Forbidden War: Marco (Bellanti Brothers Book 5) by Stella Gray

Author:Stella Gray [Gray, Stella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781957647104
Publisher: Paige Press, LLC
Published: 2022-06-20T18:30:00+00:00

15

KARINA

Today is my first public outing since Armani made his lordly decree about me and Marco needing to play the part of the star-crossed lovers like all our lives depend on it—which they do.

Guess I’m about to find out how good an actress I can really be.

The event is a race for charity, with all the proceeds from ticket sales and the winner’s purse going directly to an aid group in Ukraine. I might have actually enjoyed the prospect of supporting my husband since the whole thing is for such a good cause, but I woke up with a pit in my stomach and a looming sense of dread…because Marco will be competing against my former fiancé. It’s the first time the rivals will be seeing each other since I ran off with Marco on the day I was supposed to marry Pietro.

Both the Bellanti family and the Brunos will be there, not to mention Pietro’s associates, and I’m going to be stuck in the middle. With all eyes on Marco and me, our little charade is going to have to be Oscar-worthy. I’ll need to be “on” times one thousand. I’m terrified.

The one thing I can control, however, is my outward appearance. Looking the part is half the battle, isn’t it? With that in mind, I’m going all out. I choose a flirty, dusty rose dress with a hem that flounces above my knees and a sexy open back, but manage to balance its vavoom with a high-neck halter in the front. It’s so pretty, and so unlike anything I would have been allowed to wear when I was a Bruno. My hair gets pulled up with a few loose tendrils brushing my cheekbones, and I opt for strappy gladiator sandals instead of heels.

Gold earrings dangle from my ears, my wedding band is gleaming on my finger, and when I check my outfit in the mirror, I really do look polished and put together. And the best part? I accomplished it myself…with a little help from YouTube on how to do the perfect messy bun. Now, if only my husband would appreciate it, I’d love it all the more. But I doubt he’ll even notice my efforts. If only he wanted me the way I can’t stop wanting him.

There’s a knock on the door right before Marco walks through the sitting area and into the bedroom. He’s been sleeping…somewhere else. I’m not sure where, exactly. He seemingly only comes into his room to grab clothes, primarily when I’m not there. Even though he’ll be zipping himself into his racing suit soon enough, for now he’s perfectly dressed in dark slacks and a casual, light gray button-down. No tie. The top few buttons are undone. I have to force my eyes not to linger at the triangle of exposed chest I can see from across the room.

“Hi,” I say.

“It’s time to go,” he says coolly, his gaze sweeping over me quickly.

He doesn’t compliment me. Doesn’t even budge from the doorway. My heart pangs with disappointment.

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