His to break

had cut into her skin, but the pain wa

thought he co

atter like one of his nameless,

gust. Every inch of the space reeked of power and violence. Dark

disguised

pen behind her, an

to turn around t

ri

" he said, his vo

fists. "What did you

he said simply, shutti

ides. When he stopped in front of her, she

yes held no

mused, as though h

she spat. "You're

mth. "Hate makes this easier. I don't need y

his presence he

he sneered. "He won't care. You could kill me, and he'd send

s smile

ok at him. His touch wasn't gentle it

no cares about power. And through you,

of her cheek to hold

e whispered. "But you're nothing

d. Good. She wan

't provoke m

pulse hammering. "You'll h

" he murmured. "Killing you would be too easy. I'd rather keep you

let the silence stretch and let him see that n

that was h

ext moment, h

entle. It w

as c

rything to do with power. She struggled, twisting against his grip, but he

back, her breath came i

you," he pro

ck, he was leaving her trembli

-

ar, watching as Adriano emerged

her too hard,"

imself a drink.

. "You're makin

tched. "It's alwa

slow breath.

swer. But the sil

business but she was nothing like Serena. Serena burne

infuria

-

a slid beneath the silk

d spent together the night before but

everything, and st

she k

re

h Adriano's skin, and it was only a mat

kind of woman who let p

-

lipped into the shadows o

s

wanted his blood. But as soon as he saw he

you," she

thumb over her bot

re about the

l it was

-

m, Val turned her

even here?"

he wall. "Because it's fun watchi

but her heart pound

h was, he wasn't

-

y, Adriano watch

flashed acro

y made her m

didn'

his pr

he liked it or not