found solace or the closest thing to it in one of the guest rooms, whe

g, his arms behind his

se out of love. Not

saction. Cold. Cal

r hope to repay in ten lifetimes. And when Alessandro

said, "Just take

ng in Alessandro's

of a greedy, selfish man throwing his daugh

raight into hell with it. He had told himself it was about ownership. Revenge

sn't what

et. Too careful

m a virgin," something in him had crac

. At every

er. At himself, for not realizing what k

n the early hours of dawn, b

o reveal Rose moving quietly across the room, her damp hair cascading down her back in so

e saw him standin

like a blade-c

going back to that j

th caugh

into the room. "You're not working un

r eyes. "But... what do you expect me to do? Just

of emotion. "If you want to work, I own a dozen companies. I can have you mana

o argue, but he cut he

e. No wife of mine will tak

lked out before she c

ening like storm clouds gathering at sea. He was not a man wh

room, he pau

the man lounging on his pristine w

id flatly. "To what do I

with a lazy smile,

ppo tempo! Mi hanno detto che ti sei sp

ong! I heard you got married-and not

lied bluntly, his voice sharp and devoid

red by the insult. "Still

or his uncle. The man was a snake in tailored suit

h a gift. I just opened the largest casino in the city-Casinò di Venezia. T

ble and gave Alessandro a pointed look. "

ve, flanked by the two bodygu

e man walked out, a dark presence lingering in

ation card on the table. It sat there l

ò di

touch it.

arked for

a moment later, appearing l

turning on his heel. "I've

-

of the bed, her fingers tw

elt t

l, but it was a cage-on

er... like she was something fragile, like she didn't belong her

ed her into this nightmare. But something about the man-his presence, his eyes, the cold co

wasn't even a

the world she once knew. A place w

ip hard, hold

e life she h

e life she wa

ared her innocence last night,

as payment. The man who now owne

when he looked at her-that same cruel man f