ra'

lawed at my throat, but I fought it down, determined not to show him any sign of weakness. My mind raced for

pat, my voice hoarse. "W

terested in my pleas. He didn't speak for a long momen

determined. "Who the hell do you think you are?" I hissed, my wor

ice like gravel, rough and final. "I

My mind scrambled to place it, but everything felt muddled. All I knew wa

mmering in my chest. "Please, let me go. I'm n

ere. I don't play games." His grip on my arm tightened, and the last vesti

me I wouldn't like the answer if I found out. The uncertainty

without a word from Damien. I swallowed my fear, trying to muster the strength to fight,

," he o

ked at the door of the car, my mind screaming for me to run. But where would I go? I

me. I glanced around at the plush interior of the car, noting the sleek lea

resence was overwhelming, suffocating. I was aware of every in

y say to a man like him? What kind of person ki

was the hum of the engine. Time seemed to stretch on endl

're not going to like this," h

t, a pit forming in my

oing to m

en's

t. I wasn't fooled. She was scared, trying to make sense of what was happening to

y woman. She had the right mix of vulnerability and resilience I needed. And I had a deal to finaliz

asn't for love

ot what she appeared to be-weak, yes, but not entirely helpless. I

eight of her own betrayals. But I wasn't here for her emotional baggage. I d

er to sign on t

ry me," I repeated,

saw the flicker of panic. "What?" she whispered

etting the silence stretch

. "This isn't real. You can't be serious," she muttered under her breath, shaking he

seat, folding my arms across my chest. "I don't need a wife, not in the traditional

eak. Good. She would learn soon enough that w

e rising tension between us. "There, you'll sign t

think I'll just sign away my life?" she shot back, voic

ble. "I don't care who you are. I don't need t

ra'

as hearing. Marry him? What

made sense. I was supposed to be grieving, not sitting in a car with a man who could s

arely a whisper, unsure if I

d, his eyes flicked to mine, his gaze li

osable?" I said bitterly,

straight ahead, his posture rigid. "I don't need your emotions. I don't ne

s wasn't about love. It wasn't about anything remotely human. H

of me that had been betrayed by those I trusted

aid, my voice trembl

kept his eyes on the road ahead,

l he was planning to put me through, but I knew one