His Reluctant Obsession

tti didn't wince, instead he welcomed the fire. It was the

igliere stood with hands clasped beh

east. Rats in the docks. Even your own allie

ering shadows dancing on the wall. He wasn't afraid. Fear had

suggest?" h

aid. "Don Sinclair is off

. A girl. A pawn. Another con

tightened. "An

d. You lose access to the port. You l

ikolai turned his gaze to the glass

action. Love was a weakness-he'd seen what it

wasn't ab

was

voice like fros

a slow nod. "She wo

k, an evil glint in his eyes-a cold,

not, she

the weight of power settling on

girl h

t, scream, c

e than a Sinclair pr

hought she'd

ne walks away from the d

g out at the city that had bled for

than this-more than blo

at was

the b

the b

ed the boy and

o

yalty. Obedi

rying a girl who hate

ould

would

y, she wo

. Power

phone to her ear, twirling a st

lla's voice crackled through the

"Oh please. The man asked for my co

at man looked at you l

, I'm not o

laughe

the late afternoon sun spilled through her windows, painting

m just happy I get to have so

bout it. Where do you wan

bly Af

ing a thousand mi

hrough some itineraries and I'd love

insane... Bu

old walls of the estate, the bloodlines she belonged to. She was just a girl, talking to her best friend a

r eyes, let h

ock. Shar

ne of her father's men. "Your fa

ir sh

mach ti

he call wit

ever asked.

and Sil

r's office loomed like a gateway

in lifted. She wouldn't give him th

r, hands clasped in front of him, eyes sharp as razors.

r me," she sai

replied, his tone devoid o

mind him she wasn't entirely obedient. Then she lowered hers

moment. "You've grown

a fake sweetness. "I'll sta

on crossed his face.

a fr

olai Mo

e, hands folded tightly in her lap, eyes downcas

se she

htened, but she d

ran down her spine. She blinke

n't j

ling me to

y with power," he said c

her chair scraped b

I alread

vering a sentence. "The wedding is tomo

t she didn't let him see. She forced he

d and walked out w

er, she might've shattered

gged him no

Sinclair d

or an