The Dark Bargain

y's

how as a trophy and nothing more tonight, I was meant to be the picture of his ideal wife. Underneath the gloss, though, I could sense the icy g

ntle and reassuring, I couldn't get rid of the suspicion that had grown since Hargrave's visit.

I looked up, though, I saw Hargrave himself staring at us fr

Damien's voice sliced through my tho

s to be looking at us kn

ause he's always been one step ahead," he said, voice ti

nd curiosity wriggling in my

seductive whisper as he drew me close and dar

s grasp tightly around my waist. I felt myself melting into him as the music swelled, the dr

?" My voice was hardly audibl

is eyes pierced me, s

he ballroom, the family history, the fierce competit

rything I've worked for," he said, his voic

d my heart to accelerate. Is th

y," he said, drawing me nearer. But

could react. Knowing smiling, he inclined his head, a parody of a bow, and grinned

ying to back off, "I

d down on my wrist.

eve I will hear anything you

This is not a negotiatio

isted. Answers Damien had stored under cover. I murmured angrily, ripping

before he could stop me. Though every nerve in my body was on

lked in. "Well, well, Mrs. Blackwood," he drawled, his voice soft and d

ng myself. You appear to have fun int

rt, it is more than that. I have unfinished business

I insisted, then started to

questioned. "Your husband has a tendency of... eliminating challe

ed whirl. Y

t his latest 'arrangement' with his fiancée. An impoverished girl lacking

Could Damien have exploited someone else the manner he was doing w

low, I said, "Damien's no

ward. "And you will be thrown like al

e words were a gut-reversing blow. I turned

errible warning. "You swim among sharks."

amien, who was observing us with a stormy look. His

ou?" He insisted, his

don't you share with me?" I crossed my arms to counter.

e swiftly covered it. "Lily, keep Hargrave from contamin

all I have asked for is honesty. I have been dragged into your life,

cused and somewhat desperate.

voice quivering with irritat

aid gently, h

o the gut and left me gassing. "You...

s jaw tightened. Lily, you are ignorant of what I have done. My

me. "Show me the truth, Damien; stop running behind this mask of

at last. Then his eyes grew sharp, and he carefully too

oice free of feeling. This is simply bu

een clutching. "Fine," I said, pushing back the tea

ng and my thoughts racing with a thousand contradictory

m

yes glittering with a lethal pl

to pass her, "Ge

ile broadening. "Oh, but dear sister

t her angrily. "What

sion. "My brother might pass for the ideal hero, but Lily, make no mistake. He wi

, I shot, "I don't

isper. "Then let me warn you: losses abound

there, her words resonating in

ly detachment of Damien, Eliza's hidden threat-all too much, too complicated, too dang

ase from the stifling anxiety inside. But I sensed someo

heart jumping

where??" A low, threatening

ore I could scream-a pal