V I

tear my eyes

e Ac

und us is heavy with dread and humiliation as I try to take in what is happening to me. The fact that my own father has ju

Don for 6 years now, and he has ruled his syndicate with an iron fist. It's either

ilence the entire room and leave everyone on edge, making them shrink back as if his presence alone we

uffocating, crumbling

words as I shake my head, my voice raw

shoes barely making a sound against the marble. My heart thunders in my chest and my pulse stutters, but still

esn't even bother to look at me; instead, his gaze is focused solely on Dante, a sinister,

begging. I don't know why. I am better than this. But for some reason, I can not stand the thought of being wed t

ege of choices the moment you opened your mouth tonight. Consider yourself lucky I don't bury

as already paid for you in full."

applause and subtle cheers, leaving me frowning in confusion and betrayal. I look around t

e my eyes focus on Dante, seeing that he doesn't even bothe

He says, and the cruelty in his voice

to anger as pure rage

n my tone. My eyes cut toward Dante as I face him. "I don't care how much you paid my

pers through the air. A woman daring to s

nto a smile, but instead, into something much

. It is smooth, like velvet, rolling over me like smooth. It is deep and hoarse, his accent

m against my fire, and the tension between us only ri

Do whatever you please with her. She's no longer my problem." My fath

urround me, giving me nowhere to run to, and before I know it, strong hands clamp down on my arms, gripping hard enough to bruise. I thrash against them, kicking wildly, my nail

tinuing to fight them. One of my arms breaks free, and immediately it does, I am able to scratch one of the men across the face, an

me take on 3 grown men, none

the distance between us in two strides, his shadow falling over me as he stands almost an entire foot taller than me. All my movements cease, as

bove a whisper. But the command sends an

, my body trembling agains

. "That will make this interesting. But do not mistake spirit for power. You are leaving here tonight. With me.

t my cheek, sending a ch

ice trembling but fierce. "Then drag m

litter with something extremely dangerous. Admiration

heels scraping the marble, the crowd parting in silence as if witnessing an execution. They p

I thrash harder, my cries echoing through the hall. "Mark my word, you are going

st time they hear of me. They've taken everything from me, a