Page 14 of The Viper's Wife

“Come on, Val, your fiancé is here,” he mutters.

I can’t breathe.

“Nico,” Dad forces out past his missing tongue. It sounds like a foreign word in his mouth.

I’m going to throw up.

Nico Matassa doesn’t say a word. He takes silent, measured steps to the table—to me. I stare at the candle’s sputtering flame. It’s about to drown in the melted wax.

If I don’t look at his face, this will go away.

It’s a joke. Nobody would touch an Aceto girl like me. I’m spoiled goods after Dad betrayed our don.

Pretty girl.

The ghost of Nico’s fingers cling to my skin like cobwebs. I want to shower. I’m exposed. Everyone can see the evidence of Nico’s mouth on my skin, of his cock inside me.

I couldn’t have known who he was. It’s not my fault, but I’m still up to my neck in guilt. I want to cry, but I don’t. I never cry. And I never go out to parties. I rarely hook up with people.

Waiting for you.

He knew who I was. Did he plan our engagement before or after our night together? I try to process the information, prodding at it like I can find a solution, but I’m coming up blank.

His pants are sleek and crisp, like he ran an iron over them. For some reason, that detail terrifies me—does he want to make a good impression?

Maybe if I throw up on his shoes, he’ll leave.

This is just to humiliate me. No one in their right mind would marry an Aceto. This isn’t really about me. It’s about Dad—it’s some weird, convoluted way of showing him how even his daughter is dirt under Don Salvatore’s and Nico Matassa’s shoes. After, Stefano will hit me for being a whore and ruining my chances.

Maybe our hookup was a good thing. The men in myworld don’t like easy women, and someone like Nico—rich, handsome, and powerful—could have any woman he chooses.

He won’t choose me.

Hope sparks in my chest.

Nico slips warm fingers along the underside of my jaw, and I can’t help but think about how he rubbed his thumb against my cheek as I sucked his dick.

I school my expression, wiping my mind clean of that night. I won’t react. I’ll be so boring, he won’t waste time toying with me.

I’m completely blank as he raises my face toward his.

He’s got a cruel smirk playing at his mouth—I kissed those full lips. He was a good kisser. Exceptional.

His gaze ticks over my face, my lips, my body, my hands, and finally back to my eyes. I don’t move a muscle, staring evenly at him without a flicker of recognition, even though I’m holding my breath like I’m underwater.

Amusement flickers across his face. His thumb rubs against my bottom lip.

My chest tightens. I need air.

He drops my jaw and addresses the room to no one in particular, in a lazy, self-assured way. “She’s perfect.”

4

NICO

Father was veryclear about his expectations. I could pick my new bride, I wouldn’t embarrass the family, and I would give him heirs as soon as possible.

But I always like to exceed expectations when I can.