ted the man who bought her to be older, maybe someone with a lecherous gaze or a slimy smile. But this man... he was di

faintest hint of an accent. He didn't offer a greeting or introdu

forced herself to respo

lifted in a slow, humorle

d, her voice bare

his eyes never leaving

he whispers, the stories of their brutal control over the city, their dealings in everything from drugs to

lena instinctively took a step back,

eemed to enjoy the look of realization that flickered a

embling despite her best efforts to steady it.

uestion amused him. "Why does anyone buy so

Elena stammered, her anger rising

shiver down her spine. He took another step forward, closing the d

ou put yourself up for sale, Elena. And I bought

anted to scream at him, to tell him he was wrong, but deep down, she knew he wasn't.

e," Elena said, her voic

ike amusement flickered across his face. "You will," he sa

pond, Dante turned and walked back toward his desk, as if the conversation had already ended.

d and indifferent as ever. "The money is yours. But understand this, Elena-when you agreed to the auction,

and times since the auction. The moment her mother was well, she would disappear, vanish i

e?" she asked, h

as if it were a fact, not a possibility. He stepped closer to her once more, his presen

the air. His eyes bored into hers, cold and unforgiving, and for a moment, she felt the ful

r voice barely audible. "Bu

e reached out, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face

a low, intimate whisper that sent a shiver

ne in the dimly lit room, her heart pounding, her mind racing with fear a

e's sprawling estate, a prisoner in all but name. The house was beautiful, with its marble floor

looming, always felt, even when he wasn't in the same room. He didn't touch her, didn't f

he manicured gardens outside. She had spent the last two days planning, trying to figure out how to escape. But every rout

enjoying

ally tucked into his pockets. He was dressed in a black suit, looking every bit th

ning in her chair. "Do you alway

he stepped into the room. "You're not a gu

uch his words affected her. "And what exactly does that m

her, his gaze locked on hers. "Y

ood her ground, her chin lifting in

but it didn't reach his

raced, her body tense, waiting for what he might say next, what he might do. But instead of pushing

ll," he said casually, as if they were dis

for the first time since arriving, a flicker of hope s

window. "She's improving. The doct

she hadn't realized she was holding. But the relief was short

re running out of

talking about her mother. He knew. He knew she had been planning to leave the moment h

e asked quietly, her voice tre

his expression unreadabl

ly, had to find a way to outsmart him. But every move felt like a t

as no w