phin

there. Through the murky, sick-gray ice, the world above blurred into nothing

Don Antonio Marino, his chest torn apart by bullets, falling with the heavy grace of a ruined king. Marco, my brother, collapsing beside him, his blood pooling on the concrete. *"Run, Sera!"

cold, indifferent eyes mirrored the ver

ng in a gilded pond. I was a Marino. I thrashed, my numb limbs kicking upward toward the

pelling lake water. The heavy velvet curtains of my secluded bedroom we

e from the freezing darkness, a servant's panicked voice shouting for

household staff. Eleonora's later claim that he was "franti

the bed. A hand reache

he blood of Red Hook took over. I lunged. My hand clamped around the thro

a voice

rror. My chest heaved. I slowly released my grip, my fingers trembling not from weakness, but

i stepped in, her posture as rigid and flawless as her tailored suit. She looked

rmth. She didn't apologize for her son leaving me to die. "To put an end to the vi

antic with worry. To ensure your absolute protection,

n hadn't saved me, but he was tightening the leash. This wasn't love; it was a sick, possessive need to own what he had al

way to secure your place here and protect our

rriage tightening around my neck. If Julian thought a wedding ring would tame me, he was gravely mistaken. I needed to break th