My Dark Romeo

Copyright © 2022 by Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial use permitted by copyright law. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead; events; or locations is entirely coincidental. The authors acknowledge the trademark status and trademark owners of various products, brands, and/or restaurants referenced in the work of fiction. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Editing: Marion Proofing: Sisters Get Lit.erary Author Services Betas: Heidi Jones, Heather Pollock, Ava Harrison Contents Blurb Trigger Warning Soundtrack Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Epilogue About Parker About L.J. Shen Blurb My fairy tale turned into a cautionary one. Inked in tar and sealed in tears. From Wall Street Journal bestsellers L.J. Shen and Parker S. Huntington comes an explosive marriage of inconvenience...between a tarnished Romeo and a reluctant Juliet. It was supposed to be a harmless kiss at a lavish debutante ball. A clandestine moment with a handsome stranger. But unlike his namesake, my Romeo isn’t driven by love. He’s fueled by revenge. To him, I’m a chess piece. Leverage. His rival’s betrothed. To me, he is a man deserving of poison. A dark prince I refuse to marry. He thinks I’ll accept my fate. Well, I plan to rewrite it. And in my story, Juliet doesn’t die. But Romeo? He perishes. Authors’ Note: My Dark Romeo is the first novel in the decadent Dark Prince Road world. Trigger Warning This is a dark romance and may contain triggering content. For a full list of triggers, visit: shor.by/MDRtriggers To all the girls eager to marry a grumpy, tortured billionaire… This one’s not for you. “Thus with a kiss I die.” WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, ROMEO AND JULIET Soundtrack Starphucker — Beauty School Dropout heartbreak honeymoon — Mad Tsai I’m Not Sorry — Dean & Eric Bellinger Lover Like Me — CL Take What You What — ONE OK ROCK ft. 5 Seconds of Summer favorite crime — Olivia Rodrigo WE MADE PLANS & GOD LAUGHED — Beauty School Dropout Wedding Dress — TAEYANG Strawberries and Wine — Jaylon Ashaun Easier — 5 Seconds of Summer End Game — Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, & Future HABIBI (MY LOVE) — Faouzia Control — Halsey Born Without a Heart — Faouzia The Happiest Girl — BLACKPINK Crush — Yuna & Usher Oceans & Engines — NIKI Si Fueras Mia — D.O. Lay Your Head on Me — Crush Time — The Rose Die for You — Beauty School Dropout Bonnie & Clyde — YUQI Listen on: Spotify | YouTube I always assumed my life was a romance novel. That between my pages nestled a happily ever after. It never occurred to me that I miscategorized my genre. That it could be a horror story. A blood-chilling thriller. Then Romeo Costa typhooned into my world, ripping off my rose-colored glasses. He taught me darkness. He taught me strength. Most importantly, he delivered the cruelest lesson of all—there’s beauty in every beast. Thorns in every rose. And a love story can blossom—even from the carcass of hate. “Oh, Lord, they weren’t bluffing, were they? He really is in town.” Emilie latched on to my wrist, coffin nails sinking into the tan flesh. “So is Oliver von Bismarck.” Savannah extended her arm. “Someone pinch me.” I did so with pleasure. “Ow, Dal. Stop being so literal.” I shrugged, fixing my attention on the catering beside us. The real reason I’d appeared at the debutante ball tonight. I plucked a chocolate-covered pomelo peel from a crystal tray and crushed it between my teeth, savoring the bitter-sour nectar. God wasn’t a man. God wasn’t a woman, either. God was probably a piece of Godiva-covered fruit. “What are they doing here? They’re not even from the South.” Emilie stole Sav’s debutante program and fanned her face. “And they’re definitely not here to meet women. Both are die-hard bachelors. Didn’t Costa dump a whole-ass Swedish princess last summer?” “As opposed to a partial-ass Swedish princess?” I wondered aloud. “Dal.” Where were the Portuguese custard tarts? I was promised Portuguese custard tarts. “You said there’d be pastéis de nata.” I snatched a consolation prize—melopita—and waved it at Emilie. “Serves me right for trusting you again.” Her hawk eyes caught me slipping two Polish donuts into my bag. “Dal, you can’t hide that in your Chanel. You’ll ruin the calfskin.” Sav shoved a frantic fist into her clutch, retrieving a tube of lipstick. “I heard von Bismarck is in town to buy Le Fleur.” Jenna’s daddy owned Le Fleur. They manufactured percale sheets for five-diamond hotels. In eighth grade, Emilie and I ran away from home and slept in their showroom for a week before our daddies found us. “What does he need Le Fleur for?” I picked a kanafeh