Blood and Diamonds

ness, trying to make sense of the empire she now had to manage. Every corner of Veridale seemed connected to the Varkari Syndicate, and every de

dn't esc

ht she wasn't paying attention. The faint smile that curved his lips when he knew he'd won a round, whether it was a deal or simply his way of bending her to hi

eality of the marriage contract she was bound to sign. It wasn't just

Varkari was

marriage contract. The merger. Everything was in place. But the weight of the decision pressed on h

s Cortez," he said, his voice smooth and auth

ant hum of cars, the faint chatter of people on the streets-felt like a reminde

ce," she murmured, her vo

always have a choice. But you know as well as I

est option? Or was it the only option? What would life be like after she signed her name on that line?

marriage, this contract-it's not a partnership. It's an arrangement. I

o trust me. But that's irrelevant, isn't it? What matters is that you understand the pow

but they held a weight heavier than anything she had ever felt before. She coul

e picked up the pen. "Le

d her name on the line, the sound of the pen on paper echoed through th

et the pen down and look

contract and examined her signature with a slow nod of approva

te controls it," he said, his voice low and deliber

remain composed. "And what do I get out of it, Dominic?

verything you ever wanted, Miss Cortez. Power. Control. The fr

ut for now, she had no choice but to pl

to that," she

minic's lips, though it didn't quite rea

eeling that she was walking into a trap. The mansion was dark, its opulence both stunning and

ge, but there was no part of her that felt victor

ominic's words. "You'll get

Control? A sense of belongin

asn't

art racing. It was him-Dominic. He stood in the doorway, his

mooth, though there was a certain intensity in his g

she repeated, her tone sharp. "I'm not here to be comfortable, D

ause it's what's best for you. For both of us. And once you see the

ion building inside her. "I don't ne

e tension between them palpable. Then,

is shoulder, his voice softer now. "To

he spoke of might be one she didn't want. But in this world, there was no ro

d scheme of things. But as Isabella stood before the priest, Dominic's hand resting light

s signed. The d

emained a cold, empty space, far fr