When Villains Rise (Anti-Heroes in Love, #2)

by Giana Darling

“Molto bene, lottatrice mia,” Dante practically purred. “You look like a warrior goddess like this. Maybe you should lose the clothes, hmm?”

“I’ve never been the first choice,” I croaked. “And I won’t settle anymore for second place. I need some space. Don’t follow me, Dante.”

Dante had loved her once. Of course, he had, almost every man I’d ever known had fallen in love with Cosima at one point or another. She was everything I wasn’t, likeable and loving, passionate and sensual, gorgeous and wise. At some point in their shared history, he’d thought himself in love with her. Like Christopher and Daniel with Giselle. I was just the second-string sister.

We were as fractured as a windshield after a crash, only held together by a sheer feat of engineering that was the Italian family ideal. Stay together at all costs. Pretend to be happy when your neighbors ask how you are, even if your life at home is nightmarish. It was pathetic.