le. Dante had heard enough. His jaw clenched, his fingers curling into tight fists as his sharp gaze burned into

had foolishly clung to shattered at Victoria's words. The fork in her hand trembled s

t. "Well," he mused, taking a slow sip of his drink. "That answers that." He referred to her parents selling her to him. He never wondered why they made that de

he said nothing. She simply lowered her gaz

ile. "You did well, dear." Her voice was low and dripping with warmth, but her eyes

the praise, nodding eagerly as she

ve them the satisfaction of seeing her affected. But the moment they

ded to

d the indoor pool area-a place she had accidentally stumbled upon earlier. The dim lighting reflected on the

her. The betrayal. The isolation. The s

footsteps broke th

le

e Alessia approaching, a

lone," Alessia said gent

didn't

ter chuckle, shaking her h

t to her, offering a small, knowing smile.

spill over. Not again. Instead, she turned away, staring at her reflection

ng a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You su

ed. "And tomorrow, I'll take you outsi

ching for deception. But

ile, she allowed herself to bel

on as Dante stood before three of his men, his

n intruder breached our security, got into my office, and near

oss, we've doubled security, but

led out a gun in a slow, deliber

an

attered across the mahogany desk as

inate stood frozen,

the gun back into its holster as if not

men nodded quickly be

get to cle

phone. He had received another message earlier from his u

, they knew thing

intrigued and

the success of her earlier performance, but her satisfacti

ouring herself a glass of wine. Then, her t

lightly, her smile f

meeting Victoria's gaze. "Dante will never be yours. You are here for one purpose an

d her fists, her

er phone and typing something in. A mo

eria said. "Continue playing yo

sage confirming the transaction

nt, there

smiled-cold a

said sweetly. "I wouldn'

ed away, Victoria's

at she wanted. O

of the long corridors, lost in thought. She wasn't sure how lon

turned-only to find Lore

readable as he tilted his head, studyin

t," he mused, reaching up to brus

ly tensed, her

Lorenzo's hand shot out,

id sharply, try

he leaned in. His breath ghosted against her skin, h

he turned her head sharply

aid, her voice bar

d, his lips curling into

would I

kled like a stor