Collin

at me. There was surprise flickering across his face

rt of a whore." His gaze drifted from my lips to my lap, lingering a little too long on the neckline of my dress. "Yo

r open and stormed out, slamming it behind him.

my suite," he instru

You're marrie

me- handed over a fake will. The real one's getting read tomorrow, and I had to be married to keep

htly his knuckles paled,

new the Blacks were trouble, all of them. But my sister wa

d my rage. I followed directions, ignoring the curious st

e unfamiliar bedroom, that L

o handle. You're s

boldness. He stared back, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, a

u around, you'll show up when I say so." My gaze landed on a heavy vase on the dresser,

ery business or... less official meeting, and, abov

y responded to power moves and negotiation. I exhale

s that you let me see my sister. Please, keep h

eet his gaze. "Do I really look that old to

rge to lash out. Every muscle in my body screa

e-what shoul

enough that I could feel the heat

arely more than a gr

ded sharply on me, making me

care for formalities. But in this ho

e. B

orway and I heard the door click shut, all

teeth, pacing the length of the cold, oversized room. Every

der my breath, jaw locked tig

t least he wore his cruelty out in the open. Luca played the gentleman, but the

myself not to shout. This wasn't the mom

olid knocks echoed

rom the hallway. "The boss lef

r. The man outside wore a crisp black suit and handed over a thick st

id, struggling to keep my voice st

luck," and walked off wit

wering myself with slow caution, half expecting the whole world to collapse beneath me.

duties for

t be made by 6:15. I can't sta

the closet on the right. You'l

ached. I don't want

mals in t

h or ask abou

etings every Monday,

my work-especially n

er. No argument

main room unless

iles. Don't smile at me or

my throat. With a snarl, I flung the papers across the roo

pposed to be a marriage

moment. Every detail of this arrangement screamed control-what I wore, when I woke, even if an

his shelf. I wasn't going to

, studying my reflection in the white dress. The symbolism was alm

l get your dutiful wife. You'll get your perfect actress. For ever

hout flinching, I twisted the cap off the bottle and swallowed the pill- not because he ordered it

halls felt even more cavernous and cold, every polishe

to find out about Emma. Sh

ided with an older woman, impecc

med, still catching my breat

r a moment, but the smil

ou look a bit shaken, though.

debating whether or n

It's urgent-I have to call

nt, her eyes searching mi

by the stairs. And there's a private line in your roo

's last name sent a

e isn't fond of surprises-and he definitel

ng smile, as if she unders

, forcing my voice to stay stea

nd pointed to an old rotary phone

I dialed, each number mak

ine r

ospital, goo

inst the drynes

bout Emma Collins, please

k on the line, a

hold a

beat making it harder to breathe. My palms gre

orse this morning. Things have escalated qui

e way. I gripped the edge

as so faint I almost

e the operation, sh

ing, unable to process the words. My hands were shaking so ha

rounded by people I couldn't trust

s shut, fighting

Luca for help-or risk everyth