Chapter 1 - The Night He Called Me His, Though He Had Never Heard My Real Name
I did not know why Dante Moretti recognized me.
I knew only that Sterling had grabbed my wrist.
I had asked him to let go.
Then the tray slipped.
Porcelain scattered across the marble.
The entire Gilded Lily went silent.
Dante rose from table one.
He looked at Sterling before looking at me.
“You touched her.”
Sterling began lying immediately.
I tried to speak.
Nobody listened.
When Dante ordered his guards to hurt Sterling, my stomach turned.
“Stop,” I said.
Dante looked down at me.
I could hear Sterling breathing behind us.
“Please. Don't hurt him for me.”
For the first time, Dante hesitated.
Then he raised one hand.
His guards stopped.
“You're coming with me,” he said.
“No.”
The word startled both of us.
I pulled my hand free.
“I don't belong to you.”
A long silence followed.
“Then walk beside me,” he said.
“Or stay here. But someone is watching you.”
He showed me a photograph on his phone.
It was me leaving my apartment.
Taken that morning.
My knees nearly gave way.
“Who took that?”
“That is what I intend to find out.”
I followed him outside because I needed answers.
Not because he owned me.
Inside the car, I kept my hand on the door handle.
Luca sat in front.
Dante sat across from me.
“You know my name,” I said.
“Arya Brooks.”
“That's the name on my paperwork.”
His gaze sharpened.
“What name did your mother give you?”
I had not heard anyone ask that in years.
I swallowed.
“Amelia Vale.”
Luca turned around so fast his seat belt clicked.
Dante went absolutely still.
“Your mother,” he whispered. “Was her name Evelyn?”
The traffic light painted his face red.
“Yes.”
He opened a leather folder.
Inside was a picture of my mother.
Standing beside a younger Dante.
May you like
And on the back, in her handwriting:
If anything happens, keep Amelia away from him.
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