The Wedding Debt (Underworld Kings)

“Sure you can,” Liam scoffs. “But we all see through your lies. I know what you’re doing.”

I frown. “Tell me what I’m doing then.” I fold my arms. “Tell me then if you know me as well as you think you do.”

“Like I’d make it so easy for you to hit me,” Liam scoffs. “Pass.”

“Like you’re so perfect,” I retort, throwing a glance at the door where our parents are scheming. I know Jasmine’s in there. She’s the only one of us actually interested in their business. “You’re trying to get the only girl who doesn’t even want you.”

Liam shoves me so hard I almost fall back onto the couch. “Don’t you talk about Jasmine like that!”

“Relax, bro. It doesn’t even fucking matter. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along. We don’t make the decisions. They do,” I say, grabbing the only leftover Coke to throw it back in one go. I plant the glass back down on the table firmly and focus my attention on him. “So go and bang someone. Anyone. Get it out of your system.” I point a finger at his chest. “But you’re a hypocrite if you think I’m the only one.”

“You only care about sex, right?” He grabs my finger. “Keep lying to yourself. Maybe you’ll convince someone.”

“I don’t need to tell you what I care about,” I hiss.

“But do you care about her?”

My nostrils flare. I’m about this close to punching out his two front teeth.

But the punishment that would follow when our parents find out isn’t worth it.

“If you do … stay the fuck away.” He taps my chest now. “She doesn’t want you.”

“Fuck you,” I say, and I turn around.

“Don’t be so fucking afraid of the truth, Luca,” Liam shouts as I walk off.

I throw him the finger without even looking at him. “Look in the mirror, dick.”

I walk out the door and slam it shut behind me. I don’t need to listen to Liam. He knows as well as I do that I’m not the only one running from his problems. He thinks he’s perfect, but he’s not. Unfortunately, our parents don’t see him the way I do, and it pisses me off.

Always the prodigy, the one to rule the empire.

Fuck him.

If I can’t have what I want … I’ll take everything else this world has to offer.

Chapter 6

Luca

Weeks later

* * *

The cigarette in my mouth can’t burn enough to light a spark inside me. I feel cold. Hard like the stone fence I’m sitting on, gazing at the students passing by as they enter the school.

Until finally, a car parks in front of the gates. And not just any car. The armored black limo with darkened windows is over the top, just like the family who owns it.

I snort and shake my head, stubbing out the bud of my cigarette on the fence. But when I look up again, the sight of the girl stepping out of the car, clutching her bag while brushing aside a few strands of her long luscious locks in the wind, warms that dead heart inside my body.

It’s amazing how she stands tall and proud, facing the crowd in front of her despite knowing exactly how they feel about people like us, people involved in the criminal world.

I knew the second I stepped onto the grounds of this expensive school, people would hate my guts. I didn’t make any apologies and didn’t care in the slightest how they would react. I’m used to it. I know where I belong in society, and it’s at the bottom. I’m one of those rich assholes whose parents control an empire with vast influence across the country. It isn’t ruled by the political parties … it’s ruled by us.

And that creates envy.

Hatred.

The kind that makes you want to lash out. But I’ve turned it into a badge I wear with pride.

If only she’d see it that way.

That girl with the pretty blond hair, wearing those high heels and red lips like she doesn’t care or fear anything.

That girl with her fake innocence and fake confidence … That girl is a fucking liar.

I try to look away, but every single time I look at other girls, she still captures my attention, like a moth finding the flame, and it makes me sick to my stomach.

She’s everything I shouldn’t ever want, everything I couldn’t ever have.

She’s … everything.

Everything bad.

Wrong.

Dirty.

Enticing.

Like a piece of candy waiting to be unwrapped.

And I fucking hate that part about myself.

That part that wants.

Needs.

Craves.

That girl isn’t and won’t ever be mine.

Jill.

Jill

* * *

When the armored limo finally arrives at school, I clutch my bag close to my chest and say a little prayer. I’m not normally this anxious, but the fact Jasmine and I are arriving in a limo will surely turn some heads. I didn’t want to do it, but our parents gave us no choice.