fully decorated prison. When Dallas called, I played the part of the heartbroken wife, my voice soft and choked with

Autumn," he'd say. "W

he was calling me from the bed he shared with Ala

who would crumble under the weight of their c

d fought it. A week before the wedding, I packed a bag, drained a bank account, and fled

other tourist wandering the cobblestone streets of Florence. I thr

The feeling was a constant prickle on the back of my neck. I dism

ast. One moment it was on my shoulder, the next it was gone, a flash of a man disapp

ed me. I w

handsome, with a charming smile. He cornered the thief in a narrow alley

her. He spoke perfect English with a

careful," he said,

lling him everything-the arranged marriage, the escape, the desperate need for a l

just here on business," he said vaguel

would be standing a few feet away. I' d be shopping for leather goods, and he' d walk o

forting presence. He knew the best restaurants, the quietest gardens

e he was falling in love with me. He didn't have

like a strange twist of fate, running away from a wedding only to r

I th

performance. He had hunted me down. He had orchestrated the entire thing to trap me, to bind me to him so he could execute his revenge. The last five

s. Dallas stood there, a bag from my favorite bakery in

you," he said, his voice laced with concern.

g husband. The same man who had laughed ab

s. The charming, charismatic billionaire the world

led behind him, carrying his bags. The mon

able is broken," the monk sa

ying so hard for my wife and son that I l

knew how the table broke. I had seen it through the

aid to me, his eyes full of admiration. "He p

inly been busy day and night. He had probably paid the entire monaste

Dallas said, turning to me. His voice was gentle agai

ded, my voice

, then silently followed him. I hid behind a row

he bag from the bakery. "Make sure she eats. I

t break any further, splintered.

ng fluttering in the breeze. Tied to the branch of an ancient oak tree was a red sil

it was just two weeks

ery beginning. With a woman who was a

plash of blood against the green le

over. It was t