r's

sn't old li

s were covered in tattoos, crawling

t and armed, their guns tucked close to their bodies. Tattoos snaked

like they'd been trained to freeze in place, onl

No sagging skin. His hair was slicked back, black as ink. Maybe

e-God-it felt h

my cheekbone, trailing slow down my face. I flinched,

ers gripped my jaw, holding me s

, like he liked the resist

as he turned, calm, calculating, and walked toward the

wasn't just a walking aid-it was part of his authority. Like

cut through the

d. "Why is her face bruised... and

was... healthy. With more flesh on her bones." His tone turned sarcas

llowe

up, but I could fee

Zeden, I-I assure you, sh

f the guards leaned down and whis

imple gesture. Father sh

le

is fingers moving subtly in the air, like

escribed your daughter to me when we firs

n't ye

like a knife draggi

daughter was ripe. Obe

pau

tanding slowly to hi

"Boss... she is the youngest. I swear on

amming his foot into the ground with

eapt into

uiet again, as if

see his fi

preciate bei

ter to where my father stood, even

you were meant to give me in exchange of what we

om wen

ood f

hat wasn'

s Am

had just sold me un

. Just a second. But

n sm

" he said softly, "

e cut through the air like a whip. "And you know what I do to traitors?" His head

ear on my wife... she's still at the hospital, in com

dn't t

at little light made it through the blindfold. "Stop the madness! You'r

bled, but I c

nd you-You use her name like this? You're a monste

the ropes, digging into my skin, cutting deeper the more I struggled. My fingers were numb

t o

racle cam

his

d fast-

, so sharp, the slap rang in my ears.

ation of a chi

l ringing, the taste of

t, didn't I?" he barke

me by the neck, his fingers pressin

Huh?! Why can't you ever s

d. I couldn't b

e thundered throu

s tone, "then take her to your own house, Antonio

ther

ned a little.

ce fo

guards st

kneeling, still upright. My face throbbe

re

tall, stil

d eyes to com

He wasn't goi

ot when money w

shame thrown out like trash. And then, like a man with no spine,

ou must accept her. Nothing must g

wly bent down, his long fingers letting go of the stick as it clicked against the floor. His head

en's voice was flat

. I could hear it.

nough. "You like them pure... clean... innocent. She is. You can... you can try her. And

o a slow, devilish smile.

with a low growl. "

ed to

ed to

ng with anger and dread as the room fil

d, straightening up. "I'll send

, already on his feet. He didn't ev

ed to t

at man... the one who used to tuck me in at night whe

the door, Zeden's voice sto

to a dangerous chill, "or if I find out anything you've ju

pau

rs and your daughte

didn't s

ust

shutting echoed louder

sts burned. My face still throbbed from t

ifted m

e Zeden stood and le

t me go. I don't want to marry you. I di

le

nswer. He d

ear was the slow tapping of h

cold floor. Still

n a nightmare I cou