the dining room, the chandelier glow fell h

ht only a handful of men occupied it. Their d

stopped just inside the threshold, her hands clutched tightly together. Every he

ell he was Dante's father, they had the same storm grey eyes

air, his fingers tapping once, twi

ed, his voice gravelly but laced with sco

nte, who sat beside his father. The silverware glinted in front of h

fter a moment, gesturi

ed her ch

r seats, eyes flicking from her to Vittorio, waiting. Lu

ugh. "You see? She has teeth. But what good

st her nerves. Her hands c

he tension, low and c

aid

her mouth open as he pressed the fork past her lips. She gagged, tried to twist away, but

room. His laugh was rough, but his eyes glittered with cru

ion flooding her at once. She swallowed

ved to the wall. A low hum filled the room, and a

tting across the room in Italian. "Non sfidarmi con la

his voice was even. "I ha

f, "that you thought someone would save you. That you st

d," Rose whispered

e, and two soldiers stepped forward. One seized her

ip was unyielding. The screen lit up w

was

curved in a smile. She watched her own laughter, her own face tilt

se, his hand steady as though the act meant

e. Who would have thought the Bachelor Dante Moretti would be so married so quickly? It

sound came. Her heart

"Do you see? The world believes. They cheer for y

m her throat. "It's not

the table onl

led for the cameras. You looked so happy signing that contract. To the world, you are my wife

ge of her chair as the screen flicked through mo

zen, her mind reeling as her smiling

ittorio leaned back in his chair, satisfi

that still burned behind her eyes. When the projector finally flicked of

was soft, deliberate. His eyes cut to he

," he

not a r

ce. Every step down the long corridor pressed heavier against her ribs.

ed. She hesitated on the threshold. His hand closed around her arm

She tried to pull back

low, calm, but sharp enough to cut. "In front of m

. "I won't sit there

you are here,"

not an animal. And I'

gainst the wall, his hand pinning her jaw in the same place it had

command it." His tone was flat, his g

palm. She tried to claw at hi

opped lower. "It makes you stupid. And in this hous

through her, shar

but she shook her he

uickly as it came. He pressed her harder into the wall,

ightened briefly, forcing a strangled ga

she crumpled against the wall,

hough nothing had happened. "Remember this," he said softly. "Ever

ed a button on the wall. The door

m," Dante orde

he rugs. They took her mirror, even the lamp by her bed. Rose's heart pounded as she watched her sanctu

him. "What a

said, his tone casual, almost bor

ned. "I'm no

of his body, though his expression remained

or closed. Dante's gaze d

he said softly. "No water until morning. You wil

he words out. "You can take everything f

is lips, but it was merciless.

e heard the door open, the faint click of his shoes against the