NORA

ck trousers and a charcoal silk blouse when my bedroom

ailed behind her like a bridal veil. She waved away the maid who foll

bandoned room, her eyes glinting wit

mahogany vanity table. "Leaving the family empire behind f

ms crossed over my chest, watching he

jewelry box-the one my late mother had left me-and flipped it open. Inside

ked, playing with the lipstick between her manicured fingers. "Old, rotting, and decre

fake smile turned utterly vicious. She leane

whispered. "Well, look at you now! You're being shipped off to nurse a corpses w

ed in frustration. She turned her malic

tly into the glass of the photo, dragging it hard enough to leave a deep, jagged scratch ri

t to finish t

ouched my

moved faster than h

thumb against the median nerve, a sharp, paralytic bolt of pain shot through her arm, fo

am, my other hand clamped aroun

L

pristine white gown crumpled against the rough su

ry-just enough to restrict her breath without killing her. Her small, pampere

eyes shattered into

her face rapidly turning

said, my voice so cold it felt stripped of all human e

let a tiny gasp of air enter her lungs, b

. "From this day forward, I am Damien Carlisle's wife. In our syndicate, rank is

g uncontrollably, as if looki

an play with Julian's little egos all you want. But if you ever mention my mother again-or lay your filthy

smile. "Enjoy your stolen wedding, little sist

d my grip

a puppet with its strings cut, clutching her t

were dirt on my shoe, calmly

I command

mbled to her feet on hands and knees and practically

ed by the frantic, echoing sound of Charlize's

turned to

ly wiped the dust from the scratched glass with a velvet cloth. I

d her head out, her face pale and her lowe

er quiet, soft-spoken mistress, but