Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Luca dragged himself out of bed. Shit.

He looked back at Audrey’s naked body, barely covered by the sheet. She was still asleep.

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He hadn’t meant to sleep with her. He’d come here to end things. Break it off clean. But the second he saw her, touched her -tasted her–he caved. As always. It was like trying to quit smoking. Not that he ever had. But she was addictive.

Maybe that’s why this thing between them had lasted eleven months. The longest he’d ever been with anyone.

He should’ve ended it months ago. Luca had known this was coming–known he had responsibilities he couldn’t outrun forever. He just hadn’t expected them to catch up in the form of his father’s heart attack.

Nick De Santis had pulled through. But it had been close. Too close.

And before the surgery, his father had made him promise. Made him swear that if he survived, Luca would finally fulfill the commitment he’d made sixteen years ago.

The promise that still made Luca’s blood boil.

When Luca was sixteen, his father had agreed to a marriage pact with Marco Rossi–his best friend since childhood. Marco’s daughter, Bella, had been two. A toddler. In Luca’s eyes, she was still a child at eighteen to his thirty–two years.

Luca hadn’t known about the arrangement until years later, when he’d fallen for someone else. That was when his father told him the truth–that his future had already been decided. That love didn’t matter. That duty came first.

The girl, Carly–his first real relationship–dumped him the second she found out. Married another rich fool within months. So much for love.

Audrey would do the same.

She was beautiful. Men would line up for her.

Why did the thought of someone else touching her make him sick?

He wasn’t an idiot. What they had was heat. Chemistry. Not love. She’d move on. Find someone else to scratch the same itch. It wasn’t her fault. They’d only ever been using each other. She’d never come away with him. Her career had always come first. And it’s not like she was out saving lives. She was a fucking model.

Luca rubbed a hand down his face.

This marriage wasn’t his choice, but he’d made a promise. His father wanted him married. Wanted him tied to another powerful Italian family. Rooted in legacy and wealth. Just like theirs.

What choice did he have?

Audrey… he liked her. More than he should. But he didn’t love her. Not in the way that counted. She was perfect mistress material. Not wife material.

She was too wild. Too independent. A model, for fuck’s sake. No family. No connections. She’d come to Europe seven years ago, worked when she wanted, lived on her own terms. He needed someone who understood duty. Legacy. Family. He couldn’t even imagine her giving up modeling to have children. Not yet. Her career was too important to her. His father wanted grandchildren–and soon.

What would she even do at a formal dinner? A charity gala? Could she host diplomats? Entertain politicians? She didn’t understand his life.

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Chapter 93

that. And God, that body–he’d seen it on billboards, lingerie

wasn’t the kind of

the kind of wife his father would

he dressed. Once he said what needed

closer to the bed. “Audrey,

a sleepy smile on her lips. “Come back to bed,

We need

asked, sitting up and pulling the sheet around her chest. Her platinum

a temptation. And he wished–God, he wished–he could crawl back into bed and pretend none of this mattered. But he’d already crossed a line by sleeping with her again. He

things before. So why was this so

been easy to be with. In all the ways that mattered. Who would’ve guessed—a beautiful model who was actually easy to be around. He had dated his fair share before Audrey. Shallow empty

“Audrey… it’s over.”

She blinked. “What?”

me.

can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious.”

What did I

did. This was never permanent.

marriage,” she

like it was splintering. “Marry you?

“But I love you.”

You don’t love me. And even if you did, it doesn’t matter. I need to marry someone from my background. Someone my

he said it. But maybe if she hated him, it would be easier for both

being honest. Cruel, maybe–but kind in the long

at him, stunned. Eyes glassy, chest rising and

she whispered, barely

Luca said, biting back the urge to soften the blow.

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Chapter 93

fell, silent

cracks in his armor.

turned toward

need to tell you something,” she said behind him, her voice raw

Luca stopped. “Audrey.”

might

“It won’t.”

“Please.”

jaw clenched.

“I’m pregnant.”