cal clank, locking themselves in place like the closing of a vault. The alarm blared,

frantically yanking at the handle, pushing, pu

r surged up my throat lik

t the door with every ounce of strength I h

it was mocking me. Like it was l

when the tr

lone in this massive house. No staff

ly

y mis

all, the reality of it all cra

lessandro's nu

of his. The one he didn't need to repeat, because

room. Do not t

done

erride reason. I had walked straight into the lio

casting long shadows across the room. Shadows that stretched lik

d be ho

made my bl

to g

o

evening wind hit me hard, making my heart jump. I leaned out, my eyes s

g, connected by a narrow strip of decorati

llowe

to summon courage from places I wasn't sure existed. You're your

ledge. The stone was slick with evening dew. My hea

in his room, I feared the f

g to the edge of a flame, I inched forward, eyes l

rd. Darkness cloaked the estate. The wind howled, tugging at my clo

step

felt like a

mbled, not just from fear-but from the knowledge that no one even knew I was o

I ma

gs, my knees hitting the floor, palms spread flat agains

, voice hoarse and broken

lief was s

OOO

indow at the sound of tires

car, charging through the gates like a

the car door shut. His every movement screamed rage. He looked lik

ket and tore at his tie, tossing it to

n

ood. This was something

art p

with such force the wal

. Seething. Every word li

me?! After convincing me to marry his d

parted in st

actly who

Old

tepf

led him that-because he always won

mach t

more than all of Rome! He set me up. Used his own stepdaughter as a bargaining

ugh the house. Then furniture crashing. T

ng away from the window, fro

wasn't ju

s bet

de monsters out

.. si

ed so long, I felt the

ti

ic

creake

d my

ark, but I did

ld fe

a man standing

overed the world wasn't

en lied to, play

osshairs of a

s

oot

ano

voice low and dangerous. "And ton