the sky. But inside the Valentino estate, the true darkness was that w

ns carved into the wooden floor. The silence that engulfed her was suffoca

rounded her like a slow-burning flame. Dante Valentino. The devil in a sui

sation earlier in her head. The way he had looke

r in a gi

try to run. Try to escape. But she had seen the guar

ured there wa

he silence, lou

eart skipp

ty to respond, for t

ders. Piercing eyes. A presence of raw p

nt

hroat, showing the chiseled contours of his collarbone. The dim light cast shadows on h

to sit up straight,

ordered, her voice mor

rything in this house belongs to me." His eyes sl

I'm not some posses

r increa

od in front of her be

rest of her chair, imprisoning her. His scent-whiskey, pricey

ould not

en, in a gradual, calculated gesture, he reached out

breathed. "Most women t

she forced herself to glare at him. "May

shed in his eyes. He leaned his head slightly to one si

threat and velvet. "You haven't ev

d, but she wouldn

pped back. Smooth movements, calculated, like a

king toward the door. "Tomorr

that, he

ands clenching into the armrests so

eal l

sn't going to like what D

t with t

arrived

few hours when a knock on

a deep voice said f

She did not need to take a wild guess

Dante was standing at the bottom of the grand s

touch on her. "And what, pray tell, am I

iled. "B

contracted.

e dining hall. "Eat first," he

of his voice sent a

le, a bountiful feast of food was laid out-freshly baked

of the table, gesturing for

hen sat down slo

he co

n at him. "What, you think I'm

Oh, bella, I'd lo

ed up a piece of toast. She was

Dante leaned in, his voice lo

spered. "People who desire what belongs to

ne f

t was something much chillier. "You don't k

she cou

A

the dining ha

re er

n instant, yanking Selene

n in black stormed

unded. Who in the

wrapping around his own gun as he g

e, one of the men dived for

face i

h of m

gle g

er fell, blood po

hers, his voice a leth

le

h

the invaders' faces. "You've g

d. "And you just ma

ore a second burst of gunfire e

r as bullets tore through the air. His

rst time since

mething in

ust a

ust p

ra

dly, merc

was when

ino wasn't j

unsto