Rejected Bride, Now His Prey

ab

y mi

lessly against the cold, polished marble. The space was cavernous, echoing with the distant ru

e. A debt paym

behind sunglasses despite the dim lighting. They were soldiers of the Maddox family, sent to collec

o settle a gambling debt that threatened to swallow our family's legacy. I had wo

hadn'

ality was a sign of respect. Absence was a statement. My new husba

I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't give these stone-faced soldiers the

nce. A silver Duesenberg roared onto the platform

h hitche

face twisted in a mix of worry and defiance. He was the onl

he soldiers tensed, hands drifting toward t

I whispered, though my heart ache

lip curling in disgust. "He leaves you standing here lik

aid, trying to keep my v

d out a bottle of water, cracking the seal before ha

against my temple as he tucked a loose strand of dark hair behind my ear. It was a g

r just a second, drawing strength from th

mi

cago afternoon into twilight. I sat in the back, the leather cool agai

aid, my voice dev

d have been tempting if they weren't tainted by the stench of the Preston family's

if the woman I agreed to marry to secure the

silver ca

t. Young. Arrogant. Too

d her water. I wa

en, I

fingers through her hair, smoothing it back with a fa

m. She leaned

d. To allow another man to touch her was not just an indiscretion; it was an act of war. It was

ns thought they could pass off damaged goods to me? They

ything. I simply reached for the

ont passenger seat, his eyes glued to th

s. The scratch of the nib against the pa

e out and hand

ng. The deal is off. Find out who

ortez asked, his

time at the woman in the red dres

li

rdered. "I'm