bove sparkled in the muted light, its beauty starkly contrasting the weight of her decision. She had done it. She had proposed a contract marriage to

one choice: escape. But in the vast, uncharted world of the Mafia, what had she trul

ne with her thoughts and the suffocating realization that she was tied to him in a way she hadn

broke her from her

nt

o Leora before fixing on the space before him. His expression was neutral, but she could sen

nce in the study, Miss Leora," he

s stream of business and Mafia politics that kept him occupied. She knew she had no choice but to follow. It had been part o

etly, trying to steady he

St

A large desk sat at the far end, and behind it, Don Allerick was leaning back in a leather chair, his eyes scanning something on a piece of paper

aps a combination of both-that made her feel this way. She had never been in the presence of such power before

nded, not bothe

o the chair across from him. She sat down stiffly, t

thinking about your proposal," he said, his voice as cold as ever. "A contract marriage,

pe in her chest, but it qu

ever leaving hers. "You think you can just walk into my life,

voice steady. "A pawn for your chess game. You've wanted to take down my father for years, haven't you? This marria

alculating. "You think I need a woman to take down your father?" he said, his voice low and dangerous

she whispered, unable to stop herself. "Why agree t

ing at her with an intensity that made her heart race. "Because, Leora," he sa

ld Rea

icks. She had given herself to this man-this cold, ruthless man-hoping for freedom, but al

her's grasp, but it seemed like she had

h an undertone of warning. "You're mine now. For better or worse. This contract doesn't just g

ed to find freedom, that she had overlooked the one thing that might have mattered most: he

oing back now. The ink was on the pap

but she spoke noneth

re surprised by her acceptance. But he didn't comment o

Leora," he said, his voice dark and full of