To Marry A Monster

Dante. I slam the door behind me, and I lean against it and sigh deeply. His voice

ter to myself, tossing the rulebook onto

eces. But that's exactly what Dante would expect me to do, isn't it? Throw a tantrum. Break somethin

not ha

ter than him. The contract is signed, and there's no undoing that. But nowhere

ithin the estate grounds unless accompanied by me or someone I authorize. Should you a

r smile. Of course. I'm a

knock at the door. I roll my eyes so

I turn my head shar

nside, her expression is blank and neutral. Her hands are folded p

or tonight's gala," she says calmly, like s

k. "Th

ticians, businessmen, and individuals of great influence

makes me wan

Yeah, no thanks. Tell you

h. "I'm afraid it is not a

isn't. Noth

the eye of someone who's dressed many unwilling women before me. "Your

more about something I can't even refuse to participate in. I

s out without another word,

o form. I can feel the pressure building behind my eyes, tears I am unwilling to shed.

to be strong and deal w

to Dante's world and network. Politicians. Businessmen. Influential figu

The cogwheels in my

The entire place us crawling with guards and button men, the maids are probably watching my every move, and Dante might even be cr

long distance, ending at a high stone wall topped with what I'm sure is barbed wire disguised by

from what little I've seen. The main entrance is heavily guarded. The back entrance through the kitchen has staff coming and going at all hours. T

e at the estate. They'll have to take me somewh

ter and wrap a to

ile he's busy, my way to the exit, and disappear into the night. I could flag down a taxi, head straight to the airport, use the emergency credit card Mam

If I run and he catches me, what then? What p

about the

he thought of it makes me want to pull out my hair-and till then I think there's a loophole for me to escape. The engagement p