e of paper in her hand, Dante's c

elong

made her s

is fingers wrapped around her throat as if he had the right to

o get ou

s. She had tried them last night, but maybe,

n and yanked it back, her br

el

w, but on every windo

d her in a gilded cage-beautiful

on the door

door swung open, and Lucia stepped

setting the tray on the tabl

ed her eyes.

the open curtain and then at Alina's clench

king about running,

her chin. "

ms. "I'll give you one piece o

er laugh. "Because D

ed. "Because he's w

throat w

d her. But there was something in Lucia's

. "Eat your food. The boss expe

, but Lucia was already

Alina looked at the untouched pl

her own reflection staring back

ted her o

d never

Hour

guards. The Valenti mansion was eerily quiet, the soun

ouble doors and pushed them open

here

nother sharp black suit, a whiskey glass in his

it

her expression neutral as she slowly m

idn't touch the pl

ore setting the glass down. "I hear yo

ed in her lap. Lucia

dn't r

p. "Let me make something clear, wi

ng in her chest. "And I don't toler

ng flickered in his e

he m

Too

ide her, his fingers gripping her

it wasn't gentle either. I

e power here," Dante murmu

o break eye contact. "And you se

." His thumb brushed over her jaw, deceptively

eath c

enly, stepping back,

ered. "I won'

her stomach twisting. She h

ever been one

t instead of eating, she delib

went

oom shifted, thi

he s

ave to teach you s

he stood, his towering p

her chin, refus

tter what Dan

ld neve