rt race with fear. His gaze was steady but intense, as

made the words stick in her throat. For a moment she simply

around her neck, not tight enough to choke her but strong enough to r

"I was forced to walk down that aisle," she said, he

s of the church returned, and he

that disgusting old man? My father so

no longer stop them. Weeks of fear, ang

he next morning when I woke up, you were gone. Just gone. And now you expect me to trust you?" Her breathing became uneven as tears gathered along

ort this baby," she said firmly, forcing the words out

e calm certainty on his face hardened, and

you say?

hands trembled. "I don't want this baby. You're a criminal. You

uddenly f

" Domenico ord

he mirror, clearly nervous. "Sir...

" Domenico said in a

sudden stop on the deserted stretch of highway, and the vehicles

icles, watching silently as they waited for his next move. Without looking

ed her arm and pulled her out. The force of the

t as her back hit t

g over her. His presence felt overwhelming in the empty

inal, Renata," he said

pulled out his gun. The barrel rose until it pointed directly at

voice low and dangerous. "You will never

t as she stared at th

" he said without raising his voice. "And I kno

to her stomach before

baby is born, you are under my protection and my c

grew eve

le you care about suffer," he s

ipped every part of her body. She had never imagined that the man she had gi

m that night was

by everyone, and now her lif

ts. The sight of it made Domenico pause. For a brief moment, his expressi

the car,

him and climbed back inside. The moment she settled in

nside the car, and she pressed herself against

de the car as he slipped the gun back into its holster. He b

are her l

i standing behind him. Emilio had stepped out

us or intimidated. After all, he had known

my baby," he said. "I have to make it clear what kind of man I am. When she stand

enico walked around the car and

own vehicle. Within seconds, the engines of the cars started again. One by one,