sia'

stuck behind the iron gates of my father's estate. I had snuck out the chance I got an

rled me around. "See? I t

g around me. "My father would kill m

"Relax. It's not like he'll find out. You deserve

s and the crowd and the freedom, it was intoxicating. But I wa

ght at me with piercing gray eyes. He had a sharp jawline,

d to win me over. He smiled, and the mom

bustling room seemed to van

ighting up her face. "Well, well, lo

ks as I quickly averte

ing me encouragingly. "Go talk to him! Life's

sh toward him. I stumbled awkwardly, only to

" he said. "

lanced up, mortified, my cheeks blazing. "I'm

de my pulse quicken. "I'd say sh

re how to respond. "I'm Alessia," I fina

lied smoothly, ex

mine in his. His handshake was firm, hi

oke again making it virtually impossible to l

a softer tone than I inte

t the bar and handed me a

the counter and said, "Tell

and shrugged. "I wanted

" he answe

b?" I asked, a

unreadable as he answered. "You'll be surpr

for more, though I

hrough the night. I felt a spark of

d, leaning closer. I felt his warm breath on

t of the clu

asked curiously, as he

eyes glinting with mischief. "Some

ment move through me as

e got to the penthouse. I he

ndows gave a clea

ching him fill out glasses wit

joined me. His piercing gaze meeting min

His lips were firm, demanding, drawing me

me closer, as though he couldn't bear

ling off my body. He carried me to the bed in his arms

at the cold room. I slowly sat upright, feeling

note on the bedside table. I picked it up, open

it again sometime. I'll have

think he was? Did he

me like a slap. Tears stung at the corners of

e typing a desperate message to Ella with shaking hands. Pick m

oken only by Ella's occasional worried glances. Her

The memory of my escape the previou

od-bye and exit

n the front entrance and walked

wrong. The hous

y, my voice quivering as i

as no r

My breath froze when I steppe

t was ev

ed, clutching the d

re from my throat as

the floor with his dead eyes

wall, his hands pressed to his abd

" I scr

rasped, the soun

rs streaming as I clutched his hand.

...came for Papa," he said, his voice faltering. "You

ng my head."I can't

eyes pleading. "Please, Alessia

ine and his eyes closed as

eyes. Brother!" I yelled, cr

was gone in one

silently. Whoever did

my tears and picked it up with trembling hands. The scr

coming fo