ther lingering in the air. The silence pressed in around her, thick and su

invisible chains around her were just as strong, jus

But she knew better than to act rashly. Adrian was always watching, always anti

aked open, a

arked, stepping inside with the grace of a

dn't r

over her. "Nothing to say? That's surprising. Yo

he staye

lickering in his dark eyes.

iantly. "What's the point? You thrive on control. Y

It was the first crack she had seen

he said, his voice low. "I

and what? That you murdered my fathe

ent. Then, to her shock, he crouc

the man you though

ch twiste

head. "Your father made deals he couldn't keep. He gambled

ng into her palms. "My father wasn'

You think I enjoy this? You think I get so

es

The crack. The moment of hesitation

ea what I enjoy

re was something else, something she hated. The slight pull betwe

elf to look awa

ould feel his breath against her

ounded in her e

a strand of hair from her fac

don't trust you. And you don't trust me

just from his words but from the

ightening around the key hidd

ard the door. "Now? Now you stay a

ike that,

thing ha

k in Adrian Costa's armor. And she intend

***

ly exhaling. She uncurled her fingers and stared at th

d across the room, each step sending a jolt of adrenaline through her veins. She reached the heavy

ey into the lock. A second of hesitat

ee

silent except for the distant hum of voices from below. She took a tentative step forward, her bare

ry hallway, every exit. But knowing the way out and a

reath shallow. The hallway stretched before her,

e behi

d, her hea

e end of the corri

, neither of

d into something dar

mewhere,

e

ammering. She could hear him behind her, calm, steady, not running but closing

ing the wall, but she didn't stop. The stairs.

er wrist, yanking her

ng, clawing at his

grip unyielding. "You really thought I

hest heaving. "You can'

arkened. "

fiance burning in her veins. "One

ed, just slightly. "P

ignoring her struggles, and

him, her fists pounding his

carried her inside, kickin

set her down, his face inches from hers. "But understand th

her pulse a wild rhy

rous. "Try to escape again, and you'll

se. A w

llowed, her h

over. Not by

cking the door behind him

ed. And she would find a