Bound By Obsession

something colder-power, control, the weight of a king's throne. Dante Moretti stood across from her, his gaze unreadable. She had spent years studying him from a distance-his business dealin

e?" Dante straightened, walking back toward his desk. He picked up a crystal glass, swirling the amber liquid inside. "That depends entirely on you." Aria narrowed her eyes. "Meaning?" "You're a smart woman, Aria. You didn't come after me for a story." He took a sip of whiskey, watching her over the rim of the glass. "You want something more." She held his gaze, forcing herself not to react. Dante leaned back against his desk. "Tell me, who are you really after?" Her pulse pounded, but she kept her expression blank. If Dante suspected the truth-that she wasn't just after his empire, but the truth about her family's massacre-then this game would be over before it began. And she wasn't ready for it to be over. She needed time. Time to figure out what happened to Milo. Time to find out who had sabotaged the meeting. Time to destroy Dante Moretti from the inside. So she did what she had spent years perfecting. She lied. "I was just after a story," she said smoothly. "A damn good one, but that's all." Dante watched her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he smiled. A slow, dangerous smile. "You're lying." Aria's stomach tightened, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. Dante set his drink down and walked toward her again. "I know lies, Aria. I've built my world on them." He crouched in front of her, so close she could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. "But here's where you and I are different," he murmured. "You have something to lose. I don't." Aria swallowed. He was testing her. And if she wasn't careful, she'd lose before the game even started. So she changed tactics. She softene