na

ital smelled heavily of antiseptic and the c

in dark suits lined the walls, their hands resting over holstere

Gabriel by the bed. His suit jacket was gone, and his white shirt was stained with Camilla's blood. He w

ound her head and an IV dripping fluids

reath and pushe

d over the bed, straightened his spine with a jerk, his shadow falling across the white sheets as his g

arrel directly a

heart right now," Gabriel said, his voice a low rasp, like s

. Her hands remained

y flat. "She grabbed my coat and threw herself backward. There

r, the skin of his knuckles stretching w

d, Camilla let out a

is heart. "She called our baby a bastard. She said she would make sure I never walked again if I

e-she had weaponized her tea

ed on Sienna. He stepped back to the bed and placed a protec

l declared, the words echoing off the sterile walls. "My father

rned his fa

t. "You will marry into my family in three days. The contra

. "You are a blind, a

on him, but toward the bed, planting my palm on the cold metal

od pact," I said,

His eyes narrowed, searching

rictly to the Old Ways. You will personally escort the bride from my father's hea

offed. "Is

lla must formally apologize to Sienna right now. She disrespec

ed up at Gabriel, her bottom lip q

ed, her voice cracking. "I was just so frigh

He holstered his weapon and c

re disgust, as if we were filth on

ealousy. Camilla possesses a purity that neither of you will ever understand. She doesn't belong

slow, deliberate ticks of the second hand on the wall cl

's arranged marriage entirely?" I ask

is height casting a shadow

territories, so I will play this game. But understand this, Liana-if you ever step out of line as my

had locked me in a cage for years.

My father's estate will be ready for the ceremony in thre

smissal, I turned around a

pital doors swung shut, cutting off the sound

in a taut silence until we

enna grabbed my shoulder and

y breaking through her calm facade. "Why are you willingly walking back

rstood the depths of Gabriel's cruelty as muc

w smile, but the expressi

e taking the vo

words, the sound of heavy foo

r the stairwell: my father, the Capo of the Weste

ey had heard about the chaos on th

my upper arms, his grip tight enough to bruise. "W

r grabbed her by the elbow

now," the Consigliere barked.

cked face. I closed my eyes, counting down the hours un