The Unwanted Bride Becomes The City's Queen

na Viti

ghtstand, a harsh, insistent v

the glow illuminating th

e Mor

perform gymnastics. Now, it j

e. Suite

d. Not a

breathless, thinking he finally wanted to

bette

rt. The obedient little

fast, they would lock me u

le black dress. No

a shadow. That

t-a mixed-use high-rise where the top floors s

or up, watching t

8

id open with

the suite. They didn't

who fears

the heavy

es and sandalwood-the sce

was

t jacket discarded, his white shirt unbuttoned at

some. Dark hair, sharp ja

lla was i

his jaw with a manicured finger. Her

a centerfold fo

me, feigning shock. She bur

tell me she was c

ook at her. He

was cold.

is voice was a low baritone that

sked. My voice

em, to the power he wore like a second skin. "I wanted you

ently setting

wered over me, radiating h

you were leaving," he

es

your desperate attempts to claim credit

ocket and pulled out

hand. The corner dug

want you there. I want you to watch us say our vows. I want

own at the

ti & Isabell

s exquisite. Like

tood,"

was expecting me to scream that I was Sev

e repeated, his

" I said. "I wish

ed to

Dante

top

ok at you. You don't even have

d softly, refusing to turn

lked

ehind me. A cruel, tinkling

later. They were heading to th

uilding, keeping my distance

ut through my thin

he valet. Dante had his arm around he

feet away,

n sign of the jazz cl

Blue

riek of metal

d bolt

the sign groaned and deta

lumm

Isabella

look

a split

his left. Isabella

de. It was goin

he unnatural sp

lun

dn't lung

tackling her to the pavement, shi

me stand

al cras

d my shoulder,

urned white

d under twisted stee

dn't b

itty asphalt. Blood was pooling

w Da

dusting off his su

ng Isabella

d her, his voice franti

scraped my kne

ght. "I've got y

n't lo

the pile of debr

't look

yes as the da

in the safe hous

me, I hoped