riag

rough Seraphina's

ddle of Nate's penthouse, unable to breathe, unable to th

bo

suffocating in her lungs. She practically threw herself into the elevator, punching the buttons until

he flagged down the first yellow

er asked, his accent

. "34B, Winston Cr

adjusted the mi

r they got from the island. But Seraphina didn't notice the streets. She didn'

busy choking

. About the kidnapping. About

w except h

n her p

ess

e the ones who

. "No. No, they wo

lled home. Seraphina handed the driver some cash with shaking ha

p the steps, h

oor open, the air kno

m!

mell of blood hitting he

d plates. Her father sat on the floor, wheezing, his arms wrapped tightly around

ees bu

m!

lowly, face swollen an

"No, no-you shouldn't

ched for her mother's wrist, ch

fa

l," she whispered ur

n't leave. If they find out you're here, they'll c

ed the rising scr

ning softly. Her eyes flutter

hispered, her

ushing back her mother's graying hair. "What h

d out and held her daughter's hand like

her father. "Tell

is fingers against a bruised r

choice?! Loan sharks? Mafia bosses?

he saw the shame in his face befo

th caugh

a surprise. Your mother and I... we applied for a small loan. Just to cover the first tuiti

ace paled. Sh

fi

te

would take care of her. That she didn't want to waste four years

into her like

ng," she whispered, horror blooming

fault," she said gently, a bitter smile on her cracked lips. "But you

ead, shame crashing ove

, every drop of blood

boy who did

bling lip, then lifted her chin, eyes fil

inched. "No-a

t!" Her moth

to erase the debt, I'll marry the mafia boss. Whatever

and. Those men-they're not like us. They don't see women as people. You'll be a pr

clenched. "The

. You don't walk out of the underworld once you walk in. These pe

ngs," Seraphina said softly, glanc

red her face an

sobbed. "You're all I have. I

etly. "All that's left is my name. And if my name is th

xhaled like

e owe them?" s

her paren

d how

nce with her mother, then finally s

ina bl

ears

. three

nod

someone who wouldn't even buy me a cake. And you risked your

teady, as if building he

she said again

y'll treat you like a baby-making machine. They'll mar

ice dropped. C

the calling

ther g

r father growled. "D

e survived worse. I'll survive this. I'll marry him, find out what he wan

ell. Tens

h

kn

ang on the

ano

reath caught

ather

himpered, "T