Page 1 of Tainted Love

Prologue

Lucy

Come on, Lucy Vaughn.

Show some strength.

My vision blurs from my spot on the floor. I try and look around the casino, or what's left of it. The tables are knocked over. There's a large hole in the entrance. My ears ring from the explosion. I smell smoke, but I don't see fire.

Please, god, don't let there be fire.

I look for the others. Luka is unconscious, his face covered in blood. Sofia shifts onto her back, her hands clenching her stomach. Two men in black enter through the hole and bound in our direction. They have rifles and black masks. One turns and points his gun at Dani. He shouts at her, ordering her onto her knees.

Yield. Submit. Do as you're told.

Not my style.

I push off the floor, briefly tripping on the heavy train of my white dress. My knee aches, but I ignore it as I rise. I roll my hands into fists. I plant my feet on the floor, distributing my weight to give myself the advantage. I take a deep breath as Dante's voice fills my head.

Winning requires control. Control over your opponent as well as yourself.

The second you lose either one, the fight is over.

And if you do, there's no shame in running away.

He'd want me to run. He'd look at me and the men with guns and he'd tell me to run and save myself.

Sorry, lover.

Not today.

The other man raises his gun and points it at me. "Stand down!" he says, noticing my movement.

I lunge forward, throwing my entire weight into the punch. It connects with his jaw and he topples backward in surprise. I take advantage of the opening, raising my throbbing knee and striking him in the gut to knock him even more off-balance.

Someone grabs me from behind. Thick arms tighten around mine, smothering my hope to hit them with a backward punch. They easily lift me off the floor as if I weighed nothing at all and walk me toward the bar.

I scream and kick. Their grip loosens in annoyance. I try to wiggle free, but the agent shifts his arm and wraps it tightly around my neck instead.

No.

Not again.

Within seconds, I can't breathe. I dig my nails into his arm, but it does nothing. Each moment is weaker than the last.

I give up. I sink deeper into his arms as the world fades away.

Dante was right, as usual.

I should have run.

Chapter 1

Lucy

“You did what?”

My father jolts but not out of surprise. He knew exactly how I’d react to this. I could tell he had something massively stupid to say the second he walked into the rehearsal room. Head down. Eyes barely open to hide his shame. That’s the great Terrance Vaughn for you. The epitome of cowardice.

---