Chapter 5

Orion’s kiss was rough and punishing. I winced in pain and bit down. Hard.

“Ngh—”

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I’d split his lip.

He hissed in pain but held me tighter, one hand still covering my mouth while he pressed a finger to his own lips, signaling for silence.

He forced his voice to sound steady as he answered Leo. “Don’t worry. My men wouldn’t dare.”

Leo scoffed. “The De Luca family’s daughter will never marry into the mob. Make sure your men get that through their heads. You watch her, and you watch yourself.”

“Leo, relax,” Orion’s voice was unreadable. “I’ll protect her.”

“Protect her?” Leo laughed coldly. “The best protection is keeping her out of your world.”

The footsteps faded.

Once Leo was gone, Orion finally let me go. He gently wiped the moisture from the corner of my mouth, and the blood from his own.

“You bit me. Feel better now?”

I looked down, didn’t answer, and pushed open the door.

I had just sat down when Orion followed me back to the table.

Leo’s eyes narrowed as he saw Orion’s swollen lip. He glanced at my own slightly reddened mouth, and his expression turned cold and complicated.

“What happened to your mouth?” Leo finally asked, his tone flat but carrying the weight of a prosecutor’s interrogation.

Orion’s eyes flicked to me. He let out a low, suggestive laugh. “Nothing. Just got bit by a little wildcat with claws.”

I stared down at my water glass and said nothing.

Leo didn't seem to notice the undercurrent between us. He just snorted and repeated his warning.

“My sister has helped you for a few years. It’s time for her to go home. Her future husband must have a clean record.”

Orion’s expression flickered for a second, then he put on a careless smile.

“Of course. She’s a princess.”

Leo stood up to leave.

“It’s getting late. I have to get back to New York.” He came to my side and pulled a manila envelope from his suit. “Eva, here are a few good candidates.”

I took the envelope. Inside were several detailed profiles.

The men in the photos were all handsome. A Wall Street investment banker, a surgeon from Harvard Medical School, a young federal judge.

“All elites with clean family backgrounds,” Leo said. “Mom and Dad approve.”

I could feel Orion’s eyes on me, sharp as knives.

“Thanks, brother.” I stood up. In front of both men, I ripped the profiles to shreds, one by one.

The pieces of paper fluttered down like snowflakes.

Then I threw them all in the trash.

“Eva?” Leo stared at me, shocked.

“I don’t want to get married right now,” I said flatly.

Leo frowned but didn’t push.

“Alright. When you’re ready, we’ll talk.” He patted my shoulder, then looked at Orion. “Take care of her.”

After Leo left, it was just me and Orion in the room.

He walked over, the possessiveness in his eyes almost overflowing.

“Why did you rip them up?” he asked softly, but I heard the danger in his voice.

“Because I didn’t want to look at them.”

“Really?” He leaned closer, his warm breath on my ear. “Or is it because you can’t bear to leave me?”

I didn’t answer.

His voice dropped to a low, seductive whisper. “I want to see you in a wedding dress. Just for me.”

“I may not be able to marry you, but I’ll buy you every wedding dress in the world. You can wear them all for me. In private.”

I ignored his husky voice, pushed him away, and walked out.

I knew. In this lifetime, I would never wear a wedding dress for Orion Corvo.

The next day, with seven days left, my doorbell rang. It was Sienna.

She wore a white suit, the shipping route plans in her hand.

“Here to take over,” she said with a brilliant smile. “Orion says this route is mine now.”

I let her in and poured two cups of tea.

“Thank you for all your hard work.” Sienna flipped through the documents. “This route is genius. It bypasses everything.”

“You’re welcome,” I said calmly.

“By the way,” Sienna put down her cup, “I’m having a little party at my estate tonight to celebrate our new partnership. Want to come?”

“No.”

“What a shame.” She feigned disappointment. “But Orion will be there. We’re going to have so much fun.”

Her words were loaded, but I pretended not to understand.

Whatever she meant, it didn't matter. Orion and I were ending.

No matter how much it hurt, no matter how hard it was to let go, I would cut him out of my future, piece by piece.

After she left, I soaked in a hot bath, letting my mind go blank. Slowly, I started to feel clear-headed again.

I was just about to fall asleep when my phone started ringing, again and again.

I had to get out, wrap myself in a robe, and answer. A frantic voice came through the line.

“Miss De Luca, the boss is at the club, he’s had too much to drink. Can you come pick him up?”

Before I could answer, they hung up.

Picking up a drunk Orion had become my job over the past five years.

If they were calling me, it meant he was drinking himself to death.

I threw on some clothes and was at the underground club in twenty minutes.

I reached the heavy oak door. It was cracked open just enough.

A wave of unease washed over me. With a trembling hand, I pushed it open.

The next second, I was struck by lightning.

On the sofa, Sienna was straddling Orion, wearing nothing but his white silk shirt. Only two buttons were fastened.

His hands were clamped on her waist, their bodies tangled together.

I could hear them. Sienna’s breathy moans. Orion’s low groans.