nd a man who held me under his thumb. Dante was everywhere, watching me, studying me as if I were an experiment.

thes or the endless supply of gourmet meals that made me feel like a puppet. It was the way Dante watched

ing. Why had he chosen me? What was it about

roperty, another fragile thing to protect. But there were moments when I caught a glimpse of something deeper in him-something darker. He wasn't

de was long, the black SUV speeding along the winding roads as I sat in silence beside him. He didn't speak much, only offerin

storm that could erupt at any moment. I had learned quickly that Dante wasn't one to let his guard down

at the edge of a cliff, with nothing but a sprawling forest surrounding i

shadow. "This is where you'll be staying for the time being," he said,

still reeked of wealth and power. Dark wood paneling lined the walls, and the furniture was sleek and modern,

w. The bed was enormous, the linens as soft as clouds, but there was something cold and empty about it. No matter how many comforts he

e doorway. "I'll have dinner brought to you later. You'

I asked, my v

, his eyes dark. "You'll see. You need to be

, but I said nothing. What could I sa

-

paced the length of the room, my mind spinning with questions I couldn't answer. Why did Dan

oked at the lavish meal with little appetite. The food seemed almost too perfect, too immac

d, setting the tray dow

muttered, not p

lone once again, the heavy silence pressing down on me. I sat at th

but this time it wasn't

His eyes swept over the food I hadn't touched, and his lips curled into a slight

y, though the lie felt ho

g mine. "You're not fine," he said. "B

meant by that, but I knew

ad no choice but to meet his gaze. "You're mine, Nelly," he whispered, the words hanging in t

ounding in my chest. His words weren't ju

. His touch lingered for a moment longer befor

s voice hardening.

to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions that churned inside m

-

ld and impassive as Dante's. The moment we entered, all eyes turned to us, and the atmospher

d like a king, and I followed him, my presenc

ryone around us went quiet. He stood tall and regal, exuding a

gh the silence like a knife. "This is you

ry pair of eyes on me. I didn't belong here. But some