na's

re b

ready been auctioned off in my father's study. No, I wore black because it was arm

eet a bla

in the Caprini estate changed. The silence deepened. The staff vanished.

. Below, my father waited in a steel-grey suit, flanked by his capos like

e doors

evil step

uit, no tie, coat unbuttoned despite the winter chill outside. His dark hair was immaculately combed, and his express

iplined, all in black. But they

less than a second. A

e, I didn'

dn't

rward, offering a st

t gravel, not silk - something in betwe

d back up the

d. Just... a ti

alle

clicked hard against the marble. If I was going to be t

eye. I expected him to gloat. Or leer. Or o

id, "You look

"That's because

oss his lips. Not amusement. N

's not min

arly t

-

a's

ot what I

e, public events, old tabloid covers. But noth

e soft curves and practiced smiles. Dressed in black, with shoulders squar

y. Fi

rf

d work with hate. Hate had weight. Hate could be

he was a bonus. A complication, ma

ch. I declined. Too

ng brief," I said. "I

liked the games, even if s

, Caprini, Serena, and Matteo, who ho

dn't

nother drink. "The weddi

t two,"

"That wasn't t

is n

s gaze. She hadn't moved. She stood at

ut looking at me. "You don't ge

leash," I interrupt

lowly. "You d

wil

afraid

et

forward. "Wat

linking. "You think thre

dn't

Let them all feel it. The

o love me," I sai

pulse in her neck. To smell the faint trace o

ou wil

-

na's

sleep t

ing, the words echoing in my hea

will

some pet. S

asn't the command. It was h

dn't flex. He simply stated his intentions

I belie

d a garment bag hanging on the

. Bare shoulders, fitted waist, high slit.

to dinner

ant b

e it

t him think I was playing along. Let h

the

him. I wanted to see what kind of D

-

room - intimate, low lighting, fire crackl

o tie again. This time, he studi

hoice,"

picke

think you'

u don't

chair. I hesit

a bottle of red that probably cost more than my

he

id you add to

id-bite. "

review it again this morning. Page si

n slowly. "You ha

This is war dressed as marriage

ment. After twelve months, if there's no ch

d. "You plan

n giving me a

in his chair.

at him. "

move. It's cle

admir

But his voice d

t y

-

e to my room like some twisted gentleman. B

n't over

ed. "It's jus

ose I could feel th

e more

dn't

r with deliberate slowness. The touch se

me..." he murmured, ec

you wi

rned and w

-

doorway long

eady. My skin still b

ewhere beneath the r

something els