“He’s been running a fever on and off all day,” I confess.
“I’m calling the doctor,” Nikki says, carrying Zeke with her out of the library.
“I gave him baby Tylenol,” I say, trying to ease her mind.
I may be a shitty girlfriend, but I’m not a bad mother.
I want to chase after Nikki. I don’t like that she’s taken Zeke out of the room, but Luca grabs my arm, his grip solid and warm as he keeps me from rushing after Nikki.
“Zeke will be fine.” Luca’s words are meant to assure me.
I exhale heavily and try to take a moment to breathe as I glance through the open door where Nikki just disappeared, and Ashton steps foot inside the library, joining us.
Dante steps toward me, his cold gaze sending chills straight through my heart.
“You disappointed me, Harper. I don’t like being disappointed.”
It’s a warning.
I nod faintly, staring up at him, realizing that there is no running from this man, not today.
I tried, and I failed, miserably.
“I’m sorry; it won’t happen again.”
“I’d like to think not,” Dante says with a huff. “You’ll be getting married this evening.”
I turn toward Luca, eyes wide, waiting to see if he’ll object and tell his father that he doesn’t wish to marry me.
He’s made it perfectly clear that he hates me.
“The wedding is still on?” I ask, my voice cracking.
“You didn’t think you could run from our family, dear, did you?” Dante asks with the hint of a devious smile on his face. “You’re lucky Luca and Ashton found you and it wasn’t one of my men.”
“I’m sorry.” I’m quick to apologize. Maybe I can find another way out of this disaster.
Dante’s gaze tightens.
“Apologies don’t lessen embarrassment. You attempted to humiliate my family.”
Luca’s hand drops from my arm.
The coldness in the air sends goosebumps across my skin.
“That was never my intention,” I say.
Do I try to explain that I was trying to help Luca? I doubt Dante cares about my intentions, and Luca certainly wasn’t happy with me when he read my letter.
“I’m sorry,” I say, hoping that maybe another apology will help ease the damage I’ve caused.
“I don’t care about your apologies. They’re meaningless,” Dante scolds. “You will marry him, now.”
“Now?” Luca’s voice betrays him as he glares at me. He blanches.
“We informed all our guests that Harper was ill with a bout of food poisoning. You will wed Ashton tonight,” Dante says.
Ashton?
