ella

linked, my eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through the heavy velvet curtains. Dust motes danced in the sl

iskey, and the faint, metallic tang of gun o

heets rustling agains

was wat

hite shirt, the top buttons undone to reveal the hollow of his throat. His jacket was draped over a chair, and his pos

ffocating, forcing me to be the first to break. I sat up, clut

nd?" I asked, the word tas

e. "You fought hard for this spot, Isabella. You manipulated the situation last n

cessary," I replie

hy

between us. It wasn't a casual q

erous curiosity. "You could have run. You could have begged for a payout. I

the test. If I lied, he would see through

, testing the waters with a half-truth. "I wanted to see

d in a humorless s

gaze squarely. "Because marrying anyone else makes me a tragedy. The

he Don... that makes me a Queen. It was the only choice that guarante

adable passing through his eyes. Surprise? Res

. "But ambition without

d, my voice hardening. "A

drew together s

g between us

nursing seep into my tone. "He humiliated me. He humiliated your choice of a bride. As his new mother, I

d just asked the most powerful man in the cit

ark chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine. He walked to the s

an handle him?"

a man," I countered. "And he needs to

replaced by a cruel satisfaction. "He is a disgrace to

her side of my hips, trapping me. His face was inches fr

rds sounding like a dark coronation. "As his mother, tea

me trace of paternal warmth. "How

mething shifted behind his eyes-a cold, a

lse r

hadn't just sanctioned a family war. "Get dressed. Breakfast is in tw

ward the door, his stri

d on the brass knob, glancing back ove

icked shut

was gone, replaced by a cold, steely resolve. I had entered this marriag

He was about to learn that he had only