The auctioneer's gavel came down like a death sentence. "Sold. To Mr. Dante Moretti for five million dollars." I stood on the platform in a black cocktail dress I'd never seen before, my wrists bound with silk rope that felt like chains. The spotlight burned my eyes. I couldn't see the faces in the crowd, just shadows and cigar smoke and the glint of champagne glasses. This couldn't be real. But it was. My father had gambled away everything. Our house. Our name. Our future. And when he couldn't pay the Rossi family what he owed, they'd come for the only thing he had left. Me. "Move." A guard grabbed my elbow and pulled me off the stage. My legs barely worked. I stumbled down the steps in heels too high, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. They led me through a corridor lined with red velvet and gold fixtures. Everything smelled like expensive cologne and old money. We stopped at a door made of dark mahogany. The guard knocked twice. "Enter." The voice from inside was deep. Commanding. Cold. The door opened. And I saw him for the first time. Dante Moretti sat behind a massive desk, his suit probably worth more than my father's debt. Dark hair slicked back. Sharp jawline. Eyes like black ice that tracked my every movement as I was pushed into the room. He didn't smile. He didn't need to. The guard left and closed the door behind me. The lock clicked. We were alone. "Sit." He gestured to the chair across from him. I didn't move. "I'm not a dog." His eyebrow lifted slightly. "No. You're a debt. And I just paid five million dollars for you." The words hit me like a slap. "My father—" "Your father is a coward who ran the moment the Rossis came for him." Dante leaned back in his chair. "He left you to pay his price." Tears burned my eyes but I refused to let them fall. "So what now? You own me?" "Yes." One word. Simple. Final. "What are you going to do with me?" My voice cracked. He stood up and walked around the desk. He was tall. Intimidating. Every step deliberate and controlled. He stopped inches from me. "That depends entirely on you, Aria." He knew my name. Of course he did. "I don't understand." "You have two choices." His eyes bored into mine. "You can fight me every step of the way and make this hell for both of us. Or you can accept your situation and let me protect you." "Protect me?" I laughed bitterly. "You bought me like property." "I saved you." His voice dropped lower. "Do you know what the other bidders would have done to you? The Rossis wanted you for their brothels. Viktor Kozlov would have shipped you to Moscow and you'd never be seen again. And don't even get me started on the Chens." My stomach turned. "I may be ruthless, Aria. But I'm not a monster." I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him so badly. But I'd learned the hard way that men lie. "What do you want from me?" "Obedience. Loyalty. And in return, you'll live like a queen." He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was surprisingly gentle. "No one will hurt you. No one will touch you. You'll have everything you need." "Except my freedom." "Freedom is an illusion, sweetheart. At least with me, you'll be safe." I looked into his eyes and saw something I didn't expect. Truth. Maybe he was a devil. Maybe he was dangerous. But standing there in that room, I realized something terrifying. He was the only thing standing between me and a fate worse than death. "Okay," I whispered. "Okay what?" "I'll stay. I'll do what you ask." A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "Smart girl." He walked back to his desk and pressed a button on his phone. "Bring the car around. We're going home." Home. I didn't have a home anymore. But as Dante Moretti's dark eyes met mine across the room, I realized my life had just changed forever. And there was no going back.