“You better hope we take him down first, Sam. Otherwise? You won’t live long enough to regret this.”
The agents walked out. The door clicked shut behindthem.
Sam sat there, staring at his phone.
His mouth was dry.
His pulse pounded againsthisribs.
He had maybe twenty-four hours before The Dante decided what to do withhim.
Maybe less.
He let out a slow, shaky breath.
“You’d better move fast, boys,” he muttered. “Because once he knows I’ve crossed him, there won’t be a damn place on earth where I’ll be safe.”
He didn’t check his phone again.
Didn’t need to.
He already knew how this ended.
Chapter 1
JAZZ STOODin the center of the bedroom, her fingers twisting together as she fought to steady her breath. The fire in the hearth flickered, throwing golden light across the silk sheets of the massive bed—the bed she was supposed to share with her husband tonight.
Her husband.
Titus Dante.
A man she barely knew, yet one she’d agreed to marry. Not for love. Not even for companionship. But because of money.
Her stomach clenched, amix of unease and something far more dangerous—something she refused toname. Was it fear? Desire? Adesperate yearning for something she couldn’t define? It twisted inside her, tight and relentless, making it impossible to take a full breath. He hadn’t touched her since the day he convinced her to accept his proposal, since the one kiss that had left her shaken, breathless, and wholly unprepared for the reality of what lay ahead.
He hadn’t kissed her since. Well, other than at the altar.
He hadn’t even tried.
And that terrified her more than if hehad.
She rubbed her palm absently, her fingers brushing over the strange little mark that had appeared a few days ago. No matter how much she scrubbed, it remained, afaint smudge that almost seemed to shift when she wasn’t looking. She told herself it was stress, that her mind was playing tricks on her. There were bigger things to worry about tonight.
Like the fact that shewas a virgin.
And her husband was about to claimher.
The door creaked open, and she stiffened, pulse hammering against her ribs. Then he stepped inside.
Titus was dominance incarnate, aman whose very presence demanded attention. Power clung to him, effortless and absolute, asilent force that made the air between them crackle with tension. His presence filled the room, commanding, unwavering, unshakable. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with the kind of lean strength that spoke of authority and domination. His black dress shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, revealed a hint of bronzed skin, and the way the fabric clung to his frame only emphasized the raw masculinity beneath. The sleeves were rolled to his forearms, exposing strong wrists and hands that exuded a quiet, lethal promise.
His face was the kind that belonged to a man who decided his own fate—elegantly handsome, with chiseled features that looked sculpted from stone. Astrong jaw, highcheekbones, and a mouth that could be both cruel and devastatingly sensual. But it was his eyes that held her captive. Dark, dark eyes—so black they nearly swallowed the light—assessing, dissecting, seeing through every single one of her defenses. They revealed nothing. No warmth. No softness. Only unreadable depth and a promise of something dangerous.
His voice was just as potent. Deep, smooth, rich—like aged whiskey poured over rough velvet. It wasn’t just a sound; it was a sensation, one that burrowed through her, sinking deep into her bones. He spoke in measured tones, never raising his voice, because he never needed to. Titus Dante, who everyone referred to as “The Dante” was a man in charge, aman who made the world bend to his will without ever having to demandit.
Everything about him was precise. The way he stood, relaxed yet unyielding. The way he moved, slow and deliberate, like a predator that knew there was no need to rush. And yet, beneath all that exquisite restraint, there was something caged,something ruthless, something that made every inch of her body prickle with awareness.
“I need to put on my nightgown.” She reached for the delicate straps of her gown, prepared to shed her wedding dress, but his voice stoppedher.
