Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 98

Luca already hated himself before he stepped into the room.

The weight in his chest had nothing to do with having to face his father and more to do with not being able to find Audrey.

Nick De Santis was seated behind the desk, a glass of something dark in his hand. Of course. Antonio, his younger brother by eight years, stood off to the side, leaned casually against the wall like he wasn’t waiting for the floor to crack open.

Luca didn’t sit.

“You wanted to speak,” Nick said, not looking at him.

Not a question. A statement.

“Yeah,” Luca said, eyeing the whiskey. “Should you be drinking that after heart surgery?”

“I only have one life, Luca, and I will live it to the fullest. If that means I will join your mamma in heaven a little sooner, then so be it.”

Luca let that settle for a moment before saying what needed saying. Before he was done, Luca was sure his father would need that drink.

“I’m not marrying her.”

There. Said it.

His father blinked slowly, like the words hadn’t landed yet. Then, very deliberately, he set the glass down.

Nick didn’t yell. Didn’t stand. Didn’t do much of anything.

Just said: “You told me you would.”

“I changed my mind.”

“No,” Nick said. “You don’t get to change your mind. That’s not how this works. You’re not some teenager throwing tantrums. You made a commitment. Marco Rossi is expecting our families to merge.”

“I don’t give a damn what Marco Rossi expects.”

That got a twitch in his father’s jaw. “Careful.”

someone I don’t want to

since when has want had anything to do with this family? I never loved your mamma when I married

pushed hard enough. “There’s more to it. I

the sacrifices. After building this empire–giving you every goddamn opportunity—you repay me by

me. I have my own

“Do not make this about your feelings, Luca. This is about family. Have you fallen in love

said anything about

stared at him. “Then what? Just fuck her and leave? Or have her on the

“Mamma would have roasted your balls

father would not have dared cheat

room, Antonio shifted like he

said, “if you’re actually walking

am,” Luca said

Nick. “Then maybe… I could

looked

arms.

was too measured. “I’ve known her a long time. I respect her. And I know how much this means to the family.

delicate he wasn’t supposed to touch. Had his little brother been in love with

the desk. “It would keep things from going south

even going

snapped. “It’s about that model. Audrey, or

Luca’s body stiffened.

M

Luca? You wouldn’t be this spun out if she didn’t mean something. So let’s say she’s more than a fling–maybe you even convinced yourself it was real. But it wasn’t. If she mattered, you wouldn’t have

so tight it could’ve shattered. His father had twisted his arm before surgery–what

shook his head like they were both exhausting him. “You’re not serious about her. You

that was the

but sharp–edged. “She’s pregnant. He hadn’t meant to tell them.

at his

Nick froze mid–motion.

he hadn’t heard

dragged in a breath.

Silence.

さ