Page 81 of Coerced Queen

Dante bends down and lifts Claire into his arms.“Come here, princess.It’s time to practice our Disney songs.”

He shoots me an apologetic look on his way to the door.

Thanks a lot, Dante.

Livy coughs.“I’ll, uh, finish pouring this later.”

She leaves the glass and the bottle on the desk and ducks her head as she passes Saverio.The door shuts with a click, closing us into a room that suddenly feels too small.

Saverio leans on the desk and balances his cane next to him.“Come here.”

I swallow.“Why?”

“Come here, Anya.”Not even the eyepatch is enough to hide the rage in his expression.“Don’t make me go after you.Not now.”

I advance cautiously, stopping a step away from him.

“Closer,” he says.

Taking that last leap, I stand toe to toe with him.

He searches my face, not hiding the turmoil in his uncovered eye from me.“Are you all right?”

“Yes,” I breathe.“I’m perfectly fine.”

“I’m not going to touch you.”He continues in a measured tone.“I’m too angry.So I need you to listen very carefully and do as I say.Don’t test my willpower right now.I’m too close to snapping.Got it?”

Not trusting my voice to speak, I nod.

“Take off your clothes,tesoro.”

What?I stare at him in confusion, but when he works his jaw from side to side, looking as close to snapping as he claimed, I unzip the dress and push the sleeves over my shoulders.The fabric pools around my pumps.I stand in front of him in my black lace bra and thong and my high heels, and even though he’s seen me naked plenty of times, this feels different.More vulnerable.

Heat sparks in his gaze, warring with concern.“Turn around.”

I turn, giving him my back.

“Eyes forward again.”

Obeying the cryptic command, I finish my parade.

“You’re not injured,” he says, sounding surprised, relieved, and downright scary.

“Of course I’m not.”

“Where did you get the money?”

“I gambled.”

He tilts his head.“You gambled.”

“Blackjack.”I lift my chin.“We needed the money.”

“Is that how much trouble the club is in?”

Biting my lip, I confess, “I had to take a loan.”

“A loan.”The anger vanishes, leaving his face perfectly blank, and that’s a lot more frightening than when I can read him.“Where from?”

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