His to Break

m was t

ss the wide, gleaming floors. The lights overhead were low, deliberate-casting soft golden hues across the

earned with timec

at smelled

n't bel

e was sure of it. She had walk

per, embossed with her name in curling silver script, no return add

ce is ma

east, that's what she told herself as she slipped into the red dress-the only remotely

sn't c

s desp

barely covered groceries. Her college degree had turned out to be m

about it. Do

. H

with a shaved head and an earpiec

. "What is th

not quite a smile

l, her feet moved. She followed him down a hallw

e music

he walls-just seats in neat rows, facing a dark stage

an behind her, but

r click

a voice echoed. Smooth

fli

u are not bi

rmurs rippled thr

ience. On silence. On fi

ice locked in her throat as anot

lded. C

stomach

ntinued. "She will not speak unles

ded. Her legs loc

ed numbered paddles. The bidding started low

dn't move. S

't even

ers curled

od and disappeared behind the curtain. The

g. It had to be. So

ne," the v

ight turn

lood

ta

di

, Ms.

tric jolt down her sp

her. Someone

er expression was calm, even bored, like she was collecting dis

Isla hissed, her voice sha

ees. You we

e watched l

ms and guided her toward the stage. She didn't scream. Scr

into the spo

linding. The si

, a gavel

ravel-edged, calm as dea

mil

be

le

cou

econ

avel

't see h

dn't n

er in the room shift. Li

eath her. The hallway was dark, quiet, the floors carpeted so her

taking me?" I

ur new

watched her o

Fragile. A sliver of fire in h

ntended to

e flashed on the

a H

t her face. Not her v

world years ago and vanished before

beautiful accident.

ed acc

d before he thought. One wo

ped into the control room. "She's in y

ke his eyes off the scr

m was t

ssive-twice the size of her apartment-with blackout curtains, crystal chandeliers, and

No locks.

dn't t

e made her

needed a plan. Wait for a guar

reath when th

dn't

n't ne

stitched over muscle and menace. He moved like a man use

didn'

stiff

you?" s

e door behin

ow... I own you." Isla stared at

voice sharper than she fe

ough she still didn't kn

aid, stepping closer.

ed. "People ar

"everything is property. Som

n like a storm cloud. His gaze was hard, but not cruel-no

eep breath,

id. "Let me go. I won't say anyt

smile, but something cold

this is abou

k a ste

hing," she added. "

walke

s tri

walked in. You were chosen. You wer

re in

aid. "I'm

None of it would work. He didn't look

chose

you want. Kill me. Chain me up. Bu

licker

ere

ranite. "I don't want your be

ed her eye

cked, just

noti

sk," he said. "But you mig

so close she could smell his c

u're given. You'll wear what's provided. You will not

if I

the door, l

mind you who

t cry whe

wa

min

n t

cabinet. No phone. No weapons. No window that open

, white marble, gleaming-and

onto th

cr

t

r that. Calculating exits. Repl

ere c

were

le body

even know

d her through

ut aware, intelligent enough

... ex

e. But submission? The quiet, slow kind that

was

t would be a

d again, clip

op of her class in school. BA in English, partial scholarship. Droppe

dded once.

her's gone. No sibli

ter," Dominic

cord of a Violet Hart a

es narrowed.

s,

icked shut

ck in his chair,

ated

t had just t

that

idn't

od. Not because she was bra

it was

f it w

pened again, sh

Not crying.

er returned, arms fu

o this," she said.

he

hi

aw. "I'm not g

ou know how many women w

t most

ting the clothes on the bed

e door open

te

tr

utes, staring at the clothes-b

chan

e she was

to know what kind o

the marble tiles like a countdown. She didn't know where she was being led-only that the woman fr

lked in

wouldn't give them the satis

eplace lit low in one corner, its flames dancing across the glass surfaces and

le stood b

Still in that perfectly tailored suit. Sti

obabl

re it,"

"Would you have dragg

" he said simp

stif

eather chair acros

N

en them. His eyes didn't waver

berately-around her. Not touch

ured. "You hold eye contact

hard. "Sorry t

His voice dropped an octave, low

e for your e

el the heat of him against her spine. "You're

e? Out of all the women tonight-why b

d cold. "Because submission from someo

waiting a

one-though it held no wa

ut didn't sit. "What exa

head, amused

htened. "Defin

lence. And eventually..." He s

So you're not just some rich sa

buy obedience, Is

ed against her ribs

e said calmly. "A

ng in the ai

he said quietly. "No

the drink cabi

you be

iskey and handed it to

ve never fa

d at the ceiling, her

more like a cage than ever. The air was heavy with unspoken

play this game-but sh

her burn

stood before a wall of

nger than most

mired

nt her broke

r shattered.

by p

n't just knee

wasn't surviva

hispered his name, it

fe

ha

surr