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.”

I don’t

had anything to do with this family? I never loved your mamma when I married her, but she became my world. -The same will happen for you if you give

whole house down if he pushed hard enough. “There’s more to it. I just can’t

for you. After all the sacrifices. After building this empire–giving you every goddamn opportunity—you repay me by blowing up the only alliance that

I have my own interests and

slow, deliberate. “Do not make this about your feelings, Luca. This is

anything about

and leave? Or have her on the side?

would have

would not have

the room, Antonio shifted like he couldn’t

this is really happening,” Antonio said, “if you’re actually walking

said without hesitation. “I’m

glanced at Nick. “Then maybe… I

looked

folded his arms. “You’d

shrugged, but it was too measured. “I’ve known her a long time. I respect her. And I know how much this means

course. Of fucking course. Antonio had always eyed her like she was something delicate he wasn’t supposed to touch. Had his little brother been in love with Bella? Why hadn’t he said something? Luca would have stepped aside. Hell, he hadn’t fucking wanted to marry

on the desk. “It would keep things from going south

voice dropped an octave. “You’re not even going to

I know,” Nick snapped. “It’s about that model. Audrey, or

Luca’s body stiffened.

M

keep tabs on you, 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

looked away, jaw clenched so tight it could’ve shattered. His father had twisted his arm before surgery–what was

both exhausting him. “You’re not serious about her.

was

“She’s pregnant. He hadn’t meant to tell them. He wanted

at his

Nick froze mid–motion.

stilled, like he hadn’t heard

dragged in a breath. “She’s

Silence.

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