HIS UNFORGETTABLE OBSESSION

er my deepest insecurity. I had never sat at a table this long or this tense in my life and I

y spine straight as the vultures-Damian's family-took turns s

n came from Damian's uncle, a man with a gold watch too b

le. "Austin. I went to community coll

of a public university was offens

the table, a warning or maybe sup

working due to being sick," I answered. My voice was calm and controlled

sigh, clearly feigning pity. "That must've been

It taught me resilience. S

fight back. Maybe they all thought I'd crumble in the face of t

at her salad. "But then again, resilience isn't ex

is plate with a lou

om wen

er expression turning icy. "I

claws," Damian said. "Try a complime

-not because it scared me, but because it thrilled me. For a se

lated. My answers were calm, poised, exactly what I knew they wanted to hear. I spoke about ch

new how

survival meant knowing how to read a room before the room swal

inner, her gaze more analytical than judgmental. I couldn

d. Something delicate and

ke, placing her napkin on the tab

unsure how

ed her wine. "But this family eats grit for breakfast. I

tly, holding her g

d just slightly,

ily tradition, probably to discuss business or gossip like high sch

hair like a lion circling prey. "Y

I said, my

e vanished. "You think you've won because yo

I'm not here to win anything,

s going to save you? You have no idea wh

n I'll be the deadliest

before walking off, her heel

olding and turned toward the tall glass door

gladly. The garden was massive, all trimmed hedges and marble st

sive, i

behind me, a thin shawl around her shoulde

iful," I sa

e horizon. "Imported marble, artificial lighti

d not

Angie but I don't trust you either and tru

derst

me. "Because I see a girl who's scared

nd more tha

long time, then nodded. "I

ke my way back to the house, I heard voices-two men, low and tense. Curiosity pull

ney is mine. The contract doesn't cha

him the upper hand," the sec

?" the first

use.

she disa

in the silence of the night. They were talking about me a