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

by Giana Darling

“Show me,” I told him, barely above a whisper. “But I don’t need reminding. I could never forget why I left it all behind. I could never forget you.”

“I want to be the one to make you lose control. I want to watch you bend and break beneath my hands so I can glue you back together with pleasure.”

“There has never been another man for you,” he said fiercely, eyes flashing up to mine and filled with primal possession. “I am the only one to touch you this way, to bring you this pleasure. Forget the past, Elena, because I am the only man in your future.”

“Tell me you want my cum on this classy skin.”

LITERARY ART RIGHT HERE

“Partner? Mmm, I don’t think so. I like the sound of… my lover, my woman, innamorata mia, amora mia.” My love, my heart.

“You don’t understand this yet, but you do not need your armor all the time now. Not when you have me.” He lipped the edge of my jaw all the way up to my ear, where he spoke his next words on a purr. “I will be your sword.”

Because I knew that the moment we left this place, Elena would be mine to do with as I pleased. As she pleased. And suddenly, the idea of her trailing a gun down my body was hotly erotic.

Chi vuole male a questo amore prima soffre e dopo muore. Whoever is against this love suffers and then dies.

You have had enough to fear in your life and I will break apart the entire universe if it dares to harm you again.

I want to be the kind of woman who fights for what she wants. And I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want you.”

Dante was home, so no matter what, I would never be homeless. I’d have his shelter, his protection, and his love to guide me through the worst of life and the worst of myself.

“It is a privilege, Elena, to know you intimately. To know what makes you hurt and what makes you blush. To know what your demons are so I can slay them for you when you don’t have the strength or watch you overcome your own nightmares because I love to watch my fighter conquer everything in her path. It is an honor to know you, and I won’t ever take that for granted.”

“You aren’t my lawyer anymore, Elena. Tu sei la mia regina.” You are my queen.

Italians could be so unnecessarily dramatic.

No matter the adversity, I could always count on one constant. Elena Lombardi was a weapon.

And she was mine.

I laughed and I laughed because what a fucking adventure life was with Elena at my side.

‘principe ereditario dell'inferno.’” The Crown Prince of Hell.

“I know,” I muttered, already half-asleep. “You’re the only person who’s ever made me feel safe.” And then I fell asleep, not knowing that Dante lay awake for hours holding me with his nose pressed into my hair.

My two favorite humans, the only two who loved me enough to fight for me, smiling together at the dining table, the rolling green mountains at their back, the soft strains of Andrea Bocelli playing in the background. This was what I’d wanted since my mother died. Exactly this. A family. A home.

“I’ll do anything to protect this,” I swore in a muted whisper to Frankie beside me before I strode across the red flagstones to Elena’s side.

You belong by my side.” She glared at me under a raised brow and fisted her hands on her hips. “Because I’m a woman and you’re a man?” “Because you’re Elena and I’m Dante,” I corrected. “I belong at your side just the same.”

I can make my own decisions and the most important one I’ve ever made in my life was getting on that damn plane with you.

The only risk I fear is one where I lose you. You fell in love with a fighter, Dante. Let me fight with you.”

I’d never been a lucky man, but standing there with Elena in my arms in the only place that had ever really felt like home even with enemies all around us, I felt like a fucking god.

“I am going to take you to the most beautiful place in the south, water you with the finest wine and the best food you’ve ever tasted, praise you until you feel like regina mia, and then I am going to bring you back home and fuck you to within an inch of your sanity, capisci?”

Was it impossible to find a man who hadn’t loved one of my sisters first? Was I always destined to be second choice?

“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.”

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.

How can you compare the beauty of a single bulb to the brilliance of light from the sun?”

“Lombardi women are worth all the treasure in this world.”

She had no idea I’d suggested the idea to Cosima so we could adhere to Italian tradition. The groom should never see the bride the night before the wedding.

Elena became mine the day she got on the plane, and I am never going to give her back.”

If Dante wanted to drag me into the bowels of hell, I’d go with him gladly.

May your life together be like fine Italian wine.

Dante and I had only been together romantically for one month.

im sorry WHAT. A MONTH?????????

It doesn’t make you weak, Lena, and I’m happy to hear you’re just feeling again.”

“Ti amo. Sono orgogliosa di essere tua sorella.” I love you. I’m proud to be your sister.

I felt my soul crack open, light pouring out through the smile that made my cheeks hurt. He blinked as if looking at the sun.

The gift of being your husband and a lifetime of loving you fiercely, fucking you senselessly, and watching you awe me with your wit and beauty and drive every single day.”

The little priest stepped forward, opened his Bible, and in twenty minutes of compact Italian vows, I went from Elena Lombardi, the coldhearted, lonely lawyer, to Elena Salvatore, Donna and wife to Don Edward Dante Salvatore.

I was whole for the first time since I was sixteen.

“Testa di cazzo.”

You’re not just asking me for some little thing here, Dante. You’re asking me to live my life without you.”

Chi vuole male a questo amore prima soffre e dopo muore. Whoever is against this love, suffers and then dies.”

“Some people have hobbies, art, music, playing sport. Mine is learning you.”

I almost told the idiot that of course we’d gotten married so quickly because of Dante’s trial. Not only did I not have to testify against him, but now, I also had rights to see him and speak on his behalf.

Actually, I would have given nearly anything to be within sixty feet of him again soon.

“It’s all a matter of perspective because the only way that would happen is if I took your advice.”

“Dante Salvatore isn’t my client anymore because he is now my husband,”

fucking slay lena