Page 148 of The Contract

“You don’t have to?—”

“Lie down.”

It’s an order. Agonizingly soft, yet impossible to disobey.

With unsettling gentleness, he wipes away the evidence of what we’ve done. His mouth follows, feather-light kisses ghosting tenderly over bruised skin, each caress sending chills rippling through my raw, trembling body.

His lips part like he might speak, eyes traveling slowly up my body—but never reaching mine.

And suddenly, running doesn’t seem like the worst idea anymore.

But the realization hits too late.

Warmth bleeds from his expression, gentleness evaporating completely. In it’s place, unforgiving steel.

Before I can react, hard fingers coil brutally around my throat.

I lunge desperately for Da’s knife, but Dante’s faster. Too goddamn fast.

Cold metal whispers along my skin, sliding between the necklace and my throat.

The shot glass of bravery I was clinging to spills out in a pathetic squeak. “What are you doing?”

“Shh.”

The sound is soft. Chillingly gentle.

The kind of hush I imagine a serial killer offers…right before the blade sinks in and twists.

Blue eyes smolder, darkening to black.

“Stay very still, Pom. Or this will hurt.”

“Is there any fucking version where a knife pressed to my jugular doesn’t hurt?” I hiss, anger spiraling as tears sting.

His grip tightens.

Stars explode in my vision as three savage knocks slam into the door, shattering the silence.

I want to scream, to beg whoever’s out there for help, but Dante’s voice punches through first.

“Come in,” he barks sharply.

My eyes fly wide.

What?

His words hit like a bullet straight to the chest.

I’m naked, vulnerable, seconds away from becoming the victim of a felony—or five—and he’s casually inviting someone to stroll right in?

Humiliation scorches my cheeks, tears spilling hotly down my face. Knox was right. I never should’ve come.

The door swings open brutally, revealing exactly who I feared—the towering, stone-faced bouncer. Not the one from downstairs. No, this is worse.

So much worse, because I recognize him.

Chio.

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