ou’re better off without her? That you two aren’t meant t

eve in all th

be a Mafioso if you did.” The disa

ought. He continued, "But... that wouldn’t help me with Belle, as much as I know her. The way

ver,” I mumbled. “And

d been buried for the sake of the alliances

“She made her choice,” I finally said, “and you’ll make yours someday. You’ll understand wh

questioned, “Are you saving that for some other occasion?” I turne

sy I was, and handed it to him. Drinking with him seemed like a bad idea. He was Lucia

was just a

ould g