Page 58 of Kiss of Ruin (Brutal Empire)

A place that will be his for life.

Epilogue

Nico

Waiting for the moment for Scarlett to become my wife has felt like an eternity. I only gave her a week to plan the wedding. A week was entirely too long. I should have insisted on a day. All I want is to see her walk down the aisle to me this time instead of standing next to the man who took her from me, pretending to be supportive.

With nothing else to do but wait, I’m standing in my father’s study, the heavy anticipation of the impending ceremony weighing on me. The walls seem to close in, echoing with the secrets held within the room. I can't escape the haunting memories of the past, the shadows of deceit and revenge that have brought me to this moment.

My phone rings, disrupting the oppressive atmosphere. “This had better not be the caterers calling me with another problem,” I mutter.

My father, who's been waiting with me the entire time, lifts a brow. “Then answer it and find out.”

“Hello,” I say when I answer the call.

“Mr. Acosta?”

“Yes, what can I do for you?”

“Andreas and Carlos are here.”

“Let me speak with them.” I look up and see that my father has left me alone in the study, giving me the space to take the call.

“Carlos, I didn’t expect you to arrive from Colombia so soon.”

“Yes, well, we wanted to meet the boy.”

“Of course. Maria will be happy to introduce you to him.”

“Since you had him taken from the alley that night, has he said anything about his family’s empire?”

“Not a word, but I’m sure with the right motivation, we can learn plenty about the DeLuca’s. I told you this plan would work.”

“You did. Now when do you plan on returning to Colombia to speak to Frankie?”

“Not for at least two weeks. I plan to take my bride on the honeymoon she deserves.”

“Ah yes, congratulations to you and Scarlett. This time I hope things are different.”

“So do I.” There’s a knock on the door, and my father sticks his head inside the room. “It’s time.”

“Carlos, I need to go. I will let you know when I plan on heading to my house down there so that you can join me.”

“I look forward to it.”

I disconnect the call, slipping my phone into my pocket, an attempt to cast aside the looming thoughts of Frankie DeLuca on my wedding day.

What did I have planned for the boy? Fuck if I knew.

That was a problem for another day.

Today, above all else, I refuse to be anything other than a man in love—a man who is about to finally take the woman he’s waited a lifetime for and make her his wife.