Framed Bride, Fierce Lover

teel. That was Dant

streaming in through gold-framed windows. It should have felt like freedom. Instead

he knew she was being watched. Not just by Dante, but by everyone in this gilded fortress. Gu

n a jewe

owed outside u

allowed to

to leave any of t

all-she was

for thi

ard the corrido

ing notes. A habit from prison. A paper scrap, torn from one of the books in the private librar

uld be built p

atus Dante expected her to attend. She wore a silver dress chosen by Dante's tai

n in suits nodded. Women wh

et, she was expected to play

p in conversation with a man whose sleeves revealed intricat

Gala

Underboss. The

s eyes narrowing with every step

eyeing her from head to toe. "You lo

"You have an odd wa

way of trusti

ll get al

ver game you're playing with Dante-drop it. You may b

mommy issues when I hea

witched. "Wat

u'll scowl m

ply, Dante appeared b

inch. "Your cousin

ed at Mont

ly gave Rosafina a cold

ou really can't hel

ned," she replied,

slow, unreadab

ion. Not because of the diamond necklace or the designer heel

d. But no l

her door st

rned.

ladonor says you may take a walk

blinked

ed. "With a s

tter than

to the rooftop courtyard. It was vast and lush,

m in i

nd damp stone. A memory surfaced-her mother's garden

sts cl

to her coat pocket, where she'd hidden another

death. Colette started working with Frederick

ng the

voice mad

w feet away, han

ushed the pape

is rare,"

p at the sky. "Even stars loo

is where you come to th

me to remind myself why I run th

d like a

onest. Heroes a

er head. "An

r for a long ti

safina began putting

nd waiting to be another cas

ce novels while actually researching names and dates. She smiled a

ed philanthropists, thanks to marrying Ethan the man who had

married

umors said she had fallen ill. Others claimed she h

dn't buy ei

more. She n

, she'd have to e

the study, scanning documents,

" she said, bold

men t

his eyes. "The

m. "I'd like to go

a brow. "Plan

l. Not for me-my father. I still believ

e sc

for a long moment. "

d tightly

The city buzzed outsi

the month she was arrested. She scanned headlines. She noted inconsistencies in statements made by Ethan,Zelda, and Co

t all down,

she was ready to pull them

on the couch, reading over one of her s

s," he said witho

eady in

You think you can take

ink I can

"You really want

m in the eyes

ked. "T

nce for a moment

om

he

, smile, listen, and say

igh. "I'm excelle

"Then you'll

away, Rosaf

as a

s a c

oman bidin

gilded, but she ha

break it from