bed, Enzo's words ringing

absurd, unthinkable-yet, for a brief moment,

m, or maybe she was hallu

arm sharply, the small stin

wasn't

Enzo's, her disbelief evid

rame now straightening to its f

ing myself, but I'll say it again ," he sai

become my mistress if

m grew thick, the s

hemently, her voice crack

won't-be someo

clearly unimpresse

to his pockets, the smi

ough her answer didn't faze him in

felt a flicker of relief. Sh

xt words shatter

urning colder, "I'll have my boys drop you of

lightly, her hear

her uneasy, and before she could respond

a menacing edge, "when those men find you-and trust me

nd when they finally catch up to you..." He let his words hang i

her spine. Her fists clenched the

xactly wha

d chased her w

er for days, and planned to sell her like sh

r again, they'd

g to this," she whispered, thoug

ghtly, his eyes glinting

g to scare you,

y the rules you're used to. There's no fairness, no justice. It's surviv

to admit, and for a moment, she cou

her lap, her hand

nzo continued, his voice softening

't even have to like me. But if you

lump in her throat

he trade her freedom-what little

trusted had betrayed her i

she had loved, had slept with h

nger-was offering her safet

but the words got

r. He didn't press her for an a

g, his presence alone enough

r her thoughts, there

yes flicked toward the door. "Come in," h

man stepped inside, holding a tray with a s

ed as she entered, her mo

softly, giving him a respectful no

toward the bed. "Place it

d, setting the tray ge

ard, the smell of fresh herbs and

s until that moment, but the knot in her

," Enzo said, his voi

fore retreating from the room, cl

s attention ba

he sai

vering over the tray. She didn'

ling from everything t

oftened, just

ur strength," h

her response, he str

e doorknob but paused, gl

m. "By morning, it won't matter. You won't see me aga

ched at the

e didn't have a h

in was likely destroyed, or worse, occupied by t

behind him, leaving

, everything

reathing and the faint ticking of

on her lap, her vision blurr

me

ging with it a wave of pain and d

e was compl

, followed by another, until she

acked her body, the weight of everyt