Blood Contract: Winter's vow

AB

mily fortune di

hen I heard my father's howl from two floors below. Not a shout or a yell,a

son across the hem of my white linen dress. Fitting. E

h the fabric fibers of my dress, blooming like blood. The canvas before me,nearly finished after weeks of w

ke that couldn't be good. I tossed my palette onto the side table and hurried toward the staircase, my bare feet silent against the t

ight, Winston Caldwell still cut an imposing figure,or at least, he had until this moment. Now, with his si

ad

tal catching the afternoon light from the bay windows. The Macallan deca

thing," he said, his

m September air drifting through the open

ly for the decanter, pouring another three fingers of amber liquid

for years. The increasingly frantic phone calls behind closed doors. The mysterious "business trips" t

up at me with bloodshot eyes. "But when

. Even in Boston high society, where old mone

aggressively for years, swallowing smaller companies with mechanical precision. Their CEO was notoriousl

e swallow. "Called in debts I didn't even know we had. Leveraged positions on t

d racing. "Why? What could he possibly want with us? Th

ollow. "It's not about

of our once-impressive household staff,appeared in the doo

ng her apron, "there's someone here to see you. He

ng louder with each decisive step. I rose to my feet instinctively, my he

ls didn't run. At least, that's w

orway of my father's study sto

neck stand up. Tall and broad-shouldered, he filled the doorframe with a presence that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. His suit,charcoal gray and impecca

for a heartbeat on the red paint stainin

mble that sent a shiver across my skin. "You're

to his feet. "You have n

him,slightly shorter, wearing an equally expensive suit and carrying a slim leather portfolio. "

ists. "Who the hell do you think you are?" I demanded, ste

ge to step back. His gaze traveled over me again, slower this time,taking in my paint-st

Isabella." My name in his mouth sounded like something intimate and forbidden. "Your father's pride a

ails about me made my skin crawl. "What

errupted smoothly. "Perhaps mor

everal ounces of whiskey. He positioned himself between me and Black

s, Alexander. This is

last month," Blackwood replied, his voice dangerously soft. "You've known th

and unease building in my chest

r had drained from his face, leaving him

his companion. "Th

a thick document bound in blue leather. He placed it carefully

orceable," my father said,

watching desperate men throw good money after bad." His lips curved in what might have been a smile on

t the hell is going on?" I deman

e distinct impression he was cataloging every reac

toward the contract. "The terms were clear. In exchange for certain... accommodations... I would receive controlling inter

d, because suddenly his hand was on my elbow, stea

me elaborate, cruel joke. But Winston Caldwell couldn't meet my eyes, and in th

re already on the brink after your mother's medical bills

"Or perhaps you never thought I'd succeed in dismantling your pathetic attempt

"I will nev

simply. "This house. Your father's company,wh

tered. "My mo

of our arrangement included covering the considerable costs of your mother's ongoing care at

en. The stroke that had left her unable to speak, barely able to recognize us on her good days. Th

her

into his chair, his face in his hands. "Is t

without

nd extracting a small velvet box. He placed it on the desk beside the contract. "Though I

omb, its dark blue velvet almos

elt. "You could have any woman in Boston. Why

es,something so raw and vicious th

tly why," he said softl

ssion a mixture of hatred and fear. "T

rest of your miserable life, knowing exactly what you've lost." He turned back to

cuffs and strode from the room without a backward

iet click that somehow echoed t

his fifty-eight years. "What did you do?" I whispered. "What d

decanter, pouring another generous measure of whiskey.

ed his