His Vow, Her Blood

But she never expected to walk into the lion's den draped in

a battleground-just dressed in b

the way eyes follow

wer. And hers now h

beside her as they entered the ballroom. "Don

ed around the clutch in her hand,

walk with dignity. She'd been doin

l rattled her bones-was the feel of b

ess

cessary?" she aske

person in this room is waiting to see if you'll

g her distaste with a fake

he said. "And they'll come

ft note. Applause echoed

lords. Heirs and heiresses of global syndicates

aze faltered, she felt Dant

otecting her. He

ious, even. Because i

like monsters tonight.

gne toasts, thinly veiled threats disguised as

ate, they m

and the cunning of someone who knew bet

, momentarily separated from Dant

for air, the night breeze b

her whispered, "You look

fr

, she

a tailored midnight suit. He held a glass of scotch i

breath

dn't k

y reacted l

g closer. "Long before your fa

he's dead," Aria

girl. Some just deserv

ngers

you?" she

riend of the past. And maybe..

k a ste

t inter

ame mistake. He underestimated ho

are about

ng dark. "Your blood carries debts. And now that you wear his

echoed b

nt

e a storm, sha

passing, Roc

e's hand hovered near the gun

y. "Just offering your wif

't need yo

she needs

is you're a relic. And if you touch her

hands. "Still so dramatic, D

into the dark, leavin

p at Dante. "

ated. "A

mily's past

clenched

nued, but Aria no longer felt

she'd steppe

of champagne she barely touched, Dante guided her

e lounge draped in

, standing firm as he

ton

y n

've seen eno

occo-he kne

e no

nd

r father. But he

bli

esn't ma

orld, not

s. "I need answers,

eone else. A truce between old bloodlines. But she chose your

born fro

y. "And now you're m

home long af

was quiet.

aking fingers. The adrenaline ha

ge of the bed, watc

verything," she said,

dmitted. "

hy

ths are more dang

om him, their kne

andle th

ched he

carries more weight than you know. You're not just a DiLauren

d. "What d

s-families who saw your mother as a traitor and your father as a thief

g me... was

said. "And

pas

aining-not with weapo

f power: whom to trust, how to read a r

he said once. "But your mind

cruel. Other ti

ver ca

ys watc

watched him

s office. Books lined the walls. M

on th

receiver. "I want the Rossi shipment rerouted

and turned

supposed to

you either," she said, stepp

ps twi

k. "Tell me something. Anything.

esit

id, "My mother died

breath

added. "Collateral in s

sor

at was the day I stopp

d n

r. "Now, I beli

, Aria cou

he loneliness in his eyes. Of the weight he carried, h

for

r prot

man beneat

them again w

came in the fo

," Dante said, slamming

t and saw a l

ere from insid

information

he Escobars. In exc

omach

will y

do I h

night-each ondo e lured

ne wal

e surveillance room, her fists

idn't

dn't f

ng inside h

r saw hersel

coming som

hing

ibrary, curled beneath a velvet

le," she whispered.

fate," he said. "I

I'll ever be a

. "Then don't. Tha

is my rol

besid

surv

ob

Strong. Untouched by t

ve been touched since the day my father made enemie

ed at h

e a pos

ke a s

an he couldn't

," he said. "

e she'd ever heard t

broke s