door slammed s

rom the tight shackles that bit into her skin. Her heart batt

idea wher

s in the belly o

on, thick and oppressi

polished sh

alm. Me

reath catching in her throat as th

His dark hair was slicked back neatly, exposing a face so ruthlessly handsome it seemed carved from stone. His jaw

rdo D

the auctioneer's announce

who didn't need

inctively until her sha

ike he was observing a new toy - something he migh

casually, his voice low and

l glare at me

ing her chin despite the te

property," s

ow arched.

led out a folded document, flickin

ont

ent Moretti a significant sum. Interest accrued. And when

mach twisted

o

other wou

rled into a smirk,

finished. "And tonig

she sank to the floor, he

uldn't

to be a n

ed closer, tow

mply. "And when I decide you're no longe

iana's eyes, but she r

ot cry in f

give him tha

ter," she whis

led, a low, da

en calle

face so close she could feel the

" he murmured, "you might find lif

a gloved finger down her

break my toy

his touch, but he o

ison disguised as a suite, complete with a heavy locked door

le turn

on

heel and strode

he added witho

ollect what

nd him, the final nail in

-

s That

t all sens

s lurked in the corners. The only human interaction she had was Leonardo's rare visits

r.

methin

ios

ho controlled her

etimes with something that

to him at first. Refu

ardo was

rs alwa

rt books, strangely, as if he

candalous, just simple, beautiful dresses

oke, it wasn't

about the rolling hills of Tuscany, the glitte

other world - one far away from

t, Ariana w

es and imagine herself

would remembe

ho stole

-

Everythi

on, Leonardo entered h

e edge of the bed, her h

n," he said, placing

er. She didn't

ling a glittering diamond neckl

moothly, "I'm attending a c

linked,

want.

ppearances matter. You will come.

refuse?" s

ile didn't re

won

n't a

statement

-

that

at her reflection as she clumsily fasten

e mirror didn't

... almost

st s

mo

ision, but she wipe

ld surv

d no c

at the door m

here - a black suit tailored to perf

, he just st

l," he said, his

nd. She couldn't tr

offered

ling inside - she p

and staircase, Ariana rea

n

r and crueler than s

tw

cherous part of her heart was afra

t happen if he ever